PART 4 - THE RACE - (B)45 to (B)59
54. Careless riding or improper riding
54.1 A Rider is guilty of careless riding if he fails to take reasonable steps to avoid causing interference or causes interference by inattention or misjudgement.
54.2 A Rider is guilty of improper riding if he
- 54.2.1 causes interference by making a manoeuvre when he knows or ought reasonably to have known that interference could occur, or
54.2.2 engages in any misconduct in the course of riding, whether mounted or dismounted, including riding that would be dangerous (within the meaning of Rule 53) but for the fact that it did not cause serious interference.
54.3 Improper riding by a Rider also covers any case of improper use of the whip which does not fall within Rule 53 or within the preceding provisions of this Rule.
54.4 A Rider whom the Stewards or the Authority consider has been guilty of careless riding or improper riding at any time whilst on the racecourse, and whether before or after any race
- 54.4.1 shall be taken to have contravened a requirement imposed on him by this Rule, and
54.4.2 is liable to Disciplinary Action.
54.5 Where
- 54.5.1 a horse or its Rider has caused interference by careless or improper riding, and
54.5.2 the Stewards are satisfied that the interference improved the placing of the horse in relation to the horse or horses with which it interfered,
the horse shall, on an objection to the Stewards under Part 7, be placed behind the horse or horses with which it has interfered.
54.6 For the purposes of Paragraph 54.5.2
- 54.6.1 the reference to the placing of any horse interfered with is to the placing decided by the Judge, and
54.6.2 if the Stewards are not satisfied the interference did improve the placing of the horse, they must overrule the objection and order that the placings remain unaltered.
54.7 In deciding whether the Stewards are satisfied that the interference improved the placing of the horse, the Stewards shall make no allowance for any ground which the incident may have cost the horse causing the interference.
54.8 For the purposes of Paragraph 54.4,if the Professional Rider of a horse placed first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth
- 54.8.1 in a flat race with a Total Prize Fund of £27,500 or more, or
54.8.2 in a steeplechase, hurdle race or National Hunt Flat Race with a Total Prize Fund of £20,000 or more
is found to have contravened Schedule (B)6 Part 2 (Improper Riding) and is suspended for 7 days or more before previous offences are taken into account, the Professional Rider may be fined a sum of not less than £200 and not more than £10,000, except as provided for in Paragraph 54.9.
54.9 An Apprentice Jockey, in the circumstances set out in Paragraph 54.8, may be fined a sum of not less than £100 and not more than £5,000.
54.10 The amount of the fine shall be calculated by reference to that payment which Schedule (F)9 provides to be paid to the rider for the race and placing in question.
54.11 If the suspension is for 7 or 8 days, the Professional Rider shall be fined 20% of that payment, 10% in the case of an Apprentice Jockey, providing that the payment referred to in Paragraph 54.10 is £1,000 or above.
54.12 If the suspension is for 9 days or more the Professional Rider shall be fined 40% of that payment,20% in the case of an Apprentice Jockey, providing that the payment referred to in Paragraph 54.10 is £500 or above.
54.13 For the purposes of Paragraph 54.4, if the Amateur Rider of a horse placed first, second, third, fourth, fifth or sixth
- 54.13.1 in a flat race with a Total Prize Fund of £27,500 or more, or
54.13.2 in a steeplechase, hurdle race or National Hunt Flat Race with a Total Prize Fund of £20,000 or more
is found to have contravened Schedule (B)6 Part 2 (Improper Riding) and is suspended for 7 days or more before previous offences are taken into account, the Amateur Rider may be fined a sum of not less than £200 and not more than £400.
54.14 The amount of the fine shall be calculated by reference to that payment which Schedule (F)9 provides to be paid to a Professional Rider for the race and placing in question.
54.15 If the suspension is for 7 or 8 days the Amateur Rider shall be fined £200 provided the sum referred to in Paragraph 54.14 is £1,000 or above.
54.16 If the suspension is for 9 days or more the Amateur Rider shall be fined £400 provided the sum referred to in Paragraph 54.14 is £500 or above.