Changes To Whip Rules

[mjs]

AMENDMENTS TO THE WHIP RULES (RULE 638(3)(c))

After very careful consideration, New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has decided to make some changes to the Rules regarding the use of the whip.  These changes were initiated by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities to try to achieve consistency with the use of the whip by Jockeys over the world.  As you will be aware, the use of the whip during a race is seen by many people as cruel and unless we take steps to change that perception we could face increasing opposition.  The changes to the Rules are for the welfare of the horse, to demonstrate that we are serious about caring for our horses.  The new Rules are intended to make sure that whips are not used in such a way that they cause unnecessary pain during a race.

The changes to the Rules will come into effect next Wednesday (12^th February).  These changes are:

• The whip must not be used if you are not in contention of running in the first five placings. – The whip should only be used to get the best out of your horse when in contention.  It is not a good look for horses out of contention to be getting hit with the whip.
• The whip must not be used on a horse’s flank. – The horse’s flank is a very sensitive area and getting hit there is painful.  This area must be avoided.
• The whip must not be used forward of the saddle whilst it is held in the forehand position. – A horse’s shoulder, neck and head are also sensitive areas and should not be hit with any force.  Tapping the shoulder using the whip in the downward position is ok.
• The whip must not be used in a manner which causes a welt and or injury. – Whips should be used for encouragement and not to cause injury.  Injuries and welts may be seen by spectators or on television and makes racing look bad.

In essence, most Jockeys will not have to make any changes to the way they use the whip currently, as it is not common for it to be used in a way which would breach the new Rules.  The new Rules are to show that there is no intention to use the whip irresponsibly.

The new Rules are not intended to collect more money in fines, the best outcome would be if no jockey was ever found guilty of breaking them.

The rule amendments will be published shortly and will be available on the LoveRacing website.

These are added to the existing rules, please check the rule book for all whip rules.

[Ponderosa8]

Interesting to read that it says:

The new Rules are not intended to collect more money in fines

So you have to wonder whether they will ever bring DISQUALIFICATION into the equation when the rules are broken.??

[Punchnblowmewait]

Absolutely agree with the first, second and fourth point.

That said, I have to admit I thought the 3rd point was already enshrined.

 

[Blue]

8 hours ago, Punchnblowmewait said:

Absolutely agree with the first, second and fourth point.

That said, I have to admit I thought the 3rd point was already enshrined.

 

Certainly not if Riccarton today was anything to go by.

[nomates]

Just watched La Parisienne win the first at Tauranga with Ace Lawson Carrol up , could someone tell me when he was clearly going to win ALC changed the whip into his other hand and hit the horse 2 more times .

I am so fucken over this shit , absolutely no reason for him to do this , 

Call me a do gooder I don't care , it's animal cruelty . 

[Blue]

1 hour ago, nomates said:

Just watched La Parisienne win the first at Tauranga with Ace Lawson Carrol up , could someone tell me when he was clearly going to win ALC changed the whip into his other hand and hit the horse 2 more times .

I am so fucken over this shit , absolutely no reason for him to do this , 

Call me a do gooder I don't care , it's animal cruelty . 

Even if you disregard the cruelty factor, it was entirely unnecessary. Won by four lengths. Rule three should refer to both hands on the reins at all times then the whip can only be used on the shoulder.

[nomates]

5 minutes ago, Blue said:

Even if you disregard the cruelty factor, it was entirely unnecessary. Won by four lengths. Rule three should refer to both hands on the reins at all times then the whip can only be used on the shoulder.

Exactly , I was watching thinking this is home and then I seen him drawing the whip through and thought don't you bloody dare , but he did and then another 100mtrs or so later when so close to home .

Completely unnecessary , I will be interested to see if the stipes say anything .

[Pak Star]

34 minutes ago, nomates said:

Exactly , I was watching thinking this is home and then I seen him drawing the whip through and thought don't you bloody dare , but he did and then another 100mtrs or so later when so close to home .

