Thoroughbred racing bosses are asking stewards and the Judicial Control Authority to help them avoid a jockey shortage over the summer, which should see suspensions reduced as hoops cop fines in lieu of an extra day out of the saddle.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has released new guidelines for the next six months they hope will stem the tide of jockeys being banned as racing enters its busiest period.
NZTR's new guidelines suggest fines only for the first two breaches of the whip rule while fines can be added to suspensions for careless riding to reduce those terms and get jockeys back to the track quicker.
"We think the new guidelines will enable us to keep more jockeys riding, which is crucial at such a busy time of the year," says NZTR chief executive Bernard Saundry.
Saundry is quick to point out that horse welfare is still paramount when talking about breaches of the whip rules, with a starting point for sentencing for third offences a hefty $2000 fine and a two-day suspension.