The winner of a prestigious race has been disqualified after jockey Jamie Powell exceeded the allowable number of whip uses during his ride to victory on Alphonse Le Grande in the Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket on Saturday. Powell used his whip 10 times, surpassing the six-use limit in flat races, leading to the disqualification of his mount.
This incident marks only the third disqualification from over 16,000 races since stricter whip rules were implemented last year. The disqualification rule is triggered when a jockey exceeds the limit by four or more strikes. The Whip Review Committee (WRC), tasked with reviewing such breaches, stripped Alphonse Le Grande of his victory and handed it to Manxman, the original runner-up. Additionally, Powell has been handed a 28-day suspension for his violation.
A spokesperson for the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) emphasized the importance of these rules in ensuring fair competition, stating, "This disqualification is a clear message that misuse of the whip will not be tolerated... there is no excuse for exceeding the permitted level by four or more strikes."
Since the introduction of the revised rules, the BHA has recorded only three cases of disqualifications for excessive whip use, highlighting the effectiveness of the regulation in minimizing such incidents. The WRC continues to oversee these decisions, ensuring that any actions resulting in disqualification are handled consistently and fairly.
