RV have proposed that from January 1, 2021 riders will only be able to hit a horse a maximum amount of times (between five to eight) in a race, steering away from the current rule that restricts a jockey from using their whip more then five times prior to the 100 metre mark and then as many times as they like for the rest of the race.
Jockeys will also be restricted to hitting a horse at a maximum of once every two strides.
In a statement released on Monday, RV said: “RV believes that the current national whip rules are no longer appropriate and not in the best interests of Victorian and Australian racing, both now and in the long term.
“In calling for whip reform, RV articulated that jockeys should be permitted to continue to carry whips at all times, but that the industry should be working towards a framework where their use is only permitted in circumstances necessary to protect the safety of riders and horses.
“As part of its ongoing commitment to national policy discussions, RV formally tabled its view with Racing Australia in February 2020 that changes to the national whip rules are essential for the future of Victorian and Australian racing.”
Australia's turn?
Whip restrictions have been implemented across a number countries with the like of Britain only allowing jockeys to hit their horses seven times in a race, Ireland eight times and France five times, and RV Chief Executive Giles Thompson believes Australia must follow suit.
Giles Thompson (right)
“We want to reduce the number of times the whip can be used in Victorian racing, and indeed nationally, from 2021,” Thompson said. “This would be an important step in the right direction for our industry, one that recognises the progression of community attitudes in the decade since padded whips were first introduced.
“Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and key states in the USA have either implemented or announced significant reductions in permitted whip use and have seen great competitive racing continue.
“At this time Australian racing has been left behind when it comes to reforms on whip use.”
Thompson called for the rest of the states in Australia to follow Racing Victoria’s lead and said they will be consulting with key stakeholder groups in the coming months.
Poor consultation
Many industry stakeholders felt somewhat blindsided by the announcement on Monday, with Victorian Jockeys Association CEO Matt Hyland saying he was not given any notice about the proposal and that the jockeys have had little say in the matter.
“It’s fair to say to we were disappointed we hadn’t had any consultation in regards to the media release that went out on Monday and we’ve expressed that view to Racing Victoria,” Hyland told TDN AusNZ.
“It’s okay to then have an opinion on what they think the potential future of the whip looks like, however, we would have much rather had a proper consultation and discussed it, and then have an opportunity to position ourselves forward and start the discussion in a proper manor.”
“It’s okay to then have an opinion on what they think the potential future of the whip looks like, however, we would have much rather had a proper consultation and discussed it." - Matt Hyland
As for his view on banning the whip, Hyland said there were a number of stakeholders within the industry that need to be considered rather than just the jockeys’ association.
“Obviously we are the key stakeholder group,” the VJA CEO said. “But there’s a number of stakeholder groups that make up the racing industry that would definitely be affected in some capacity by that decision, should it become implemented.
“Reading their document, even in their own words it seems like it’s in the distant future but I think it would take a lot of discussion and a lot of consultation.
“The important thing for Racing Victoria is to respect the views from within the racing industry before they start concerning themselves with people outside of the racing community.
“Discussion will always create different ideas and it’s a matter of finding the balance.”
Champion jockey turned trainer Ron Quinton doesn’t believe that whips should be banned but is in favour of further restricting its use during a race.
Ron Quinton
“I don’t agree with banning the whips at all,” Quinton said. “I’ve always maintained that the whip for a jockey is a tool of trade and it’s not a cruel thing. My view would be to have restrictions on the whip but in a common sense way.
“I think there’s got to be a restriction on the number of times the whip can be used on a horse and in a different fashion. In my opinion it could be used on a horse every second stride, not relentlessly and I think think if you went that way it would be a more common sense approach.
“I think something like that would be viable. I’m not quite sure of the number but it’s definitely got to be restricted to a degree for sure. Whipping horses in consecutive strides has got to be taken out of it.”
"I’m not quite sure of the number but it’s definitely got to be restricted to a degree for sure. Whipping horses in consecutive strides has got to be taken out of it.” - Ron Quinton
Quinton also highlighted that completely banning the whip would see riders having to readjust the way that they ride.
“Some of the top jockeys probably will have no trouble doing that but some of the other jockeys that have been brought up many years ago would have to really readjust their styles,” he said.
The Randwick trainer said there had been discussion between Racing NSW on the subject of whip restrictions but there wasn’t any mention of banning it completely.
“Racing NSW had a hook up with some of the other states, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia, and this is going back a few months ago, but there was no mention of banning the whip, it was more about the consecutive stride part and the number of times it can be used on a horse,” Quinton said.
Current whip rules allow jockeys to hit their mount five times before the 100 metre mark and then as many times as they like in the final stage of the race.
Improving perceptions
Quinton said that restricting the use in the final 100 metres would help improve public perception.
“My view is that the last 100 is where everyone sees it and it would be better off restricting the number of times hit and not in consecutive strides,” he said.
“Personally I think the racing industry has done everything in its power to please everyone. We’ve changed the style of the whip and made them very flexible and we’ve made the whips as kind as we possibly can.”
Fellow champion jockey Darren Beadman echoed Quinton’s opinion in that whips are a necessity but their use should be limited.
Darren Beadman (right)
“'Whip' is a pretty hard word to describe them as,” Beadman told TDN AusNZ. “They call it a crop in showjumping and pony club. I was brought up with using the crop.
“I think that horses do need a little wake up and it depends on how the crop is used.
“When I was riding, we rode under a different set of rules and regulations and obviously you’ve got to abide by the rules and regulations and they’re a lot different now, and it looks like they’re going to be different again.
“I do think that riders do need to give a horse a wake up otherwise some horses will probably be cantering around.”
Beadman said he would support the implementation of a maximum number of times a whip can be used throughout a race, and he thinks that it would ultimately lead to jockeys becoming better riders.
“I’ve always been an advocate of minimal use of the whip,” Beadman said. “In both of my Melbourne Cups, I never used the crop once.
“I’m a huge supporter that there should be a maximum throughout a race and I think that five or six times would be sufficient.
“And it makes the jockeys better riders. Sometimes riders can get a bit lazy and there’s a lot more effort in pushing a horse out than there is in using the crop.”
