Additional Coverage:
- Jockey handed ban for ‘completely unacceptable’ overuse of whip (themirror.com)
A jockey faces possible disqualification following a highly scrutinized whip incident during a race at York on Thursday, sparking significant controversy within British racing circles.
Diego Lima, a 44-year-old Brazilian jockey making his British racing debut, rode Ranting Duke to a respectable second-place finish in the Sky Bet EBF Stallions Novice Stakes for two-year-olds. The 50-1 outsider crossed the line just a length behind winner Persian Spring. However, attention quickly shifted away from the race outcome to the whip use by Lima before and during the contest.
Stewards reviewed footage from the starting stalls and concluded that Lima struck Ranting Duke on the head twice with his whip before the race began. As a result, he received a two-day suspension for improper riding. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) described Lima’s actions as “inappropriate and unacceptable” while the case has been referred to the BHA whip review committee, which will convene next Tuesday and holds the authority to disqualify the horse and jockey for serious whip rule violations.
Under Flat racing regulations, jockeys are permitted a maximum of six whip strikes during a race. Observers noted that Lima appeared to use his whip between 11 and 13 times in this race, far exceeding the limit.
The Racing TV commentary team expressed strong criticism during the footage playback. Presenter Tom Stanley called the behavior “completely unacceptable” and predicted Lima would likely be expelled.
Former jockey and pundit Martin Dwyer also condemned the pre-race whip use, highlighting the horse’s confused reaction and questioning the necessity of the strikes.
Lima’s trainer, Diego Dias of County Kildare, Ireland, addressed the controversy at York on Friday. While Dias disputed the claim that Lima hit the horse on the head, explaining that Lima’s hand contact with the horse’s neck appeared as whip strikes due to the horse shaking its head, he acknowledged the excessive whip use during the race itself.
“Diego was trying to win his race and he just lost count, he’s very sorry,” Dias said. “The horse is fine after the race, that’s the main thing, there is not even one mark on him.
It’s one of those things, he’ll learn from his mistake.”
This incident follows heightened attention on whip use in racing, including last year’s high-profile case in the Kentucky Derby where jockey Junior Alvarado was fined $62,000 and suspended for overwhipping. The upcoming BHA committee decision will be closely watched as the sport continues to grapple with rules designed to protect equine welfare.
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- Jockey handed ban for ‘completely unacceptable’ overuse of whip (themirror.com)