Jockey slammed over deliberate use of whip

January 9, 2008

British jockey Eddie Ahern is copping a verbal lashing - as well as a three-month ban - after deliberately whipping a horse excessively to incur a ban at a time that suited him.

Ahern will not be able to ride until April 4 and there are suggestions the case may be referred to police for investigation.

The disciplinary panel of the British Horseracing Authority found that Ahern had brought racing into disrepute.

It found that he had deliberately breached the rules surrounding the use of the whip to trigger a suspension at a time which would allow him to start the new season at the beginning of March with a clear slate.

Welfare group Animal Aid called on the police to prosecute Ahern over his conduct in the December 12 race at Southwell. The group branded his conduct as a particularly cold, self-serving and calculated form of cruelty towards an animal.

"Ahern whipped his horse, Marsam, with such frequency and excessive force that weals appeared on the thoroughbred's flesh.

"Such was the extent of the beating and the unusual circumstances surrounding the offence that the jockey was reported to the British Horseracing Authority's Disciplinary Panel, which found him guilty of bringing racing into disrepute.

"Ahern was found to have deliberately whipped his horse in order to provoke a three-month ban starting in 2007 ... rather than take the risk of offending again in 2008 and face a ban from this year's big races.

"Essentially, he attempted to force the hand of the BHA to issue a ban in 2007 for his conduct towards Marsam so that he could start the 2008 season with a clean slate.

Animal Aid said it hads written to Nottinghamshire police chiefs to press for a prosecution of Ahern under the Animal Welfare Act. It argued Ahern had caused the horse to suffer unnecessarily and alleged he had failed in his duty of care to the animal.

"All the key evidence to proceed with a prosecution has been assembled by the British Horseracing Authority. This includes photographs, video footage and veterinarians' reports," the group said.

"Our action has already caused a major stir within racing."

Ahern had accumulated 33 days of penalties and the panel considered that Ahern had been trying to get another whip ban to clear his backlog with a suspension.

The disciplinary panel branded his actions "a shameful exhibition".

The British Horseracing Authority was reportedly contacting Nottinghamshire Police to outline the action it had already taken against the jockey other the whipping.