Just enforce more serious rule (as per Rhys Nicholson) and disqualify the horses. Tough, but would get rid of the problem.
Following on top of the above
Check out the whip actions in the Echuca Cup tonight - yeah they're just using a flicking action
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...21#ECC19032101
It seem the bigger the race , the more the rules are ignored.
Stewards either have to inform participants that from now on - demotion is a real possibility
Or we ban the whip (only carried for horse management)
Or we stop pretending
And don't tell me the horses don't feel it - or why would the drivers being doing it with such force
per un PUGNO di DOLLARI
Just enforce more serious rule (as per Rhys Nicholson) and disqualify the horses. Tough, but would get rid of the problem.
The quinella drivers suspended - we await stewards report for details
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And you had to feel for Daryl Douglas to some extent as even though he could have got a warning he was definitely mindful of the whip rule but could see those either side of him flaunting it. This is demonstrated by his winning drive in the Trotters Cup/Bucket where he needed to make ground but observed the whip rule
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...21#ECC19032109
The Hargreaves/Ashwood protest against him was frivolous as all he did was clip a couple of pegs
ps A half decent drive on the 3rd horse in the trot, should have seen it win
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A total contrast to Aiken's drive on $1.40 Honolua Bay at Melton tonight
I know he had done it hard early but I am not sure he used the whip in the finish, he knew the winner had him but he certainly didn't show any of last night's vigour to try and hold second
The owner would not be complaining, the problem with whips is that people expect you to use them
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fie...21#MXM20032102
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Stewards inquired into the whip use of driver Josh Aiken (Malcolms Rhythm). Mr Aiken pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a). In determining penalty stewards considered Mr Aiken’s recent record under the rule, the severity of the breach, the HRV Minimum Penalty Guidelines and the Group 3 status of the event. Mr Aiken’s licence to drive in races was suspended for 2 weeks, to commence at midnight on 20/3/2021. In addition, a $400 fine was also imposed.
Stewards inquired into the whip use of driver Leigh Sutton (Like A Wildfire NZ). Mr Sutton was fined $200 pursuant to Rule 156(3) for exceeding the maximum permitted number of whip strikes and he also pleaded guilty to a charge pursuant to Rule 156(2)(a) for his whip action which was more than a wrist only flicking motion. In determining penalty Stewards considered the status of the race and Mr Sutton’s recent record under the rule. Mr Sutton’s licence to drive in races was suspended for a period of 2 weeks with a commencement date to be advised.
http://www.harness.org.au/racing/ste...l/?mc=EC190321
per un PUGNO di DOLLARI
Was it the tight track, or was it careless or over-enthusiastic drivers?
The stewards were certainly kept busy at the Echuca Cup meeting last Friday night. 14 weeks worth of suspensions. 4 suspensions (see above) were for whip mis-use.
Suspensions:
Race 1 R Rolfe R163(1)(a)(iii) 2 weeks
Race 2 L Crossland R156(3) 7 days
Race 2 P Weidenbach R156(2)(a) 2 weeks
Race 3 D Jack R163(1)(a)(iii) 2 weeks
Race 4 T French R163(1)(a)(iii) 7 days
Race 7 A Mifsud R163(1)(a)(iii) 7 days
Race 8 J Aiken R156(2)(a) 2 weeks
Race 8 L Sutton R156(2)(a) 2 weeks
Last edited by Adaptor; 03-23-2021 at 08:22 AM.
The whip rule is not having the desired effect.
It is a simple fix - DOUBLE the penalties
A bit like when the AFL went from 15m to 50m penalties and just about stopped the transgressions overnight
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Sutton must have appealed as he is still down to drive on Thursday at Shep and is not on the Suspended drivers list whereas Aiken has begun his suspension
This is not good enough IMO. There needs to be something like the AFL system where if you contest your suspension you risk an extra week on your penalty
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