Racing: Whip fine for trainer

THE CONTROVERSY over the rules on whipping took a fresh turn yesterday when the trainer Sue Bramall was fined pounds 200 by the stewards at Warwick for condoning the riding of John Burke after he was banned for excessive use of the whip on Veleda II.

The incident followed the suspensions imposed on Adrian Maguire and Declan Murphy for their riding in Monday's King George VI Chase and the same stewards' secretary, Jeremy Ker, was involved again. He said Mrs Bramall was fined for 'not giving her jockey adequate instructions and condoning what he did'.

Burke hit Veleda II 15 or 16 times as he forced the gelding home by a head in the novice handicap chase. Rodney Farrant, the rider of the runner-up, was suspended for two days for striking his mount eight or nine times.

Murphy's appeal against his ban will be heard on Tuesday at 10.30am by the Jockey Club.