Harness whip rules

[Messenger]

I am truly embarrassed at Victoria's lack of enforcement of the whip rules

Take the winners of the 10 races at Shep last night, watch them for the length of the home straight and you will see that only Nathan Jack followed the rules

How did Shannon OSullivan get away with that in R7 and Jack Laugher was no better in R9

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...s/?mc=SP250522

In case you have forgotten Rule 156, it includes:

(2) (a) A driver shall only apply the whip and/or the rein in a wrist only flicking motion whilst holding a rein in each hand with the tip of the whip pointed forward in an action which does not engage the shoulder.

(b) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (a), “wrist only flicking motion” means:-

(i) Ensuring no force is generated by the use of the elbow or shoulder when applying the whip.

(ii) The forearm is not raised beyond forty-five degrees relative to the racing surface.

(iii) Not applying the whip with overt force.

Have our stewards given up or don't they care?

Offending drivers DO NOT tell me you are horse lovers or at least qualify it with "when it suits my hip pocket"

[Messenger]

I waited for the Shep Stewards Report to come out before returning to this topic (which I will eventually move into the Harness Whip Rules thread)

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/st...l/?mc=SP250522

Zip, other than young Cody Crossland being cautioned for his use of the whip when out of contention nearing the finish. There is no footage and with the horse tailed off after galloping, I imagine that he used the race as a workout and up the straight simulated being in the finish

Thinking of PP's take on Eagle Farm yesterday, would we allow human athletes to be whipped for sport and entertainment? The American gymnastics team may have come close but the answer is No

It is interesting how the HRV Chief of Stewards and Andrew Kelly, CEO of HRA do not reply to your email when the topic is not one they wish to discuss (guessing this to be the case of course)

If tomorrow, whips were carried but only for use in controlling a horse both codes would carry on without missing a beat (no pun intended)

[Messenger]

I know he is a living legend but not even a caution for Brian in R1 at Shep last night

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...22#SPM02072204

Maybe that is what he was fined for in R2 as he was just as bad

https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fi...22#SPM02072207

[Messenger]

Just listening to Dan saying how the winner of R7 at Ararat today is Kerryn Manning's favourite horse
and although there is certainly not anything excessive about her whip action today, she still hits her favourite
It is all about the 'wrist action' - only wrist action is allowable if drivers are to merely use a 'wrist only flicking motion'

I am sorry for being a stickler but after all their noise HRA, Stewards etc do not seem to give a $*@%

[Messenger]

JB clearly does not know the whip rule as he is joking about Jodi Quinlan dislocating a shoulder to get the favourite home in R4 at Cranbourne

[Messenger]

PP found this table in the British Horse Racing's Whip Consultation Report just released

IMO the General Public opinion (bottom line) is something that we must start taking more notice of

Here is the link but it is on page 82 of a 96 page download

https://media.britishhorseracing.com...ion_report.pdf

The link came from this ThoroughbredNEWS article

https://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/...=International

Sorry that it is a bit small but this site will not let me attach a larger file. The 'Should not be Used' percentage for the General Public is 81.4%

[aussiebreno]

PP found this table in the British Horse Racing's Whip Consultation Report just released

IMO the General Public opinion (bottom line) is something that we must start taking more notice of

Here is the link but it is on page 82 of a 96 page download

https://media.britishhorseracing.com...ion_report.pdf

The link came from this ThoroughbredNEWS article

https://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/...=International

Sorry that it is a bit small but this site will not let me attach a larger file. The 'Should not be Used' percentage for the General Public is 81.4%

Of that 81.4% how many would actually contribute to the racing industry even if the whip was totally banned?

Of that 81.4% how many actually feel strongly about the matter that they would campaign to threaten racings existence, rather than just a passing answer on a survey?

[Messenger]

I hear what you are saying Brendan but it is a disturbing number
PS If someone mounted a campaign, I would support it AS it would not threaten racing's existence - simply force it to change

[aussiebreno]

I hear what you are saying Brendan but it is a disturbing number
PS If someone mounted a campaign, I would support it AS it would not threaten racing's existence - simply force it to change

It is a slippery slope though Kev

[aussiebreno]

Kev - I havent watched the replay so not sure how bad it was but McMullen was fined in the dead heat for whip use. I would argue if you dont get the race taken off you after dead heating they need to rename the shorthand from UW to AW. Clearly its acceptable. Just a rule to line pockets and look good.