Australian Jockeys' Association

Jockeys across the country have welcomed the Australian Racing Board's decision to overhaul the whip rules, saying the move is a win for common sense in the industry. 

 

The Australian Racing Board today announced a change to the rules in the last 100 metres of the race following meetings with representatives of the Australian Jockeys' Association over the past days. 

 

It is proposed the new rules, which come into effect Saturday 26 September and will see use of the whip allowed 7 times in total in the last 12 strides, the sequence of which will be at riders discretion. 

 

The current penalty structure will also be scrapped and an independent panel made up of representatives nominated by both the ARB and the AJA will be established to determine the new structure. 

 

Australian Jockeys' Association CEO Paul Innes said the AJA is appreciative of the commitment of both ARB Chairman Bob Bentley and CEO Andrew Harding in reaching a satisfactory outcome. 

 

"These changes won't take the danger out of racing, but it will lessen the dangers jockeys face in the last 100 metres of a race," Mr Innes said. 

 

"We're particularly happy to see the current penalties for riders breaching the rules put through the shredder. We're confident the new independent panel will come up with something much more reasonable and acceptable. 

 

"This is a win for the jockeys' that put their lives on the line every day to keep our racing industry pumping as well as all the other industry stakeholders," Mr Innes said. 

 

Leading jockeys Corey Brown and Damien Oliver were also pleased with the outcome. 

 

"This change will give us far greater discretion. The previous rules were proving unworkable and potentially compromising our safety," Damien Oliver said. 

 

"The penalties were draconian and caused genuine concern among the riders. I've found I was concentrating far too much on issues other than riding well and safely," Corey Brown said.