Racing should stop trying to cater for people it will never attract...

the same happened when they banned smoking it the pub/clubs. non-smokers were saying that they would go to them now but they never did

Correct - how many of the animal welfare crowds have ever been racing??

I would say less than 1%, how many would go if the whip was banned?? The same 1%!!

Fck em and do wats best for racing and not wat the little vocal minority wants!

Racing should stop trying to cater for people it will never attract...

Pefectly put, who said it ?

PinehurstRacing Pinehurst Racing
@Racing_UK My first year owning. 2 horses, £150k spent and my horses are worthless with new rules. Thanks for the experience BHA. I'm out.

Sporting Life saddo

I have a fruit and Veg shop, I've decided to get rid of the banana, apple and orange stands and replaced them with a bassoon stand, I'm hoping more orchestral musicians will buy my aubergines.

spot on bjg, i wonder are viewer numbers and turnover up since the new public friendly rules have been introduced. eeeeeeeeeeh no, way down id say. i wouldnt trust them to walk my dog

Agree with BJG...............for once

  ThurloeThbreds  Jess Stafford
We have used Richard Hughes for the past 15 years and FULLY support him today. Lets hope the BHA do something about this rule immediately.

  tonypaley  Tony Paley
This just in: #RichardHughes will be on BBC Radio 4 Today programme live tomorrow 7.25am

I wont be getting up Nap

  jimboyle17  Jim Boyle

As a trainer my horses welfare is paramount. These air cushioned whips DO NOT HARM HORSES. Crazy rule & punishments totally disproportionate



Have any of the RSPCA crowd even seen one of these whips, they dont even leave a mark on me misses

The reports findings showed they don't harm horses, they still want to nearly outlaw them. Pretty soon racing will be goverened by the same people who police the olympic walkers, watching a magnified picture to see if both of their feet were in the air at the same time, the mind boggles [smiley:crazy][smiley:crazy][smiley:crazy][smiley:crazy][smiley:crazy][smile...

I still don't think that there has been a major public outcry over the previous whipping rules. This change has somehow evolved out of the adverse publicity over dead horses in the Grand National, and whip usage has somehow been thrust forward as racing's sop to this.

I agree that racing is continually tryng to appeal to a public that just isn't interested, rather than the genuine followers. Just look at the TV coverage which is generally a dumbed down exercise in nif naff and trivia. What other sport continually does this ?

With the self destruction currently being instigated by the BHA and supported by out of touch one offs like Big Mac racing's biggest battle will be retaining it's traditional support rather than attracting new - grim days.

I would like to the numbers that complained via the bbc about the whipping in the grand national ??


I was told it was only slightly above the number of whips, would love to know the numbers considering the millions of viewers.