• Riders will be guilty of improper as opposed to careless riding
• BHA seeks to prevent ‘win-at-all-costs’ rides in the major racesJockeys will soon face much greater punishment for serious interference cases as racing’s rulers try to eliminate the opportunity of ‘win-at-all-costs’ behaviour on the racecourse. But there will be no increased threat of demotion or disqualification,sanctions which will continue to be used only in cases where a rider is found guilty of dangerous riding or where the interference is judged to possess affected the outcome.
The British Horseracing Authority said it had been forced to act by “a series of offences in high-profile races” last year, when it became clear that even the certainty of a suspension was not enough to quit some jockeys from shoving their rivals around in order to obtain a clear elope. Andrea Atzeni’s forcing of a gap in the St Leger was a notorious example, or as was Olivier Peslier barging his way out of trouble on Dartmouth while wearing the Queen’s colours at Glorious Goodwood.
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Source: theguardian.com