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Friday September 3, 2010

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Under the whip: Jockeys stop work

Posted by: TheAge.com.au | 10 September, 2009 - 5:05 PM

Jockeys at Ballarat and Hawkesbury are holding stop work meetings to consider their position after the Australian Racing Board (ARB) rejected any change to the controversial whip rules.

The major feature races at Rosehill and Moonee Valley on Saturday could be under threat with the jockeys to consider strike action.

Representatives from all facets of the industry put forward a submission to the ARB today have the rule altered to allow jockeys to use their discretion over how many times they hit horses in the last 100 metres of a race as long as they are in contention.

Under the rule brought in on August 1, riders are restricted in the number of times they can use the whip inside the final 200 metres.

Along with the new rule, the ARB introduced padded whips to lessen the impact on horses.

The ARB says it will reconsider the matter in February as originally planned.

We don't whip our cats - yet

Craig Newitt "There is a very interesting debate happening at the moment in the horse racing world that highlights the gap between the racing industry and mainstream society." Read and comment on Peter Maher's editorial.

Blog comments Your Say

  • Des O'Keefe - you imbecile.

    Saying that horses are deserving of whips because they can hurt people is ridiculous. Humans can hurt people - should whips be introduced into the AFL? There is no horse as unruly as AFL players. While we are on this track, I might also add that horses treat women infinitely better than your average AFL player.

    I'm using AFL as an example only because it is as strong an institution as horse racing. So, should we bring our whips along to the footy to belt the players as they run past? Perhaps not.

    The horses would not even be there, running in large packs if it were not for the humans involved. The horses are innocently trying to just stay out of trouble - trying to avoid punishment. They are babies in fact - totally inexperienced. A 2 year old horse has not even fully developed it's bones yet. A horse's knees aren't finished forming until he is 5.

    Many people are suprised to hear that horses generally live to about 30. Because of the racing industry, people assume that horses all die at about 8 or 9. Because of the racing industry, horses are seen to be explosive, dangerous beasts. That is only because the racing industry pumps them full of hormones and 'energy' food. They sweat up through anxiety. They are frightened children. And then comes the whip....

    Danielle Seymour Friday 11 September, 2009 - 10:47 PM

  • Perhaps the jockeys could be "encouraged" to go back to work with a padded whip - as many smacks as it takes to encourage them to get back on the job? It doesn't hurt, right? It only ENCOURAGES.....according to "scientific" evidence anyway....!

    Justine Friday 11 September, 2009 - 8:51 PM

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