Kieren Fox, Richard Hughes and owners voice their disappointment over the ban implicated by the British Horseracing Authority at Salisbury
According to the jockeys and their connections an event as important as the Qipco Champion Stakes at the Ascot have lost the allure just because of the British Horseracing Authority penalizing the jockeys for whipping the horses excessively, particularly
in the final furlong.
The connections in support of their horses and jockeys have said that some extent of corrective measure is essential while riding the horse on the track rather than losing the race altogether.
Orthodox Lad’s owner SN Racing 2 has specifically mentioned that they are very considerate regarding their horses and that the choice of the jockey was very careful too as this is not the first time that Kieren Fox has ridden Orthodox Lad. They have even
confessed that the horse is not really versatile when it comes to variant speeds thus the reinforcing was required, not imposed.
"What it comes to is that there is a chance the horse might not have won, and that affects little men like me. I thought it was a great ride. That horse now has one win under our belt. From a breeding point of view, that makes a big difference to us”, Nunn,
who also bred Orthodox Lad, told At The Races.
Kieren Fox has been suspended for fifteen days after whipping Orthodox Lad eleven times at the Bathwick Tyres Salisbury Handicap, seven of them being in the final furlong.
On the same day and during the same race jockey Richard Hughes was also handed over a five day suspension for hitting his ride Swift Blade six times during the final furlong before positioning the ride third in the race. He offered the following in his defense:
"We've been trying to get used to it, but if you're in a tight finish over a mile and a half and someone gives their horse seven (hits) and you give them two or three, they will have an advantage. It proved it with the guy (Fox) hitting it 11. If someone
breaks the rules they have an advantage on you”.
Richard Hughes considers the timing for the rule to be the most pathetic as it is actually over shadowing the event itself which again is a shame.
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