Harness whip rules

[Messenger]

If we were serious about whips - Kerryn should have Plymouth Chubbs win taken off her

[Messenger]

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room...?news_id=44780

(4) For the purposes of sub-rule (3) a driver shall be deemed to have used the whip in an unapproved manner in the following circumstances which are not exclusive:-

(a) If the whip is applied excessively, continuously and/or without allowing the horse time to respond.

I think we need to put a number on this eg 10 strikes with 20 resulting in mandatory disqualification, then Kerryn may finally listen and not use it 30 times

[Messenger]

Kerryn is not the only one having trouble understanding animal welfare

Bendigo Dec 24
Jack Laugher, driver of Karalta Courage pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR156(2)(a) for using his whip with more than a wrist only flicking motion. In accordance with the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines and taking into account Mr.Laugher’s guilty plea and recent record under this rule, Mr.Laugher’s licence to drive in races was suspended for 14 days. The suspension was ordered to commence at midnight 31 December 2021.
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=BN241221

Mildura Dec 27 TWICE
Jack Laugher, the driver of Where Ya Bin NZ was fined $100 under AHRR 156(7) for applying his whip outside of the sulky confines near the 600m.

Jack Laugher, the driver of Starvin Marvin NZ pleaded guilty to a charge under AHRR 156(2)(a) for applying his whip in the home straight in more than a wrist only flicking motion. Mr Laugher was fined $200 and had his licence to drive in races suspended for a period of 2 weeks which was ordered to commence immediately following the 2 week suspension issued against Mr Laugher from Bendigo on Friday 24 December 2021. When considering penalty Stewards were mindful of Mr Laugher’s guilty plea and offence record. Mr Laugher was further cautioned for applying his whip following the completion of the event.
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=ML271221

Keep watching after they cross the line in R12 and you will see the above - which is pretty much where Jack has lost me
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...21#MLC27122109

Melton Dec 31
Jack Laugher, driver of Relentless Me, was found guilty of a charge under Rule 156(2)(a) in that inside the final 200m he applied the whip with more than a wrist and elbow flicking motion. In assessing penalty Stewards took into account the relevant factors as outlined with the HRV Stewards Minimum Penalty Guidelines placing weight on the Group 1 status of this race and Mr Laugher’s poor recent record. Stewards accordingly imposed a 3 week suspension of Mr Laugher’s licence to drive in races and a $500 fine. This suspension was ordered to be served cumulative to a suspension imposed on Mr Laugher at Mildura on 27 December 2021.
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=MX311221

[Messenger]

The whip rule is not being enforced - you are not allowed to use it 'continuously without allowing the horse time to respond'
Watch Lance Justice's rapid fire use of the whip on Love Ina Chevy in R8 at Melton last night - no mention in the Stewards column

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...22#MXC07012210

[Messenger]

Continuous is defined

Drivers will be deemed to have used the whip continuously and/or without allowing the horse sufficient time to respond, including but not limited to, when the whip is used on more than twenty (20) occasions over the final 200m. This is regardless of whether the whip is striking the horse or the sulky. Importantly, Stewards expect drivers to break up their use of the whip where possible and as previously defined a break of whip use, will constitute an obvious and identifiable pause when the whip is not utilised for a short period.

And as LJ only used the whip 20 times he is in the clear

I would have thought a rapid fire burst was not giving the horse time to respond but that is not how it is policed

[Messenger]

Sweden bans the whip

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.co...tion.%E2%80%9D

No mention of trotting

[Messenger]

LOL Asbestos Douglas cost himself a win in R8 at Mildura last night
After belting Ozzie Battler with the whip coming out of the gate
good trier Ozzie decided he had had enough and in the home straight resented being belted again and it cost them the race
I don't even know why Asbestos went for the whip in the straight as Ozzie seemed to be travelling well and putting in

Watch the replay and right from the start - tell me how this is a good look for harness racing

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...22#MLC22022201

ps Fined $200 - as if this is going to stop the belting

[Showgrounds]

The stewards must have nodded-off, how else do you get away with running a 34.7 second quarter in that class? The stable mate, driven by hose girl, was there riding shot gun with no intention of taking the leader on. I noted every time Ozzie Battler was whacked it turned its head in which cost it the race. I'm an each way bet as to whether this was an action of the horse or Douglas' sloppy control of the reins. We will never know because the stewards didn't bother to ask (it's a long trip home from Mildura). An old-style steward like John Wilson would have glared at him on the track then had his guts for garters in the stewards room.

