Karis Teetan has succeeded in reducing his whip-use suspension, but stewards have made it clear that the grace period for Hong Kong’s new whip rules is over.
Teetan’s appeal against a two-meeting ban for breaching the new consecutive-stride rule was upheld on Thursday, with the penalty cut to one race meeting on November 12 and a HK$30,000 fine. The Appeal Panel said the decision was made within the “leniency period” that has been in place since the rule’s introduction at the start of the season but confirmed that period will end after next Wednesday.
The 34-year-old Mauritian rider was originally banned for his winning ride on Kyrus Dragon at Happy Valley on October 8, where stewards ruled he used his whip in consecutive strides at least 12 times before the 100-meter mark.
The new regulation, introduced under Rule 100, was part of a major reform to address equine welfare concerns and align Hong Kong with international standards. Under the change, jockeys are prohibited from using the whip in consecutive strides before the 100-meter point but may use it freely in the final stages of a race.
At the start of the 2025–26 season, chief steward Marc van Gestel said the rule aimed to “address perception issues in respect to equine welfare and whip use” and was designed to harmonize Hong Kong’s approach with other major racing jurisdictions involved in the World Pool.
Van Gestel also made it clear that the initial leniency period was intended only to help riders adjust. From November 12, full enforcement will apply and future breaches are expected to attract tougher penalties than the one Teetan successfully appealed.
