THE BRITISH HORSERACING Authority’s recent guidelines regarding the excessive use of the whip in the closing stages of races were implemented somewhat dramatically today following the completion of the Bathwick Salisbury Handicap.

Jockey Kieren Fox, who rode Orthodox Lad to victory in the race, received a 15-day ban for the using the whip seven times in the final furlong. His colleague Richard Hughes, who finished third on Swift Blade, was issued a less severe five-day ban for using the whip six times over the same distance.

According to the Press Association, both jockeys will also forfeit their prize-money and riding fee.

Hughes was confused by the ruling and claims he regarded at least one of the strikes as corrective rather than excessive.

“I knew exactly what I was doing and I was aware – I hit him down the neck for correction matters, nothing else… I feel a bit hard done by as I thought it was a corrective measure and nothing else, but they said six is six.”

The severity of the punishments will go some way towards reassuring those who voiced skepticism regarding the BHA’s commitment to honouring the directives.

Read more on this story from the Press Association>

Barstooler: Five things we learned from this weekend’s League of Ireland action>

Match-fixing agent claimed to have worked with Pakistan for over two years>

Tuilagi fined £3,000 after jumping off ferry>