Completely unnecessary , I will be interested to see if the stipes say anything .

I was surprised this one didnt get brought up last week but possibly just as bad - whipping after the race has finished now..

Non Raceday Inquiry - Written Decision dated 28 January 2025 - Rohan Mudhoo - RIB  

[mjs]

7 hours ago, nomates said:

Just watched La Parisienne win the first at Tauranga with Ace Lawson Carrol up , could someone tell me when he was clearly going to win ALC changed the whip into his other hand and hit the horse 2 more times .

I am so fucken over this shit , absolutely no reason for him to do this , 

Call me a do gooder I don't care , it's animal cruelty . 

no mention in the stipes report of unnecessary use of whip on a runner clearly winning

[Blue]

Effective as from two days ago??? Farcical. #2 The whip must not be used on a horses flank. If the whip is used behind the saddle how can it NOT be used on the flank? Will never work unless the rule does not allow the whip to be used behind the saddle and two hands are on the reins at all times.

[Insider]

4 minutes ago, Blue said:

Effective as from two days ago??? Farcical. #2 The whip must not be used on a horses flank. If the whip is used behind the saddle how can it NOT be used on the flank? Will never work unless the rule does not allow the whip to be used behind the saddle and two hands are on the reins at all times.

Agree 100%.  Watch any race. 

[racingoutsider]

8 minutes ago, Blue said:

Effective as from two days ago??? Farcical. #2 The whip must not be used on a horses flank. If the whip is used behind the saddle how can it NOT be used on the flank? Will never work unless the rule does not allow the whip to be used behind the saddle and two hands are on the reins at all times.

Works everywhere else in the world. It must be used only on the hind quarters.

[Leggy]

Following on from this, I posted the below pics elsewhere but thought I'd put them here too. It's hard to get clear shots of these breaches given the available vision but in this case, it seems very clear to me, yet there is no mention of it in the stipes' report. Seems little point having these rule changes if they are not going to be enforced. Thoughts?

and a few strides later ...

[scooby3051]

From these it looks like the horse is definitely being hit in the flanks...and as you say why was nothing said about it.

No point having rules if they are not enforced...also we need to seriously look at any whip rules times have changed and peoples views on it have changed to...Racing MUST move with the times, another thing I hate to see in these days is spurs....they also need to go.

[scooby3051]

Show's clearly...so if it can be easily found, why can the stewards not find it???

• The whip must not be used in a manner which causes a welt and or injury. – Whips should be used for encouragement and not to cause injury.  Injuries and welts may be seen by spectators or on television and makes racing look bad.

[nomates]

Yeah but 30% of the population have no issue with it , and according to one disenfranchised forum owner that's a "good to go" reason to keep it .

Are you going to get these photos forensically tested ? The veracity of them is also being questioned by said disenfranchised person .

[scooby3051]

1 minute ago, nomates said:

Yeah but 30% of the population have no issue with it , and according to one disenfranchised forum owner that's a "good to go" reason to keep it .

Are you going to get these photos forensically tested ? The veracity of them is also being questioned by said disenfranchised person .

If we just keep burying our heads in the sand over this type of thing...it just gives fuel to the greenies...we MUST change with the times...days of whips hurting horses are long gone...and rules on it need to be fully enforced.

How these pics could be anything but real beat me...but hey you can argue about anything if you want..whether right or wrong...

[BUCKY]

10 minutes ago, scooby3051 said:

From these it looks like the horse is definitely being hit in the flanks...and as you say why was nothing said about it.

No point having rules if they are not enforced...also we need to seriously look at any whip rules times have changed and peoples views on it have changed to...Racing MUST move with the times, another thing I hate to see in these days is spurs....they also need to go.

