Jockeys flout whip rules at Caulfield
Three jockeys were fined for excessive use of the whip during the Caulfield Cup on Saturday in a shameful display of defiance. The worst offender struck his horse 16 times before the final 100m - 10 more than what is allowed. His $3,000 fine pales in comparison to the $2.5 million in prize money up for grabs.
One racing commentator called it 'a fineathon' with fines handed out to three of the first four jockeys home.
- Chris Munce on Daffodil was fined $3,000 for hitting his horse 16 times before the final 100 metres (it's worth noting that this horse had actually sustained a leg injury halfway through the race)
- Winning jockey Brad Rawiller was given a $500 penalty for hitting Viewed five times in a row prior to the final 100 metres
- Corey Brown, Vigor's jockey, was fined $250 for hitting the third placegetter on consecutive strides on two occasions prior to the final 100 metres
These jockeys are doing their entire industry a disservice by refusing to give the new whip rules a go. It goes to show when there is a lot of money on the table horse welfare goes out the window.
The Australian Racing Board should be watching this very closely because the RSPCA is and so too is the Australian community, which is increasingly intolerant of the sight of horses being whipped on the race track.
To register your concern about the use of whips in horse racing email the Australian Racing Board