IN his widely-read column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published by the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on new evidence that looks set to reignite the whip use controversy in Australia.
He also tells of the acute shortage of jockeys in North and Central Queensland; has a column item on a new start of North Western racing that struggled to win a Maiden in Victoria and reveals the new environs being enjoyed by top jockeys David Crossland and Lacey Morrison.
Here is the Butts column:
NEW EVIDENCE LOOKS SET TO REIGNITE WHIP USE CONTROVERSY
THE issue of whips has been a hot topic of debate for a long time.
There have been changes to the rules and penalties, changes to the design and dimensions of whips in recent years, but the issue is set to reignite again after compelling new evidence by eminent award winning Sydney veterinarian and author Professor Paul McGreevy.
There has been an uneasy truce between jockeys and racing authorities, animal welfare agencies and animal rights groups since the Australian Racing Board’s somewhat embarrassing back-flip a few years ago over the issue.
The ARB was on the verge of forcing radical new whip use rules, but at the 11th hour conceded to a very strong and united resistance by jockeys, supported nationally by trainers and punters who believed the whip was a vital tool.
The jockeys won that round claiming the whip was not a weapon designed to inflict pain, but an important steering device to help guide their mounts through a race and particularly around the turns. and to help maintain their balance.
It was compromised that a new padded whip especially designed to be less painful on a horse would be introduced and jockeys restricted to the number of strikes they could administer before the 200m mark in a race.
From then on to the winning post it was- and still is- “open slather” with some horses being struck 14 times in that distance.
Stewards are left with the extra duty of ‘counting whip strokes’ – albeit before the 200m mark.
Everyone, including most jockeys, agree the current rulings on whip use are far from satisfactory, nor consistent.
Some riders are penalized for ‘not riding their mounts out’ or not using enough vigor. Others are fined for hitting a horse too many times between A and B.
The application of these rules varies from state to state and indeed from one stewards’ panel to another.
In his recent address entitled ‘Role of the Whip in Horse Racing’ delivered at Sydney University, Professor Paul McGreevy made some startling revelations and facts about whip use, supported by replays of races run in both Melbourne and Sydney.
He earnestly believes that a horse can still win without being whipped.
During his address Professor McGreevy showed graphic film replays and photographs of horses been hit, which he said clearly showed that the current whip rules ‘are not being carried out.’
He also claimed that the padded whip does not ‘safeguard the horse from pain.’
“I very much doubt if it offers any protection at all,” he said.
SURVEY SHOWS INCIDENCE OF WHIP USE OUTLAWED INTERNATIONALLY
PROFESSOR McGreevy said his survey has shown that on both Sydney and Melbourne tracks there was an exceptionally high incidence of horses being struck on the flank, which is outlawed by an international ruling to which Australia is bound.
“By analyzing 350 rider-horse interactions over 15 individual frame-by-frame race finishes, the study showed at least 28 examples of apparent breaches of whip rules which highlighted the inability of stewards to police the rules because of inferior technology.
The study further showed 14 cases of horses being hit on the head with the whip and several incidents of jockeys raising their arm above the shoulder to strike their mounts.
Professor McGreevy said the film evidence also showed that in Melbourne 91 per cent of riders carried their whip in their right hands, but in Sydney, where races are run clockwise, only 53 per cent of jockeys carried it in their left hand, thereby debunking the jockeys’ contention that the whip was an important navigational aid.
He stressed that the study clearly showed that tired horses were being whipped – some as many as 14 times – in the last 200m, which he said was invariably the slowest section of a race and that horses were being hit 50 per cent of the time with the unpadded section of the whip.
He said the study showed that whipping in the final 200m did not predict the outcome of a race.
“The whipping of tired horses in the name of sport is difficult to justify.
“If it was not on a racetrack it would be a criminal offence to hit the horse the way that jockeys do.
“It is cruelty.”
HOOFNOTE: Last year the Australian Veterinary Association called a meeting of its members to discuss the whip use on racehorses. But the meeting never took place. It was derailed, apparently by those members who enjoy a close association with the racing industry. They didn’t want to talk about it, so the story goes, according to an AVA member.
ACUTE JOCKEY SHORTAGE WILL BE FELT IN THE NORTH AGAIN THIS WEEKEND
THE ACUTE jockey shortage in the northern area will be felt again this weekend with meetings scheduled for Rockhampton (Tatt’s Cup day and traditional fore-runner to the Rocky carnival), Bowen and Cairns.
Most of the Mackay jockeys would probably head for Rockhampton and Townsville’s riders will be split between Cairns and Bowen.
The scramble began last week with trainers searching for jockeys at both venues and there is a genuine fear there will not be enough.
Why, oh why doesn’t one of the clubs race on Sunday?
With Bowen’s proximity to the holiday islands, and with the right promotion, a Sunday race meeting at Bowen should have enormous appeal. And Cairns has already proven that racing on the Sabbath attracts good crowds to Cannon Park.
Clubs are being urged to be more pro-active – to increase their internal revenue and operate with less reliance on RQL/TAB handouts.
So why do they clash?
The same situation will arise on June 23, Rockhampton Cup day, when Cairns and Townsville are due to clash. Surely one will at least consider a Sunday meeting!
Both these clubs rely on the same set of jockeys. And, we repeat, there’s simply not enough of them.
NEW SPRINT CHAMP OF THE NORTH WEST STRUGGLED TO WIN A MAIDEN
A HORSE that broke his maiden status, after 15 attempts in fairly ordinary company in Victoria and south east of Queensland, is now being hailed the new sprinting champ of the North West.
Jabiru Dreaming is unbeaten on the Mt Isa track since being purchased last year by prominent Isa trainer Peter Inwood. And there’s even talk of him venturing to the coast for Townsville’s Lightning (1000m) next month.
Jabiru Dreaming arrived in the Isa as a Maiden last September but has relished the change of possibly the Buchanan Park dirt track.
When he scored brilliantly at his Open class debut two weeks ago the question was posed: Just how good is he?
MORRISON AND CROSSLAND RESLISHING A CHANGE OF ENVIRONMENT
ALSO relishing the change of environs are jockeys Lacey Morrison, who has been quick to find winning form after a lengthy enforced lay off, and David Crossland, who is now riding work for the Jay Morris stable.
Morrison will ride the highly fancied Just a Touch (last year’s Birdsville cup winner) in the Mt Isa Cup this Saturday.
The $100,000 Parry Nissan, snubbed by the mainline press (including Winning Post) on Saturday was another thriller.
While the more fancied favorites flopped, no one would begrudge the win by Cairns baby Gwennie.
Until Saturday the Trevor Rowe-trained filly (Show a Heart-St Gwenn) had run four seconds in six starts.
She showed great courage under a heady ride by Ian Toward to stall off the top-weight Sizzelon and her stablemate Bar Attack to win the prestigious race.
RACE DIARY
JUNE 7: Rockhampton (Tattersall’s Sprint 1200m)
JUNE 9: Rockhampton (Tatt’s Gold Cup), Barcaldine, Bowen, Cairns, Mt Isa (Cup)
JUNE 12: Townsville.
JUNE 16: Rockhampton (Girls Grammar Day), Innisfail, Longreach. Richmond, Moranbah.
COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.
TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..