Dettori’s suspension prevents him from participating in the Melbourne Cup

Frankie Dettori Fined with Whip Bans on Farewell Race

In a surprise turn of events, jockey Frankie Dettori has received not one but two whip bans totaling 16 days during his farewell race in Britain at Ascot last Saturday.

Dettori’s first offense took place during the Long Distance Cup, where he rode Trawlerman to victory for trainers John and Thady Gosden. Unfortunately, he was found to have used his whip once above the permitted level of six strikes, resulting in the penalty being doubled from four to eight days due to the race’s class one status.

The second ban came after Dettori narrowly missed out on a win aboard Kinross in the British Champions Sprint. Just like in the previous race, he exceeded the limit by using his whip once too many times.

Interestingly enough, Dettori’s suspension is set to commence on November 7th – which also happens to be the same day as the infamous Melbourne Cup.

Suspensions for Other Winning Riders

Dettori wasn’t alone in facing consequences for excessive use of their whips. Two other winning rides led to suspensions for their respective jockeys.

Jockey Sam James received a suspension after using his whip more than allowed while riding Poptronic in the Fillies & Mares Stakes. Since this marked his fifth breach within six months, James was referred to the Judicial Panel.

In another case, jockey David Allan faced punishment for exceeding the permitted threshold when riding Art Power and emerging victorious in Champions Sprint.

Fairness and Whipping Regulations

A spokesperson from BHA emphasized that fairness is essential when it comes to enforcing regulations regarding whip usage. The penalties serve as a deterrent against overuse of the whip, especially in prestigious and high-stakes races. The aim is to ensure that all participants, including bettors, have an equal chance.

Throughout the year, jockeys have successfully adapted to the new rules surrounding whip usage. As a result, overall offenses have significantly decreased. These regulations were established through extensive consultation processes and ongoing dialogues with jockeys to promote judicious use of whips for encouragement while improving public perception and maintaining fair race outcomes.