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Golden is spot on in putting Jim’s big red hand up, and similarly, and in the same vein, we might recount the old Miller’s tale which tells of the young and freshly married Alison rudely offering her backside through the open window to her unknowing suitor Absolom who has requested a kiss, as she and her lover fall about afer as he takes the bait.
Racing should similarly protect its parts and pay no lip service to the abishionists as they call out for first the arm and then the death of Dirty Den in a diatribe of hate and a background of bear baiting wholefulness and righteousness.
FOBT is racing’s four letter word and the bookies have not only sworn to high heaven they have taken the sport to Dennis Nielsen’s bone cleaning Cleaners.
Look to the sparkling sight of Japan’s big four ££££ courses and the oil and industry that gels into profit and public pride. Say sayonara to Lad Broke, Bill the kill, Joe No Moral and Daddy Power’s sports book till, in a vote for the tote and a view to a kill
My sister came racing with me to Clonmel there before Christmas. She’s a big animal lover, dogs in particular, but has no interest in horseracing. One of her questions at the start of the day was about the whip and whether it was cruel or not. Once filled in on the composition, structure and usage laws it seemed to sit easier with her. Education helped. She wasn’t so happy about the horse that fell at the second last in one of the chases and didn’t get up though, I doubt she’d go again.
The RSPCA are onside, Ginger. David Muir their equine consultant to the BHA, himself an experienced horseman, is on record that the whip when used correctly under the current regulations is not a welfare issue, and he expects it will still be there in ten years time.
I’d have the RSPCA’s official viewpoint to the forefront of any campaign to defend its continued usage.
It seems to me that the communications defence strategy of the fight-for-the-whip supporters is ‘let’s just hope it doesn’t happen’
That’s understandable. I doubt there’s a reputable PR company anywhere that would take the brief with confidence.
I realised the RSPCA are officially onside, Cav. But you might have a totally different idea of what they think by reading some criticism/articles and misleading headlines by those journalists/people putting their own interests first. imo Their continued support can not be relied upon under today’s whip rules.
That said; to be honest I must have read a lot more RSPCA criticism rather than supportive stuff… And if my impression was they’re not exactly supportive, what does the public believe their opinion of the whip/racing is? So you’re right, we should use more of the good words made by Muir in defending our sport. Although will that put us at the beck and call of the RSPCA? Is that a good thing? And wWhat will happen once Muir retires?
Value Is EverythingCalling it the “whip” implies a severe instrument, it’s not. It’s an encourager that does not hurt a horse when correctly used. Everyone in Racing should be encouraged to call it a “whip encourager”, and then over many years slowly drop the “whip”.
Can’t agree with this bit Ginge. Straight away you’re implying that it is a severe instrument, thus the re-branding!
It’s all a bit “People’s Vote” to me…
Mike
I am a little bit concerned about fish farms. I still have a kipper in my fridge earmarked for tomorrow, but if you go to the wooded areas where these farms are often located and late at night, you hear a lot of thrashing.
The new padded whip has been around for a decade and its high time it was updated because it can according to some, cause some discomfort. The FLY is a much lighter whip, and although only on the drawing board, it’s high time it was rolled out and I can gurantee the public will fall hook line for the FLY.
Pythagorus is long dead but was of the opinion horses like other animals had souls amd were once inhabited by the souls of humans. If there is any truth in this, and of course Pythogorians wont kill animals, and eat plants and eggs ( strangely not beans ) I may delay my kipper until the Saturday.
“Whip” is a word that gives a false impression where as whip encourager gives a better view and an encourager much better. Wouldn’t be an official renaming; just a quiet word. Do get what you mean though; the innitial change might make people think we have something to hide, Mike. So you may well be right there. But similar things have happened with other Racing/horse words deemed offensive to the non-racing public. Nowadays, how often do we hear the word “destroyed”? Just gives the false impression of uncaring to the non-racing public so has disappeared. “Whip” just gives a false impression of severity for what it actually does. Maybe whip is a word too well known. If we could only rub the name out of history overnight.
Value Is EverythingPlease note that incorrect bits, and bad shoeing, can cause extreme pain. To suggest that horses don’t feel such things betrays ignorance.
Did anyone suggest an incorrect bit or bad shoeing doesn’t hurt?
