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Whips in racing

 

Australia can celebrate great breeding, preparation and horsemanship without flogging tired horses



Study reveals futility of whipping tired horses

Despite fierce opposition to changing whip rules, there has been little agreement within the industry as to why whips are actually used and no real understanding about what impact whips have on the horse and race outcome. 

An Australian-first study out of the University of Sydney has shed light on this issue.

The study revealed:

  • Whipping does not increase a horse's chances of finishing first, second or third
  • Horses run their fastest when they aren't being whipped
  • The strongest predictor of racing success is how a horse runs in the section of the race that it isn't being whipped

The results of this study do not offer any support for the retention of whipping in horse racing.

Watch the Study's authors discuss their findings:

Background

In March 2009 the Australian Racing Board introduced new rules to reduce the number of times jockeys can whip their horses in a race. After outcry from jockeys, owners and breeders, these rules were wound back twice. Limited whipping remains from the start of a race but jockeys can still use the whip at their discretion in the last 100 metres - that means within the rules horses could be struck up to 13 times in a row.

The RSPCA believes the racing industry can celebrate great horsemanship without whipping. Jockeys are elite athletes and should not have to rely on the whip to get the best out of their horses.

The RSPCA would like to see:

  • a commitment from jockeys to adhere to the rules
  • a commitment from the racing industry to encourage reduced reliance on whips
  • mandatory training programs in place for jockeys to help them adapt 
  • a ‘hands and heels' series introduced into Australia
  • a total ban on the use of whips as performance aids

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