‘The insanity continues’ – Donald McCain livid after champion jockey Brian Hughes banned for using whip just once
CHAMPION jockey Brian Hughes has been banned for four-days despite using the whip just ONCE during a race.
Hughes fell foul of the dreaded ‘above shoulder height’ rule at Doncaster on Saturday and will be suspended from March 21-24.
His Grand National-winning boss Donald McCain was livid and took to social media to vent his frustration.
He likened the above shoulder height rule – which is an automatic four-day ban in races below Class 1 and 2 level – to VAR in football.
And he said he is concerned for the future of the sport, with 40 individual jockeys having been suspended in the first three weeks since the strict new rules started.
McCain said: “On Saturday, while sat in the weighing room at Doncaster I was informed by my stable jockey, Brian Hughes, that he had received a four-day ban for his ride on Minella Plus for hitting him once over shoulder height!
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“On watching the replay I realised that he had only used his stick once in the whole race, between three out and two out, then put it down and continued to ride with hands and heels.
“Now I would like to stress I have always been an advocate for tighter restrictions.
“Break the rules, hit one too many times gaining an unfair advantage, lose the race, give a horse a smack in the wrong place and you deserve to be in trouble.
“This is different, a minor technicality almost to the level of VAR in football.
“Could someone please tell me how a dual, and hopefully three-times champion jockey getting a four-day ban for using his stick once, whilst in contention and landing in the correct place, is good four our sport?
“I am concerned about what the future holds!”
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Sunracing columnist Matt Chapman is strongly against the new whip rules and has been vocal on the subject on social media.
He tweeted in support of McCain and Hughes: “The insanity continues. Another email sent today to @BHAHorseracing ignored by the silent dictator.
“Great to see @donaldmccain speak out. The uprising will come… you never succeed with silence and refusal to answer questions from the people.”
And plenty of racing fans shared the same view.
One said: “Good to hear another voice on this, hopefully someone is listening!”
Another posted: “This is silly now. It’s Racings version of VAR in Football! The decision in most cases are correct, the rules/law is WRONG!
“I hope Racing doesn’t take as long (still ongoing) as the FA to sort the shambles out.”
But another added: “That was a clear breach of the new rules, it will take some jockeys longer than others to adjust.”
Hughes is clear in the jockeys standings and on course to win another title with 148 winners, over 40 ahead of Sean Bowen.
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