On the eve of the richest ever race day in Britain the racing industry is in meltdown after leading jockey Richard Hughes announced he was quitting in protest to the new whip rules bright in by the BHA.
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All focus on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot tomorrow - featuring the likes of Frankel and So You Think - has been lost after the BHA decided in their infinite wisdom to introduce the new rules just five days before what should have been a showcase for our sport.
Instead headlines in the Racing Post and virtually every other newspaper have been totally dominated by the uproar among the racing industry.
It was supposed to be a show stopper which would show the world how good the sport was. Instead the BHA have stopped the show.
Their decision to cater to the whims of the minority with no interest in racing under claims about horse "welfare" has got to be the worst one in the history of the sport.
Even worse was their timing of imlementing the controversial change just days before tomorrow's meeting at Ascot.
John Gosden summed up the current mood within the racing industry perfectly, and echoed the views of the vast majority inolved in the sport when earlier this week he told The Guardian:
"I was mortified, just horrified at the timing. We are building up to Qipco Champions Day, with the most fabulous horses turning up, and the British Horseracing Authority choose to announce all of this in the week leading up to that.
"It's all negative for racing at a time when we could really showcase racing. People have put a lot of money and a lot of effort into it and I think the timing smacks of sensationalism, smacks of trying to make an impact at a certain time, smacks of the police arresting people at 5.30am with the press hiding in the bushes.
QIPCO have put their weight behind trying to create something special at Ascot and they must be outraged by what has go on and if I were them I would be questioing whther I would want to support such an initiative again.
Hughes has said he will not ride on Champions Day and that menas the public have been robbed of seeing one of the greatest hosemen I have seen in action.
He decided enough wan enough after being given a five-day suspension on the first afternoon the rules were put into effect on Monday, and the getting another 10 at Kempton when finishing a neck second on More Than Words in the Play Rainbow Riches At bluesq.com Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
The severity of the punishment was due to the fact it was his second offence and he must now sit out October 29-31, November 1-5 and 9-10, meaning he will miss Strong Suit in the Breeders' Cup.
Hughes explained that on both occasions he was banned, he had only hit each horse six times, one less than the total number of strikes allowed, but as they had all come in the final furlong, he was contravening a rule that he feels is unworkable.
"I can't ride horses knowing that I'm not doing myself and the owners who pay £100 a time justice," said Hughes. "I will only consider starting again if there is a review of the rules. I'd rather sweep roads than do half a job. I've notified Richard [Hannon], " he told RUK.
He said: "We're allowed to hit them seven times and both times I've been done, I've hit them six times, which is less than the amount you're allowed and I've got a fifteen day ban because of it and I miss the Breeders' Cup.
"They're taking the art of race riding away from me, it's like telling Messi not to use his left foot anymore."
I totally agree with Hughes about the new whip rules, which are quite frankly farcical and are destroying the sport.
Jockeys now get punished for trying tio win races and that cannot be right.
Punters are being robbed because horses are now longer ridden to obtain their best possible finishing position. As William Buick put it earlier in the week "I would rather finishing second than pick up a ban"
The whole integrity of the sport - something which the BHA is supposed to be in charge of - has been blown apart.
It is now open to more corruption than ever as the new rules have made it easier for "non-triers" to get away with murder.
There was nothing wrong with the rules as they were. They have been in place since racing began, and if something is not broke you don't fix it.
The BHA have listened to a minority - including John McCricik - claiming "welfare issues" regarding horse getting a few smacks.Tthere are no issues as the whip is air cushioned and used as an aid to encourage a horse.
Racehorses are looked after better than a lot of humans, and nobody involved wants to see them hurt.
The outspoken McCririck has done nothing to damage the sport for years with his outrageous views. He merely promotes himself to keep the wages rolling in and doesn't give a damn about anything else.
Barney Curley summed him up when he told him live on ATR he is a 'take out merchant' who courts attention to justify his money
Why Channel 4 Racing and ATR continue to give him airtime is beyond me. It's about time they pulled the plug and did us all - and the racing industry - a favour.
Things need to change, and the BHA need to review the new whip rules fast before even more damage is done to our wonderful sport.
