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Joe is right and I did say in an earlier post that the whip is going to be banned eventually and all the arguing the pro’s and con’s will achieve nothing.
Why not beat the dolly do gooders to the punch and ban it ourselves and be in control of the situation?
Perception is the key to everything nowadays and any amount of arguing or discussing the toss will make no difference and even if it works will only be delaying the inevitable. Maybe let them have whips but don’t let them use them behind the saddle or something like would be possible
Maybe let them have whips but don’t let them use them behind the saddle or something like would be possible
That would be just about the best solution. And you’re also right about this, Raymo.
Why not beat the dolly do gooders to the punch and ban it ourselves and be in control of the situation?
Personally, I don’t think that racing or at least NH Racing will disappear with the whip. I never see the whip being used in showjumping competitions and they still have survived.
Of all the high-profile people who could talk sense on this issue (though I’m glad there is somebody taking the stand) why did it have to be Mark Johnston?
Most of the cognoscenti regard him as a crackpot who opposes any changes in the sport by default, with his bizarre stance on 48-hour declarations and wind ops particularly damaging to his credibility.
Hopefully others come out in support and shut down this debate.
As for any hypocrisy; human jockey hitting a horse with a stick has a downside of 100% horse; human jockey jumping a fence on the back of a horse has a downside of 50% each. The first is perceived as abusing a dominant position, and therefore “wrong”. The second is perceived as a shared risk, and therefore “sporting”. In the real world, perception is everything. Plus, horses cannot refuse the whip, but they can refuse to jump, even though they often like to jump fences when they have already disposed of their jockey.
Wrong, MV. You seem to be picking what the public perceive and what they understand.
“In the real world” the public don’t care about jockeys; rightly recognising it is a human’s choice in taking risks. Public perception is horses have NO CHOICE, no “shared risk” and nothing “sporting” as you suggest. Joe Public sees very few “refusing to jump” or continuing to jump riderless that it simply doesn’t enter their minds that horses have any sense of choice.Once the whip goes jump racing will soon follow and for you to think otherwise is just wishful thinking.
Value Is EverythingThe whip is a protective barrier that surrounds Racing, taking a lot of negative hits while protecting other aspects of our sport from low blows. Targeted because Racing’s anti’s know the whip is something they have a fair chance of banning, whilst the flimsy whip’s irradication – on what will be seen as welfare grounds – means there can be NO possible justification in keeping hard, hurting, injuring, killing obstacles found in National Hunt Racing.
The banning of the former will inevitably result in the latter’s demise.
Value Is Everything“The banning of the former will inevitably result in the latter’s demise.”
Presented as a factual statement but, for clarity, this is no more than an opinion GT.
“The banning of the former will inevitably result in the latter’s demise.”
Presented as a factual statement but, for clarity, this is no more than an opinion GT.
The whip is a protective barrier that surrounds Racing, taking a lot of negative hits while protecting other aspects of our sport from low blows
Mark, that’s a bit like arguing that the organisers of The Great Escape should have sent a dozen people out every day in broad daylight to try to scale the fence. Had they done that, do you think it would have been more or less likely that the guards would have sussed that something else might be going on somewhere?
Presented as a factual statement but, for clarity, this is no more than an opinion GT.
Sorry David, didn’t know I have to state “this is my opinion” in every post that does not agree with the site owner’s opinion.
If wishing to bury your head in the fibresand, that’s your prerogative.
But if not “inevitable” perhaps you could tell us, David/Joe/anyone: Once the soft, safe racing-whip is banned on what will be understood as welfare grounds – what then will be your justification/arguement for keeping the far more dangerous, solid, hurting, injury making, killer obstacles in the racehorse’s path; once (and they will) the anti-brigade come for your beloved sport?
Value Is EverythingAgree ginge,
is a bit of a head scratcher that oneGaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
GT has a massive point. You’ve got to ask yourself :-
1) How many horses has the soft-cushioned whip killed/injured since introduced?
2) How many horses have fences/hurdles killed/injured since said whip was introduced?I can only see it going one way if they did ban the whip.
Sending horses out to race next Tuesday / Wednesday in 34 degree heat will be far more barbaric than the use of a foam stick.
But i dare say the anti whip brigade will not be too bothered by that.Mark, that’s a bit like arguing that the organisers of The Great Escape should have sent a dozen people out every day in broad daylight to try to scale the fence. Had they done that, do you think it would have been more or less likely that the guards would have sussed that something else might be going on somewhere?
Eh?
Oh, Joe.
When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.Value Is Everythingif not “inevitable” perhaps you could tell us, David/Joe/anyone: Once the soft, safe racing-whip is banned on what will be understood as welfare grounds – what then will be your justification/arguement for keeping the far more dangerous, solid, hurting, injury making, killer obstacles in the racehorse’s path; once (and they will) the anti-brigade come for your beloved sport?
No answer was the stern reply.
Says everything.
Value Is Everything
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