Dettori suspended 14 days for excessive whipping

[Ferdinand]

Posted: Thursday, July 05, 2007 6:15 PM

Dettori suspended 14 days for excessive whipping


by Tony Smurthwaite

Godolphin stable jockey Frankie Dettori incurred a 14-day ban from the Horseracing Regulatory Authority's disciplinary panel after it considered the 25 strikes of the whip he gave Ramonti en route to a victory in the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot in June.

The hearing was referred by the Ascot stewards as they deemed the seven-day maximum they were able to levy was insufficient for the offense.

Dettori was banned from July 13-26 inclusive. He is thus free to return on the day before the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Stakes (Eng-G1) at Ascot, where at the time of the hearing he was due to ride Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner Authorized.

Dettori admitted to being in breach of the whip rules, but confessed that in the heat of the moment he had only one thought in his mind. Ramonti had only a short head to spare over Jeremy in winning the Queen Anne, his first victory since the Godolphin operation recruited him from Italy.

"At the time, I thought I was doing what was right to win the race," Dettori said, adding that Ramonti was an "experienced older horse who did continue to respond for the use of the whip.”

"I am extremely sorry about the whole thing and ask for the penalties to be as lenient as they can."

A report from Godophin veterinary experts claimed that Ramonti had suffered no obvious ill effects after the Queen Anne.—Tony Smurthwaite

Tony Smurthwaite is a European-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent

(Reprinted from the Thoroughbred Times website)
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At what point does it become abuse? Are there any guidelines about this?