• Horse Racing

Jockeys strike unlikely - Darley

ESPN staff
October 22, 2011
Kevin Darley insists a jockeys strike would be counterproductive © PA Photos
Enlarge

The head of the Professional Jockeys Association has moved to cool speculation of an impending strike in protest at the controversial new whip rules.

The British Horseracing Authority made amendments to the regulations on Friday, with jockeys no longer forfeiting their riding fee for breaching the new regulations.

Riders will not be restricted by the number of times they can use the whip in the final furlong - providing it doesn't exceed the maximum legitimate seven strikes permitted in a Flat race (eight in National Hunt events).

Additionally, riders will also only lose their percentage of prize money if their offence earns a ban of seven days or more, rather than the three days the rules originally stated.

However, despite the changes, Ruby Walsh launched a furious attack on the rules after picking up a five-day ban on Saturday after he was found guilty of striking Edgardo Sol more than the maximum permitted eight times at Aintree.

There was a lengthy delay to the following race as Walsh's fellow jockeys refused to enter the paddock in solidarity with the rider, but Darley is confident a strike would be the last resort.

"We've been very proactive, in that we've gone about it through the correct process," Darley told Channel 4. "The jockeys, as you've heard, have wanted to strike. That's counterproductive as far as I'm concerned, and that's the last thing we want to do for the industry.

"We have got together as a group last night with my board and a lot of senior jockeys - AP [Tony McCoy], Frankie [Dettori], Ryan Moore - and said, 'What are we going to achieve out of striking?"'

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices