A few weeks ago, a Kentucky governor passed a regulation against using steroids on racing horses. Today, Kentucky is taking another step to improve their Horse Racing scene. This time they are taking a humane route by regulating the type of whips used in Horse Racing. They may also ban several whipping techniques used by jockeys to make their mounts go faster.
A Kentucky welfare and safety panel took to voting last Monday – September 15. The group came to the agreement that they will be outlawing certain whips used by horse racing jockeys. The panel will also ban Riding crops that have snappers at the end. These types of crops are considered inhumane because they leave welts on the body of the horse. One-handed whipping will also be banned and jockeys are advised to keep their hands in front of their bodies during the race.
Approval of the following restrictions is up to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. The commission is to reconvene on September 22. Some members of the commission are positive that the regulations will pass and that these restrictions are long overdue. One commission member Alan Leavitt had this to say:
“The perception on the part of the gamblers was if the horse wasn’t really beaten, they weren’t getting their money’s worth. But most of the great drivers will tell you it doesn’t affect the way a horse races.”
I think we’re in danger of banning the whip altogether at this rate. And if that happens, racing will go. The fact is some horses wouldn’t get into the stalls let alone win a race without being whipped, in some cases quite hard. Too many jockeys are getting penalised for “overuse” of the whip, like the Australian Craig Newitt whose horse Pr-eminence won the race, which to my mind means he used the whip effectively.
I’m pro-whipping.You wouldn’t get some horses into the stalls let alone winning a race without using a whip.75% of UK races are won by horses that are whipped so it proves it works.That said we need some rules to avoid inappropriate whipping.But I’m worried we’re tying the jockey’s hands too much. I would like greater freedom for the jockey to use their whips as long as they were in serious contention in the race.
I think we’re getting a bit soft over this. Basically most horses need whipping to go faster and I would like jockeys have the freedom to whip as they see fit.
The gamblers are right. Most horses do need a whipping to make them winners. 3/4 of horse races in the UK are won by horses that have been whipped so it shows it works. As for welts, they simply show the horse has been given a decent whipping and we shouldn’t be ashamed of it.