Harness whip rules

[Messenger]

The whip rules are a joke
95% of Drivers Do Not use a flicking action

Nathan Jack would seem to be a bit of a scapegoat as it appears that he was fined $800 for whipping Mach Dan away at the barrier and so he should be as it was nothing like a flicking action and like all the old replays IS NOT A GOOD LOOK for the sport

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...22#PCM12032210

But where is the consistency in enforcement
Have a look at Sofia get Credit Master home last week. No mention. What is the difference?

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...22#PCM05032204

At sometime we are going to have to trial No Whips (carried for emergency only)

[Messenger]

Check out Glenn Douglas belting home another one in the last at Wang tonight and another fine (only)

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...22#WNC13032202

We are still awaiting the adjourned inquiry of him for R7 at Boort last Sunday!
Still nothing in the Stewards Report for that Boort meet

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=BT060322

and yet if you look at the results it now has D/S Driver Suspended

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...22#BTC06032204

if the adjourned inquiry has been concluded it should be attached to the Boort stewards report retrospectively (other things have been) for the stewards are at pains to tell us nowadays
‘This report and the Stewards Comments for this meeting may be amended at the sole discretion of the Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards as races are reviewed as per the ‘HRV Stewards Internal Review Process’.

While looking for Boort as an attachment to a more recent stewards report I found that Jack Laugher had copped another 5 weeks for belting one at the trials!
see below

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=SP080322

Nothing on Douglas from Boort but amazingly today's Birchip Stewards Report is already up and Denbeigh Wade copped 5 weeks for mistaking the laps at Boort

ps To the stewards - we are going to need to see the write up behind Douglas's D/S from Boort

[Showgrounds]

Jack Laugher may have learnt his whip lesson, he has now taken to kicking horses instead. Watch him on Ozzie Playboy in race 5 at Melton Saturday night. Watch him at the apex of the home turn, 5 big ones with his left foot.

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=MX120322

I only watched the last half lap but called it out straight away. The stewards must have been looking for a missing pack of Tim Tam's because it didn't rate a mention!

I suspect one of their guide dogs ate them.

In relation to HRV's equivalent to the Leadbeater's possum perhaps the stewards have adopted a strategy of milking Glenn Douglas's bank accounts dry before disqualifying for life. Wishful thinking perhaps, but he should be charged with bringing the sport into disrepute. That assumes a member of the public actually bothered to watch his performances.

[Messenger]

It turns out I missed the update on Douglas in a Bendigo Stewards Report - no wonder it was called 'General' not Supplementary
Here it is

Stewards concluded an Inquiry into the driving actions of Glenn Douglas(Malava Miss).

Further evidence was taken from Mr Douglas, who explained that his drive had broken when initially restrained on the back of Beach Time near the 1300 metres and after a making up ground lost when breaking and then working around the field again he shifted wide near the 900 metres so as not to restrain his drive, believing his best option was to then attempt to get to the position outside the leader. Stewards charged Mr Douglas pursuant to Rule 149(2), “ a driver shall not drive in a manner which in the opinion of the Stewards is unacceptable”. The particulars of the charge being that, as the driver of Malava Miss which had broken and lost ground near the 1300 metres , he then aggressively drove his horse forward with the whip, rejoined the field and progressed forward wide on the track , continuing to drive his horse with the whip when there was no realistic prospect of getting to a position closer to the marker pegs as the field raced down the home straight with a lap left to race, actions which, were, in the opinion of Stewards unacceptable and detrimental to its finishing position.

Mr Dougas declined to enter a plea to the charge and after giving consideration to the totality of the evidence, including the official race replays and their own observations Stewards found Mr Douglas guilty of the charge. In assessing penalty, Stewards considered all relevant factors as outlined in the HRV Minimum Penalty guidelines, that no plea was entered, Mr Douglas’ record under this rule with his most recent offence being in 2019 and the level of culpability which was deemed to be significant. Mr Douglas was suspended for a period of six weeks, with a start date to be advised. Mr Douglas was advised of his right to appeal.

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=BN090322

The 6 weeks penalty is pathetic
What with the Interdom penalty of 6mths from 3yrs ago, still not having been served I am starting to wonder whether Glenn Douglas has something on the stewards

[Messenger]

While looking for Boort as an attachment to a more recent stewards report I found that Jack Laugher had copped another 5 weeks for belting one at the trials!
see below

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=SP080322

Pretty embarrassing IMO that this horse flogger who is about to begin another suspension wins the Drivers Championship at Horsham today - maybe they need a sub rule that if you are actually suspended (due to be) you cannot compete

[Showgrounds]

Further to G Douglas' merciless flogging of Malava Miss at Boort, here is the stewards exceptionally lenient reaction to his two Wangaratta drives last night (races 6 & 7). Spare us all but, more importantly, spare the horses!

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=WN130322

[Messenger]

Further to G Douglas' merciless flogging of Malava Miss at Boort, here is the stewards exceptionally lenient reaction to his two Wangaratta drives last night (races 6 & 7). Spare us all but, more importantly, spare the horses!

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=WN130322

It is unbelievable

RACE 6 – YARRAWONGA REFRIGERATION & AIRCONDITIONING WANGARATTA PACING CUP (2210 MS)

Modern Bill (Shannon O’Sullivan) hung outwards shortly after the start was effected.

Ellen Tormey, driver of Brallos Pass ($8.50) which finished in 8th and last position beaten 31.8m after racing outside the leader was queried into the seemingly poor performance of the entire. Ms Toremy advised the entire raced roughly passing the 400m and failed to race in a genuine manner thereafter. Mark Watson, trainer advised the entire to be disappointing and will have blood samples obtain in the coming days. A post-race veterinary examination failed to reveal any abnormalities. Mark Watson will be contacted in the ensuring days to the progress of the entire from the event.

Glenn Douglas, driver of Rick Reilly NZ pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 156(3) in that he applied the whip to the gelding on more occasion than is permitted inside the final 200m. In assessing penalty Stewards were mindful of the relevant considerations as outlined within the ‘HRV Stewards Minimum Penalty Guidelines’, placing particular weight on Mr Douglas guilty plea his prior record in this being his second offence within 28 day period. Mr Douglas was fined the sum of $200.

RACE 7 – MICK CAREY WANGARATTA TRIBUTE PACE (1800 MS)

Ultimate Hughey (Brooke McPherson) was fractious during the early stages of the score up. A warning was issued against the gelding manners.

One Two Many (Jordan Leedham) raced roughly passing the 600m and again passing the 200m where the gelding hung inwards and locked wheels with Cheddar Valley (Bailey McDonough) a warning was issued against the racing manners of One Two Many.

Glenn Douglas, driver of Treacherous Rock pleaded guilty to a charge under AHR Rule 156(3) in that he applied the whip to the gelding on more occasion than is permitted inside the final 200m. In assessing penalty Stewards were mindful of the relevant considerations as outlined within the ‘HRV Stewards Minimum Penalty Guidelines’, placing particular weight on Mr Douglas guilty plea his prior record in this being his second offence within 28 day period. Stewards were mindful Mr Douglas had not been proven to a charge in race prior. Mr Douglas was fined the sum of $200.

Stewards intend to review all wagering in regards to this event



So even though it was his second offence (that they had seen) within in 28 days he still only cops $200 and then when he does it again in the next race he only cops another $200

Lucky he didn't have a clean slate for the month or else the stewards would probably have given him a bunch of Scratchies and a meal voucher

[Messenger]

This could give the whip rules teeth

66. A horse may be disqualified from a race or placed in a lower finishing position in a race if the horse -

(i) is driven in a manner prejudicial or detrimental to the reputational interests of harness racing.

http://www.harness.org.au/rules/MEETRACE.HTM

[Messenger]

Here is an interim measure until we eventually ban whips

Whips can only be used in the last 400m of a race

If a horse cannot lead without being whipped then he cannot lead

[Messenger]

Clearly the Vics that don't understand the whip rule
At Menangle tonight Josh Aiken fined TWICE, Jackie Barker absolutely belted Joanna all the way up the straight and fined