KINGSTON, Jamaica - The regulatory body of racing, the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) has amended Rule 138 (5) of the Rules of Racing to limit the amount of times a jockey can whip a horse in a race.
In addition, the amended rule imposes stiffer penalties on non-compliant jockeys.
Now jockeys are only allowed to strike their horses a total of ten times in any one race, and six times in the straight, that is, the final two furlongs.
Failure to comply can lead to a suspension of not more 25 successive race days; a fine not exceeding $20,000; or riding without the use of the whip, or any combination of the aforementioned.
Rule 138 (5) takes effect on April 1, 2024.
The amended Rule 138 (5) reads as follows: -
Any Jockey or Apprentice Jockey whom the Stewards consider has been guilty of excessive use of the whip in a race shall be liable to be punished by the Stewards by the suspension of his/her permit for such period not exceeding twenty-five successive race days, by such fine not exceeding Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) or to deprive him of his whip when riding in a number of races not exceeding his ten successive rides or by all or any combination of the foregoing.
The following acts constitute excessive use of the whip —
(i) the hitting of horses other than down the shoulders or on the hind quarters except in very exceptional circumstances;
(ii) the hitting of horses with unreasonable force or frequency or using the whip more than twice in quick succession in any one race, without giving the horse chance/time to respond to the initial strike;
(iii) hitting a horse more than ten (10) times throughout the Race;
(iv) hitting a horse more than six (6) times during the final four hundred (400) meters of any one race;
(v) hitting a horse that is far behind or clearly leading the field of horses;
(vi) the use of the whip on a horse prior to or during a parade or after finishing the race except where it is necessary to control a visibly fractious or unruly horse.
Any Jockey or Apprentice Jockey in the opinion of the Stewards, fails to comply with items, (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above, shall be deemed guilty of excessive use of the whip and be liable to be punished by the Stewards as provided by these rules.
