Jump jockey claims new whip rules would have cost him 51 days in bans

30 January 2023 , 11:57

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Sean Quinlan: struggling to adapt to new whip rules (Image: Getty)

Jump jockey Sean Quinlan has claimed he would have picked up an astonishing 51 days in whip bans last week if the controversial new rules were already in force.

Quinlan, who is tenth in the jump jockeys championship with 49 winners this season, made the revelation on Sunday after driving Onestepatatime to a short head victory at Sedgefield.

The new regulations, which include severe penalties including disqualification for the worst breaches, are due to be fully implemented over jumps from February 13 and Quinlan has become the latest to admit he is struggling to adapt.

“I’m trying my best.,” he told Sky Sports Racing. “I’ve done it for 20 years and used my whip – but now with this new rule apparently I’m breaking the rules with my hand coming above head height.

“I’ve had a few trainers and a few owners telling me I’m not actually riding to the best of my ability and it is affecting me a little bit. I actually threw my stick away in the last race as you’re just thinking about it the whole time.

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“It’s playing on every one of us. Brian Hughes is champion jockey and very rarely gets a whip ban, he’s been in and out of the stewards’ room – we all have.

“We’re trying our best, but something needs to be done. I would have got 51 days last week, I’ve been called in six or seven times.

“You’re trying to win a race for an owner but then you’re trying not to get banned for something that has been working for 20 years and now you’re not allowed to do it.

“My action makes me get back to hit the horse in the right place. If I don’t use that action, I’m going to be catching the horse short. I’ve used that action and never had any problems with it.”

The BHA has dropped the requirement to limit use of the whip to the backhand position while cutting permitted use of the whip to six and seven strikes in Flat and jump races respectively and toughening up the penalty structure.

Jon Lees