Winning horse disqualified for the first time ever in Britain after jockey goes NINE strokes over whip limit
ALEX EDWARDS earned an unwanted place in the history books by becoming the first rider to lose a race for breaking whip rules.
The jockey went a crazy NINE strokes over the limit of seven when winning a handicap chase at Market Rasen on November 23.
PA:Press AssociationAlex Edwards, who won at Cheltenham on Hazel Hill in 2019, lost a race and was banned for 24 days for his whip breach[/caption]
It meant the Pam Sly-trained winner Mixedwave, who was sent off a well-backed 4-1 shot, was disqualified and the runner-up Post Chaise awarded the race.
Edwards was hit with a whopping 24-day ban for using his whip 16 times during the three-mile race, meaning he will miss most of December.
He has been riding since 2011 and famously won the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival on Hazel Hill in 2019.
New whip rules state that any jock who goes four strikes or more over the permitted level will trigger the automatic disqualification of their horse.
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Lunar Discovery and jockey Charlotte Jones were the first to be thrown out after finishing second in a bumper at Ayr in February.
A BHA spokesperson said: “Disqualification was introduced as the ultimate deterrent for overuse of the whip and there can be no excuse for exceeding the permitted level by nine uses.
“As well as extensive consultation and communication, jockeys were required to undertake online training modules, which clearly set out the new rules prior to riding under them.
“The wide-ranging understanding of what may trigger a disqualification, and the steps taken by jockeys to adapt well to the new rules, is demonstrated by the fact this is the first time in almost 8,000 races the rule has been invoked following a winning ride.”
Classic-winning trainer Sly was gutted at losing the race but expressed sympathy for Edwards.
She told the Racing Post: “I feel sorry for the owners and my staff, who have worked hard to get that horse to the races and to win a race.
“I know it’s the jockey’s fault, but straight after I didn’t know what had happened. I was then headed up by one of the Racing TV pundits, who said he didn’t know if I’d keep the race. I looked at him and said, ‘What?!’ But he added he thought we were over the limit.
“I’ve spoken to Alex, who is very upset, but I’m sorry for him and told him we just move on. I will still use him and not hold it against him at all – I’m not that sort of person.
“The owners aren’t going to be very happy, but there’s nothing we can do about it. The horse has gone up 5lb for winning that race, which he still has despite now being disqualified, but you just have to take everything thrown at you.”
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