The continuing trend of more stringent rules regarding the use of the whip in racing has landed in Kentucky and is being discussed in California.
While Woodbine has been a leader in urging rules by a long margin (underhanded whipping only began last fall), tracks around the world have been slow to change rules. Fans watching tracks such as Oaklawn Park or Churchill Downs are still seeing heavy whipping in the stretch run of races either with horses in the fight for the win or horses fading.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission proposed regulations this week and it centres on a limit of 6 strikes of the whip per race, a rule that has been at Woodbine for several years and was adopted in Europe almost 8 years ago.
The discussion of urging rules is more hotly-contested in California as the California Horse Racing Board has laid out two items related to whip use this week. One is to modify the whip and the other is the use of it. The whip that is mentioned as the most likely to be accepted is one designed by retired rider Ramon Dominguez, the 360 GT. The CHRB proposal also states a limit of 2 strikes in succession and 6 times in total.
The Jockey’s Guild responded to the rules proposed in California – read here.
From Louisville-Courier Journal – Kentucky Commission adopts urging rule change:
Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day read Kentucky’s proposed regulations on whip use Tuesday afternoon and was relieved to be retired.
“It’s a good thing they didn’t have these rules when I was riding,” Day told his wife, Sheila. “We’d be sleeping under the bridge and eating out of a tin can.”
In approving a limit of six strikes per race and endorsing a steep fine schedule for violations, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is attempting to add costly consequences to cases of perceived animal abuse.
If the proposal survives public comment, legislative review and committee meetings, a first-time offender could be docked 30% of earnings for a seventh strike in a graded stakes race, and 60% for an eighth strike. A ninth strike could result in the forfeiture of a rider’s entire purse and trigger a one-day suspension. Read more here.
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