Second rate Stipendiary Stewards looking to get away from racedays with as little work as possible...too frightened to 'rock the boat'. Thats why so much is ignored. And why the ' elephant ' in the room, i.e. relegation or disqualification for excessive whipping hasnt been pursued. The real reason the stewards opposed it?..more actual work for them. Nothing to do with horse welfare or public perception of racing.

[nomates]

4 minutes ago, scooby3051 said:

If we just keep burying our heads in the sand over this type of thing...it just gives fuel to the greenies...we MUST change with the times...days of whips hurting horses are long gone...and rules on it need to be fully enforced.

How these pics could be anything but real beat me...but hey you can argue about anything if you want..whether right or wrong...

Well that horse that won the last with Satherley up would not have won without the excessive use , and I backed it , never felt it was going to win it . To only get a $300 fine is ridiculous , absolutely no deterrent to prevent it happening again , the jockey still walked away making money .

Unless the authorities take a real stance then nothing is going to change .

A protest by an owner of a horse beaten narrowly by a horse getting over whipped will shake things up , that then puts the ball in the RIU and stipes hands and what they say and do will be scrutinized closely . Change the result and the precedent is set and that will definitely make riders think more than twice about what they are doing in a race and near the finish . I don't cop this crap that they can't count during a race .

Don't change the result and they are opening a pandoras box , they will have to state their reasoning and leave them completely open .

They don't want to really touch it without it being forced upon them .

Bring on the first owner with the "Big Kahunas" to do something .

[BUCKY]

1 minute ago, nomates said:

Well that horse that won the last with Satherley up would not have won without the excessive use , and I backed it , never felt it was going to win it . To only get a $300 fine is ridiculous , absolutely no deterrent to prevent it happening again , the jockey still walked away making money .

Unless the authorities take a real stance then nothing is going to change .

A protest by an owner of a horse beaten narrowly by a horse getting over whipped will shake things up , that then puts the ball in the RIU and stipes hands and what they say and do will be scrutinized closely . Change the result and the precedent is set and that will definitely make riders think more than twice about what they are doing in a race and near the finish . I don't cop this crap that they can't count during a race .

Don't change the result and they are opening a pandoras box , they will have to state their reasoning and leave them completely open .

They don't want to really touch it without it being forced upon them .

Bring on the first owner with the "Big Kahunas" to do something .

The Rules do not allow for an owner to protest on those grounds. The stewards-particuarly one steward who has been around too long and is very vociferous-oppose an amendment to the Rules to allow connections or themselves to lodge a protest. 

[Leggy]

22 minutes ago, BUCKY said:

The Rules do not allow for an owner to protest on those grounds. The stewards-particuarly one steward who has been around too long and is very vociferous-oppose an amendment to the Rules to allow connections or themselves to lodge a protest. 

Correct. It requires a change to the rules and the penalty guidelines. If they won't do it on the basis of animal welfare, they should at least do so for the welfare of the industry, preferably both. The case in the photos above was ALSO exessive use imo. The horse was struck repeatedly, even though not responding.

[scooby3051]

So how to get the rules changed???I agree if I was the owner of the 2nd horse on Saturday I would have been filthy...the winner cheated, and a small fine will NOT stop it happening.

And the horse yesterday he used an arm motion above the shoulder I thought that was Illegal too...but nah no worries close one eye and move on...totally unprofessional from the top down.

[scooby3051]

I thought this was an illegal action...or am I wrong...once again crickets from the stewards.

[Leggy]

51 minutes ago, scooby3051 said:

So how to get the rules changed???

That's the $64,000 question. Maybe post here evidence of breaches every week, if not every race day? After a few weeks if nothing happens, maybe send that to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities and see if they think NZTR are in compliance. Nothing else seems to have worked. Even NZTR's own welfare team seem to be silent and inactive, if not oblivious to the concerns. 

[scooby3051]

Happy to have a thread here for that where people can post the evidence...then see where it goes from there...things MUST get changed...no wonder NZ Racing is seen as a joke.