Champion jockey Oisin Murphy has been given a 15-day ban for repeated breaches of the whip rules.
Murphy, who secured his fifth title at the formal conclusion of the championship at Ascot last month, was referred to the British Horseracing Authority judicial panel for an expedited hearing after using his whip once above the permitted level on Gladius at Newmarket on October 11.
He was given a 15-day ban, with five days suspended for six months or 200 rides, with one day spent coaching on his use of the whip.
Murphy was cited because this was his fourth whipping offense in the past six months and judicial panellist Clement Goldstone KC was unimpressed by Murphy’s explanation that he had ‘miscounted’ his strokes.
He said: “As a highly experienced and extremely skilled and skilled jockey he must realize that ‘miscounting’ the number of times he used his whip is a very hollow and unattractive statement, and may not be accepted in view of further excessive use of the whip, and that further breaches of the rule are likely to result in the imposition of longer periods of suspension.”
The panel also sanctioned Sean Levey, who was given a 26-day ban, with eight days suspended, after he was also referred under the ‘totting up’ rule for using his whip above the permitted level once at Crafty Blue in Southwell on September 29.
Goldstone warned the rider in strong terms, saying: “As a highly experienced and skilled jockey he must realize that there will come a time when a judicial panel may conclude that he is unable or unwilling to control his use of the whip in accordance with the rules and that only a lengthy suspension, to be served in its entirety, can serve as an adequate punishment.
“He would do well to heed this warning.”
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