JOSEPH O’Brien has called for stricter penalties for riders who break interference rules.
The top trainer reckons harsher action is needed to prevent a jockey from being seriously injured as a result of a riding offence.
There was another high-profile incident at Yarmouth this week, when Rab Havlin was banned for 10 days for causing interference – though he later announced he was appealing the decision.
Journalist and O’Brien’s race planner Kevin Blake has been vocal in his criticism at the way the interference rules are enforced in Britain and Ireland, and it’s a view the trainer shares.
O’Brien told Sun Racing: “I think the rules themselves are OK as they are, but I do believe the punishments need to be ramped up.
“It’s all well and good to say it’s just race riding or tough riding and that’s the way it should be.
“But it is already a dangerous sport and the margins are very fine. One bad fall can change somebody’s life.
“The stone-age tactics of tightening fellas up and squeezing them up against rails, that’s long gone. The rules should be strictly implemented and the punishments should be harsher.
“In the short term there will be jockeys who pay the price for it with long bans, but in the long term it’s for the safety of everyone involved and for the good of the sport
“The image of the sport is important, and we don’t want to be seen to be taking these matters lightly.”
Betfair ambassador O’Brien enjoyed a hugely successful career in the saddle for his father Aidan, riding winners all around the world.
And he said that Ireland is comfortably the toughest place he has ridden.
He said: “I have been on both sides of the fence so I know what it’s like, there is almost an ethos to ride tight and not to give an inch of room on your inside.
“It’s all well and good putting it down to race-riding, but it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or worse.
“There comes a time when the safety of man and beast has to come into consideration. The sport needs to move forward.
“I’ve been lucky to ride all over the world but you’ll find there aren’t any places where it’s as rough and as tight as it is in Ireland.
“Irish racing is world-renowned for being tough. Foreign jockeys didn’t used to look forward to coming to ride in Ireland because they knew what was in store.
“It’s not an issue in other countries as bans are bigger and you get disqualified very quickly, so everyone rides with a bit more room.”
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