News

Riders to cop stick with padded whips on way

23rd Feb 2009

Herald Sun - Adrian Dunn - Monday, 23 February 23 2009

JOCKEYS will carry padded whips from August, against the wishes of the Australian Jockeys' Association.

Association chairman Ross Inglis said he was resigned to the rule being ratified by the Australian Racing Board on March 19.

He said state jockeys' associations had made a detailed submission to show there was no evidence current whips inflicted lasting injury or pain.

Inglis said perceptions needed to change, not whips.

"It's going to happen. We'll tolerate it, but there are a few issues with it," Inglis said.

"It's a perception thing. If the public thinks a padded whip lessens the impact, then I think that's going to win out."

Inglis said the size and length of the padded whip remained an issue.

Australian Jumps Racing Association secretary Peter Griffiths, a former jumps jockey, was instrumental in the introduction of padded whips in jumps racing several seasons ago.

Many Victorian riders, including Victorian Jockeys' Association board member Stephen Baster, remain unconvinced that padded whips would be beneficial.

Baster told the Herald Sun on January 19 padded whips could injure horses.

"If a horse is not responding, do you just hit them harder?" he said. "Some jumps jockeys use them, but you have to remember they are 10-15kg heavier and that makes a big difference."

Inglis said the interpretation of the use of the whip, particularly in the final 200m of a race, would cause continued debate.

He said it was impossible to put a figure on how many times a jockey could hit a horse inside the final 200m.

It is believed the new rules will prohibit jockeys hitting a horse every stride.

"In a desperate finish a jockey is expected to pull the whip," Inglis said. "Imagine the uproar if a jockey stopped using the whip in a close finish in a Golden Slipper because he had used up his allotted number of times he used the whip. It's unworkable."

Another contentious rule centres around how many times a jockey is allowed to use the whip before the 200m.

Inglis said a jockey should be able to use the whip at their discretion, especially if it was to "wake up" a horse.

"Sometimes you have to use the whip to get them going," he said.

Jockeys were adamant they must be able to carry whips in two-year-old races.

Inglis said whips served as a safety and educational tool on inexperienced juveniles, but he acknowledged there should be "limited use" of the whip on two-year-olds.

He also said there would be a 4 1/2-month education period for jockeys, trainers and owners.