Jockey given official warning after using his cloth cap as whip on horse during race - The Mirror

Brazalian rider Edson Ferreira took the initiative after dropping his whip at the start of a race in Malaysia but the stewards were not impressed

A jockey found a novel way to encourage his horse after he dropped his whip in a race in Malaysia.

Edson Ferreira had his stick knocked out of his hand when it struck the frame of the starting stall as he exited the gate at Selangor.

Nevertheless his mount Apis was soon up with the pace and was leading the 1m contest turning into the straight.

Brazilian Ferreira was doing his best to maintain an advantage but when coming under pressure from rival Attention he had to find another aid without his whip.

He grabbed the yellow cloth cover from his skull cap and started waving it to encourage more from the horse.

It nearly paid off with Apis losing out on first place by just half a length, but he then had to face the Selangor Turf Club stewards to explain what he was doing.

The report said: “Jockey E Ferreira explained that after dropping his whip at the start, when in a prominent position near the 300M, he had removed his cloth cap and used it on four (4) occasions in a waving manner in an endeavour to encourage the horse to perform.

“He advised that this was not uncommon in his home country of Brazil.

“Whilst accepting his explanation, the Stewards did not apply a fine related to the drop whip given that he had struck the barrier on exiting, however, warned Jockey E Ferreira that he is not permitted, in future, to use any part of his apparel and use it in a manner to goad this horse given that nothwithstanding other issues, the waving of an item such as a cloth cap may distract or frighten other runners.”