Misuse of the whip at Cheltenham

Surely its as likely that the 40/1 shot finishes second under a 'legal' ride and is awarded the race.
 
Grey said:
Having more severe penalties for jockeys would be unfair because it doesn't take into account where the real power lies.

Trainers and owners will continue to expect riders to do all they can to win, even if it means a few weeks off rather than a few days. If the stakes are high enough the rider can always be compensated financially. The only logical thing to do is disqualify the horse. Like others, I believe it wouldn't be long before everyone got used to it and offences would cease.

Archie makes a good point about the inflexibility of having the same rules regardless of the type of race.
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So the jockey should receive some financial reward although they are the only one who broke the rules and the trainer and the owners lose the race and do not receive any financial reward? How is that fair, and an argument for disqualification? The jockey is the only one who has the whip in his hand during at a race; no one can shout at them from the rail to tell them they have used up their allowance and to stop hitting the animal. It's not like a football manager shouting from the technical area at his central defender.
 
G-G said:
So the jockey should receive some financial reward although they are the only one who broke the rules and the trainer and the owners lose the race and do not receive any financial reward? How is that fair, and an argument for disqualification? The jockey is the only one who has the whip in his hand during at a race; no one can shout at them from the rail to tell them they have used up their allowance and to stop hitting the animal. It's not like a football manager shouting from the technical area at his central defender.
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Upping penalties on jockeys won't make a difference. If a race is important enough, owners will still expect their jockey to do what's needed to win as long as they get to keep the race. If the gains are big enough owners will be happy to look after a suspended jockey and quietly compensate them for their time off.
 
Say if the JC retained ~3% of the jockey's winning cut in a general pool. If a jockey and horse are disqualified for over use of the whip this pool is used to compensate the owner (not the trainer et al). Unused monies are refunded at end of season.

I think the peer pressure aspect of this would be far more influential than a 4 day ban. Imagine going back into the weigh room and explaining to Ruby why you cost him money!
 
Grey said:
Upping penalties on jockeys won't make a difference. If a race is important enough, owners will still expect their jockey to do what's needed to win as long as they get to keep the race. If the gains are big enough owners will be happy to look after a suspended jockey and quietly compensate them for their time off.
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The prior post was that the horse should lose the race through disqualification, so no one would receive any money. Why would an owner pay a jockey is those circumstances? They have gained nothing.
 
an capall said:
Say if the JC retained ~3% of the jockey's winning cut in a general pool. If a jockey and horse are disqualified for over use of the whip this pool is used to compensate the owner (not the trainer et al). Unused monies are refunded at end of season.

I think the peer pressure aspect of this would be far more influential than a 4 day ban. Imagine going back into the weigh room and explaining to Ruby why you cost him money!
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When prize money is so poor in the majority of races in the UK anyway, you think jockeys would be willing to give up 3% of their winnings to compensate owners? Jockeys need to be more aware of what is going on around them. When well clear too many jockeys keep hitting the horses when they are in more danger of getting a speeding ticket than being caught. If Johnson had looked round he would have seen MB wasn't gaining and he had plenty in hand.
 
Speaking of the poor impression given to the wider public by use of the whip, is it time to retire the guy who follows behind the horses brandishing a whiplash as they approach the starter? Is he really needed?
 
Indeed, during his retirement the chap could console himself that his life has not been completely useless.
 
G-G said:
When prize money is so poor in the majority of races in the UK anyway, you think jockeys would be willing to give up 3% of their winnings to compensate owners? Jockeys need to be more aware of what is going on around them. When well clear too many jockeys keep hitting the horses when they are in more danger of getting a speeding ticket than being caught. If Johnson had looked round he would have seen MB wasn't gaining and he had plenty in hand.
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On that holding ground you have to keep a horse going or he will stop cold and not get going again.
Stewards need to take this into account when tallying up whip use/abuse.
 
If I was going to critisize Kevin Blake it would be to say why hit the ball back.

It's like tennis if the opponent doesn't hit the ball back there is no game.

Racing Post running an article because Paul Jacob decides to run off at the mouth speaks volumes about them.

People who care about racing and know horses AND who have actually held a whip know it is not a lethal weapon.
and those who wish to treat it as such are best ignored
 
Dave Yates summed it up nicely on Twitter.

The whip does not inflict pain, and is merely there to "adrenalise and encourage". Yates has also suggested the BHA have a "Whip demo" stand at racetracks, so that punters can get an education on its real effect.

The Post running this owner's opinion as a story is pathetic, and a gross dis-service to Racing.
 
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I'd prefer it if a whip demo were carried it on ITV4, with Luke Harvey smacking Chapman's ars, tbh. Just so that the public were assured that "the whip does not inflict pain".
 
Surely better to use something that actually inflicts pain on Chapman and use a whip on someone else


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