To rule out the winner, or even the runner-up, in races where the current rules (eight over jumps, seven on the Flat) are broken by four, a line had to be drawn in the sand and, of course, there will be a huge furor when a horse is thrown out for that, especially if it’s in a race like the Gold Cup or Grand National – but a jockey will only have himself to blame.
In the past, disqualification has been ruled out because of its integrity implications – i.e. the best way to beat up a horse is to beat it too hard – and because it penalizes the otherwise innocent owner and trainer.
But if a horse is thrown out for failing a doping test, the jockey is penalized and disqualification gives the trainer and owner some responsibility to ensure a jockey doesn’t adopt a ‘win-at-all-cost’ attitude.
While driving I was fined £50 for one time overuse and warned a few times, but the reprimand I remember most was that of my father, a trainer, for continuing to use it. beating a horse out of battle. I still blush when I think about it. The first trainer and owner to throw away a horse will be mortified, but like all jockeys, this is something they have to buy into.