That's a fair point zil - the BHA are the regulatory body and if they were to back down that would be that for them, which is why they won't.  Agree a further compromise and replace the current BHA board looks the most likely outcome imo...

Having had a few dealings with the BHA via the Watering Issues i wouldnt shed any tears if a good few of them went

Of all the parties involved in racing the BHA are the least important (and by the way the general public apart from punters are not involed). That is an indisputable fact. You definitely need horses and jockeys. If you had no punters there would be no racing after a very short time. You cant have racing without jockeys so I cant see how a strike would fail. But if this is not sorted quicky UK racing can kiss its ass goodbye.

samaritans?

Aviboyd,all these issues are self inflicted,due to the BHA not liasing properly with all concerned over the various ongoing issues,of which there are many.Get everyone on board ,then racing goes forward and thrives,have confrontation,then the future is bleak.
Many of the statements published by them recently ,shows they are not pulling all parties together.The continuous spat with Betfair is just one example.

1tp - there are people within the sport who are not on the 'gravy train' who could provide valuable assistance imo.

The fixture list is yet another issue.Apparently the IJF is already printing 2012 calenders and diaries,taking a chance as they can't wait any longer.

do these amendments mean the horse keeps the race,owners/trainers keep the prize and the cheating jockeys get paid ?
Oh THATS ALRIGHT THEN cant wait for future amendments

WTF "cheating jockeys".

What is the point of the horses running? It's to win
Why do the jockeys use the whip? Because they believe the horse has a better chance of winning?
Is the whip cruel? No
Does it injury the horse? No
Does it even hurt? No the guardian journalist got a wack and it didn't hurt?

Cheat whom? The punters? - No the owners? - No - the trainers? No

The muppets at the BHA - Yes
Well lets put those muppets first then.

mark johnston sits on the bha , i assume you know that

They don't want a level playing field, they want to beat the crap out of them when they have the money on and not bother when they haven't.

tus quo

No more

No more

Jockeys vote to strike after whip rule changes fail to stem fury
• Racecards on Monday or Tuesday may be wiped out
• Jamie Spencer, Paul Hanagan say penalties still too harsh

Greg Wood
guardian.co.uk,    

Strikes by jockeys in protest at the British Horseracing Authority's strict new rules on the use of the whip could begin within days after amendments to the regulations which were published on Friday failed to avert the threat of industrial action by riders. Weighing-room votes after racing at both Newbury and Doncaster were reported to have resulted in strong approval for strike action, despite the BHA's earlier revisions, which were welcomed by high-profile jockeys including Richard Hughes and Frankie Dettori.

The BHA had made it clear before publishing its changes to the new regime that the amendments would be a final position rather than a basis for negotiation. The jockeys, however, seem to be in a mood to put the regulator's resolution to the test.

No riders were prepared to comment on the record at Doncaster, but a show of hands in the weighing room is reported to have shown strong support for a strike on either Monday or Tuesday next week, while at Newbury it is believed that only one jockey was against taking action.

The lingering anger in the weighing room was articulated earlier in the afternoon by Jamie Spencer, who told the At The Races television channel that he is "disappointed with a lot of the guys that have taken it all lying down".

Spencer called for unity among riders to force the BHA to address their concerns. "I think history is repeating itself, like on every other issue," he said. "We're weak, with no strength behind us and everybody waves the flag too easy.

"French jockeys stick together, the Australians stuck together over the whip and this is why we're probably racing for peanuts everyday of the week. We never put a fight up for anything, we take everything lying down.

"Nobody is bothered about the seven strikes, it's just the penalties, they don't add up. I don't think it will affect the Flat jockeys as much as it will the jump guys. The whole thing for me is a shambles."

Paul Hanagan, the reigning champion jockey and a rider whose disciplinary record has been almost spotless over the last two seasons, also expressed concerns about the penalties for breaches. Jockeys will no longer lose their riding fees, and will keep their share of prize money earnings if they do not exceed the limits by more than one stroke. However, breaches will still be punished by "entry point" penalties of at least five days' suspension.

"It could finish some lads and that wouldn't be good," Hanagan said. "A lot of lads are saying they need more than seven. I would put up with seven to be honest, so long as the days come down. If you use it eight times, it should be a day's ban, nine times should be two days.

"I think if you're going to get someone that goes out there and hits a horse 15 or 20 times, or even 10 times or 11 times, then they should get the book thrown at them. But eight times on three-mile chasers in soft ground, that's the ones it's going to be hardest for."

Earlier, Hughes had expressed satisfaction at being back in the saddle, having refused to ride since 13 October, when he picked up his second ban under the new rules in the space of four days. Hughes was successful on Usain Colt, his first ride of the afternoon at Newbury.

"My beef was with the rules about five strikes after the furlong pole so I'm happy about that," Hughes said, "but I don't think much else has changed. It's great the BHA have held their hands up and seen it wasn't working. You don't really know if it works until you actually test it out and luckily they saw very quickly it wasn't going the right way and they changed it."

The BHA offered no response on Friday to the news of the strike ballots

Going to read my Chasers/Hurdlers annual tonight, the way its going it might be the last one.

Just watched the ride on Blimey O'Riley again. Eddery has given him 6 'proper' smacks, and before that slaps down the neck either to stop him lugging left or / and to get the horse out from behind horses around 2f out.

13 days ban is draconian, imo.

momontai - no, well not specifically. Her husband is aboard member though.

Crikey - I didn't realise Hughes had refused to bet on British racing until the rules revert back. He must mean business.