[Messenger]

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=PC260222

From last Saturday's Menangle meet

LETSROCKLETSROLL – An inquiry into the whip use of driver Josh Aiken was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

ARTILLERY– Held up in the early stages of the home straight until gaining clear running passing the 200 metres. An inquiry into the whip use of driver KerryAnn Morris was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

MISS EXCLUSIVE– Driver Cameron Hart pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(7) for using his whip outside the confines of the sulky passing the 400 metres. After considering the recent record of Mr Hart, he was fined $200

SAVEEON– Trainer Ashlee Grives was fined $50 under Rule 268A(2) for failing to lodge a gear notification for the filly. Pre-race blood sample. An inquiry into the whip use displayed by driver Ashlee Grives was adjourned to a date to be fixed.

BUNDORAN NZ– Post-race swab sample. Driver Amanda Turnbull pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(3) for unapproved whip use, in that in that she applied the whip to the gelding in manner which was considered continuous in the home straight. After considering the recent record of Ms Turnbull, in addition to the Group 1 status of the event, she was fined $400.

STYLISH MEMPHIS NZ– Pre-race blood sample. Driver Jack Trainor was reprimanded under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference, in that passing the 350 metres he shifted wider on the track when not sufficiently clear of THE HONEY QUEEN NZ and as a result raced inside the line of that runner causing it to have to be steadied wider. Post-race swab sample. Driver Jack Trainor pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(2)(a) for unapproved whip use, in that he applied the whip to the mare over the concluding stages of the event in manner which was considered not to be a wrist only flicking motion. After considering the recent record of Mr Trainor, he was fined $400.

SPELLBOUND NZ– Pre-race blood sample. Broke stride during the middle stages of the score up. After considering the recent record of the mare, a warning was issued. Post-race swab sample. Driver Stuart McDonald pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(2)(a) for unapproved whip use, in that in that he applied the whip to the mare in the home straight in manner which was considered not to be a wrist only flicking motion. After considering the recent record of Mr McDonald, in addition to the overall Group 1 status of the event, he was fined $800.

JUST HOPE– Pre-race blood sample. Driver Nathan Jack was reprimanded under Rule 163(1)(a)(iii) for causing interference, in that passing the 300 metres he shifted wider on the track when not sufficiently clear of AMORE VITA NZ and raced inside the line of that runner causing it to be inconvenienced. Driver Nathan Jack pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(2)(a) for unapproved whip use, in that in that he applied the whip to the filly in the home straight in a manner which was considered not to be a wrist only flicking motion. After considering the recent record of Mr Jack, in addition to the Group 1 status of the event, he was fined $400. Driver Nathan Jack was cautioned under Rule 163A(1) for crossing his reins and saluting with a free hand over the final stages of the event.

DUGGEE SLOY– Driver Jack Callaghan pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(2)(a) for unapproved whip use, in that in that he applied the whip to the gelding in the home straight in a manner which was considered not to be a wrist only flicking motion. After considering the recent record of Mr Callaghan, he was fined $200.

HOT DEAL– Pre-race blood sample. Checked behind the tiring COMET CRUSADER NZ from the 600 metres to the 400 metres. Driver Aaron Dunn pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 163(1)(b)(i) for forcing another runner wider, in that passing the 500 metres he improved to the outside of the tiring COMET CRUSADER NZ which was hanging in under pressure and as a result placed DON LOU in a three wide position prior to the nominated marker. After considering the recent record of Mr Dunn, in addition to the particular circumstances of the incident, his licence to drive in races was suspended for a period of seven days. Driver Aaron Dunn pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(2)(a) for unapproved whip use, in that he had applied the whip to the colt in the home straight in a manner which was considered not to be a wrist only flicking motion. After considering the recent record of Mr Dunn, he was fined $400.

BLACK ONYX– Broke after the start. After considering the recent of the gelding, a warning was issued. Driver Lleyton Green pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 156(2)(a) for unapproved whip use, in that in that he applied his whip to the gelding in the home straight in a manner which was considered not to be a wrist only flicking motion. After considering the recent record of Mr Green, he was fined S200.

Yes that is 11 whip offences. Their rules are not proving a deterrent

Ray Chaplin reminded me of this Industry Notice from the HRA Executive back on June 7, 2017

The Executive of Harness Racing Australia (HRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to the removal of the use of whips in harness racing.
“The Executive is committed to the concept as unanimously endorsed at the HRA Annual Meeting last October,” Chairman Geoff Want said after a meeting in Sydney yesterday.
“Despite some objections from participants, this is an important animal welfare issue and we will continue to consult with the broader industry on the implementation date and procedures and to determine how to address their concerns”.
Want said that from the work already undertaken, the original implementation date of 1 September 2017 was not achievable and alternatives will be examined in the weeks ahead.

[Messenger]

Plenty of non-flicking whip actions in the 6 Menangle races on Saturday with Sofia belting home her winner probably the worst