RACING: Jockeys united to stage a walk-out protest against new restrictions on mobile phones yesterday.

They left the weighing room en masse in between the first and second races at Leicester, and staged a similar protest at Hamilton.

The jockeys at Leicester, who included champion Kieren Fallon, walked arm in arm outside the racetrack to the side of the road, where they are not restricted in using their mobiles, before returning in time for the second race. They took the action in response to new Jockey Club rules which state that from yesterday no jockey with a ride can use his or her mobile anywhere on the racecourse from half an hour before the first race until the last has started.

The measures have been imposed as a result of security concerns following a high-profile court case in which it was revealed that mobile phones were used to pass on information.

Instead, jockeys can only use one of three phones provided by weighing room security officers.

Richard Hills, fresh from scoring on favourite Al Sifaat in Leicester's opener, said: "It's like being back at school, being told to stand in the corner to talk to owners and trainers.

"We all work very long hours and with all the travelling we don't need this nonsense. Sometimes we don't have time to talk to owners in the morning due to riding out, so now we're being told we can't talk to anybody at work. It is basically ridiculous. Let's hope after today's protest that we can sit down with the Jockey Club and sort this problem out. All we want to do is to come to the races and do what we're paid for - that's race-ride."

Campaign leader Philip Robinson, who has set up a fighting fund and employed the services of a solicitor, said: "I don't know why we are being treated like this. Do they think we are gangsters or just schoolkids?"