Anything hurts if done incorrectly or badly, Louise. Incorrectly fitted girth or bridle, bad saddle, poor teeth care will all hurt a horse. With thoroughbreds even leaving them out in a field will hurt.
Value Is EverythingShould we not remove the memorial section to protect the face of racing ? There seem to be a paucity of natural deaths !
Hope those wanting a whip ban were watching the Champion Chase. Altior is getting lazy and probably wouldn’t have won without the whip when racing against a couple of strong travellers in Politologue and Sceau Royal.
Value Is EverythingThe best horse in the race – Defi – definitely would not have won if the anti-whip brigade had their way.
Value Is EverythingHorses feel the whip and that it why it is used. You notice the effect more on a stationary horse or one which moving at a slow pace. After a crack they might scoot off or go sideways. When used appropriately it’s a useful tool to correct behavioural problems.
Having done some competing myself and asked a tired horse to give its all I would like to see whip thresholds come down and harsher punishments imposed.
Actually, I don’t think my disqualification idea would work. As the RSPCA say themselves, what easier way would there be for a non-trier than for a jockey to make sure he/she breaks whip rules. However, imo demotion does work; losing a place/s when a jockey achieves the position only as a result of breaking the rules – this means a jockey can not deliberately lose by breaking whip rules.
So to change a little of what I originally wrote:
When a horse wins and the whip rules have been broken – just as interference rules – if breaking rules have not improved its position then it keeps the race. However, the jockey is given a ban and fined/prize money witheld. Amount of that ban/fine/witheld money in direct proportion to both how serious the infringement and value of prize (not just in prize money but also possible stud/progeny value). All connections (not just the jockey’s but owners and trainers as well) prize money witheld using the same proportions. Otherwise the owner will (from their own purse) just reimburse/reward a jockey. Money goes instead to Racehorse Rehabilitation Centres. For a minor breakage/offence it could be just 1/4 of prize money witheld, for more serious offences it could be all prize money plus an added jockey’s fine and ban. Punters paid out as usual.
However, when a jockey has infringed whip rules stewards consider if the horse has probably improved its position by breaking those rules and if so – just as interference rules – the horse is demoted. ie “Probable” meaning a better than 50% chance the result was changed, with the jockey who has not broken the whip rules given the benefit of any close/difficult decision. The horse demoted to a position they feel it would’ve achieved without infringement. Again, the offending jockey receives a riding ban, is fined/prize money witheld. Amount of that ban/fine/witheld money in direct proportion to both how serious the infringement and value of prize (not just in prize money but also stud/progeny value). All connections (not just the jockey’s but owners and trainers as well) prize money witheld using the same proportions. Otherwise, owners would just reimburse/reward a jockey from their purse. Prize money goes instead to Racehorse Rehabilitation Centres. Punters only paid out for the demoted place.
Any horse’s connections can go home worse off than they were prior to the race.
Jockeys deemed to have little/no regard to whip rules – either by one significant breakage or frequency* – have serious consequences and dealt with away from the day of race stewards room.
Bans:
I think we’ve all heard of jockeys not caring about whip rules when riding in valuable races because prize money and prestige of winning a big race more than makes up for missing time out with a ban. This has got to stop. Although as I said; a horse can not be disqualified from the particular race (in addition to demotion if improving the horse’s position) the jockey can be disqualified from riding in future races. Aswell as a ban covering all races, punishment can include future races of that particular grade for longer than the ban covering all races. eg If the offence was in a Group/Grade 1 or a race of over £XXX,XXX (big handicaps etc) then he/she is banned from riding in any race of any value for a certain amount of time plus from riding in valuable races for a longer period…* Frequency Punishments should be based on not the basic number of whip offences a jockey has been given, but the percentage of whip offences per placed rides (win plus placed efforts divided by number of rides). Frequency Punishments will obviously not cover jockeys based overseas racing in Britain. However, threat of demotion, witholding prize money of all connections, jockey, trainer and owner plus a heavy fine for the jockey should be sufficient deterrant to concentrate minds in any individual race. Allowance can be made of no frequency punishment in the fine given out.
Trainers and owners can receive a ban if their horses are regularly involved with whip offences.
Value Is Everything
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