Pat Eddery`s escape from referral over the ban he received at York on Tuesday has precipitated an immediate change in British racing`s whip rules, it was announced today.
The proposal, which comes into practice with instant effect, effectively scraps the rule which results in more severe bans being meted out for whip offences in Group One and other valuable races compared to lesser events.
It had been assumed that Eddery would face a Jockey Club inquiry and a lengthy ban after being found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency aboard Kalanisi in the Juddmonte International Stakes.
The jockey had been referred to Portman Square in almost-identical circumstances following the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July but on this occasion the York stewards banned him for only two days following a 'loose interpretation' of the rules governing whip offences in big races.
Under the new proposal racecourse stewards will be able to issue suspensions of up to seven days in all races.
But referral will still take place if the stewards feel a suspension of over seven days is warranted.
Disciplinary committee chairman Christopher Hodgson said: 'We recognised the lack of support and understanding for the referral rule in major races, and, as the Jockeys` Association will testify, we have been looking at bringing forward a different proposal for some weeks.
'As a result of yesterday`s decision by the York stewards, and in view of the new proposal, we believe that it would be in the best interests of racing to bring in the proposed change with immediate effect.
'Consistency is paramount and if guidelines and instructions are not adhered to, inconsistent decisions will be the result.
'Under the new proposals racecourse stewards will be able to issue suspensions of up to seven days in all races, including Group One races and other major events.
'However, if the stewards consider that the breach merits a suspension in excess of seven days, the rider will be referred to the disciplinary committee.'
Jockey Club public relations officer John Maxse explained that the proposal was in the process of being worked on before the Eddery decision.
Maxse told the Racing Channel: 'The plan wasn`t to introduce them immediately but, after the decision yesterday to give the two-day ban to Pat Eddery, it was felt that action was needed to clear up the situation as quickly as possible.
'So a decision was made to bring forward a proposal which was already being worked on to have effect immediately.
'I think the jockeys will be pleased with it because they didn`t like the two-tier penalties for different sorts of races.
'The original referral rule was there with good intentions of trying to act as a deterrent in major races but there will always be a set of circumstances which maybe shows a rule not to be quite working.
'In that event, which we had yesterday, we`ve acted to try and see that there is a more uniform rule in place.'
Jockeys` Association executive manager Michael Caulfield applauded the Jockey Club`s decision.
The organisation has opposed the rule since it was introduced following the Juddmonte International of 1998 when Pat Eddery, Frankie Dettori and Olivier Peslier all received whip bans.
When asked about the rule change, which allows racecourse stewards to hand out bans of up to seven days, Caulfield replied: 'The jockeys wouldn`t have a problem with that.
'You have to lose your cool pretty seriously to get seven days on the course, most of the bans are one, two and three days.
'It`s good to let racing dominate and not the stewards.
'It allows the stewards to do their job professionally and not attract the silly headlines we have had for the past two years.
'Thank God it has changed, it is just a shame the rule wasn`t changed before Sandown which was probably the best race of the season.
'I hope this can be the beginning of a more sympathetic and trusting Jockey Club.
'They get a lot of criticism but they work hard and they do their best for the sport.'
