Cracking Down : Cauthen Suspended Four Days for Misuse of Whip at London Track

Jockey Steve Cauthen was suspended for four days on Thursday for misuse of the whip, marking only the third time he has been set down since arriving from the United States in 1978.

The suspension imposed by Jockey Club stewards will sideline Cauthen from Aug. 8-11.

Cauthen, a multiple winner of Britain’s jockey championship and winner of the Triple Crown, was suspended after using his whip 13 times on Witness Box during the running of the Goodwood Cup Thursday.

“It was done in the heat of the moment, but I don’t feel I was abusing the horse,” Cauthen said. “He is a lazy horse, and every time I hit him he was responding.”

Cauthen criticized the rule, introduced this season to protect horses from excessive use of the whip.

“I admit I hit the horse down the shoulder, but I think it is a bad rule--particularly to do with hitting horses down the shoulder,” Cauthen said. “Basically, we have been taught to ride that way all our lives.

“The rule was brought in because some Irish jockeys flogged some tired horses over jumps at Cheltenham. They made the rule for the flat as well, but jump and flat racing are two different things.”

Other top British jockeys including Pat Eddery and Willie Carson have also been suspended under the ruling.

“Racing is about competition,” Cauthen said. “They are not allowing us to be jockeys and race to the line, giving our all.”