British Horseracing Authority chief government Julie Harrington has responded to criticism of the game’s management amid persevering with outcry over the introduction of the brand new whip rules.

13-time champion coach Paul Nicholls mentioned on Friday he was “furious” with the timing of the adjustments forward of the Cheltenham Pageant, which begins on March 14, and that the BHA wanted to point out “a little bit of spine” to face up for the game.

A minimum of 19 jockeys got whip suspensions within the first week that the brand new guidelines got here into drive on February 19. An additional 12 riders have been suspended when the whip evaluate committee convened for a second time.

Nicholls accused the BHA of “appeasing” critics of the game somewhat than standing up for its members.

Talking on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme, Harrington mentioned: “Clearly I am disillusioned to listen to these feedback, however truly it does take spine to make some unpopular selections. We all know there’s large ardour on both aspect of the controversy concerning the whip and I’ve to be robust in that we’re not pandering to these individuals who won’t ever love the game.

“What we’re attempting to do is be sure that the game is honest and in addition that it is as engaging as doable to these individuals who do not have a powerful opinion both means on the game.

“I feel all people would agree there are totally different sides and totally different colleges of thought on whether or not the whip is a welfare difficulty, however I feel all people does agree that it’s a notion difficulty for the game. I feel it could be negligent of us to know that and simply sit and do nothing about it.

“The whip evaluate panel, on our behalf, was stuffed with individuals who work actually carefully with horses and it was their robust advice to proceed to maintain the whip for encouragement, as a result of they consider it’s not a welfare difficulty.

“Let me be clear, I don’t consider it is a matter of welfare, however I’m additionally main a sport the place I do know there’s a large, passionate debate on each side and distinction of opinion there.”

The adjustments to the whip rules see a discount of 1 strike. It will possibly now be used six occasions on the Flat and 7 over jumps, with a disqualification for the horse if riders go 4 or extra occasions over that threshold. Suspensions for jockeys are additionally extra extreme.

Harrington added: “It is also a equity difficulty, to verify we’ve got honest outcomes – in case you are connections of a horse that’s ridden inside the guidelines however you lose out to a horse that’s ridden exterior the principles, there must be ample deterrent to ensure that is honest and there is not a win in any respect prices mentality.

“There’s by no means a very good time to make adjustments and making adjustments is tough. There’ll all the time be individuals who disagree, however there’s a clear understanding that these guidelines are in place now and it is as much as the jockeys to trip inside these guidelines.”