Whip rules should be amended as follows

FFS TRD - why do you think it'll be any easier for them to count to a bigger number in the heat of battle? Some of these dull ***** can't even count whether they've done two circuits of Fakenham or three.

Should never be number, ie not 17 times on the run in at aintree.

Excessive rule.

Bring in the American rules imo

they wanted a number, they got a number, now they want another number, if they were allowed 9 then they'd want 10, when would it end? 7 in total is enough but i probably agree with Hughes that the furlong marker limit should be dropped.

I don't think there should be any split between final furlong and rest of the race.  If it's deemed acceptable to hit a horse a maximum of X number of times then it should be for the jockey to decide when those slaps are best administered.

Surely fishing

no maximum numbers.   A finite number is pathetic.


Instead have big bans for any jockey who doesnt give a horse time time to respond.   Everytime a smack is admiinister then u have ride for 2 or 3 strides befofe u can smack again.

maybe have a massive maximum of 30 for 4m NH chases or something

It was Jason Maguire hitting Ballabriggs 16 times in a 4m4f chase that led to this review in the first place!

lol.jocks have to then count strides between cracks? no problem

Any figure is ridiculous, you either accept it is wrong to hit a horse or not - that is the dilemma faced by the BHA.

There is no substance in saying eight is acceptable but nine isn't. In any case I thought this was about being acceptable in relation to the horse not the jockey.

I don't like the rule at all,but the BHA are not going to back track completely,maybe scrapping the last furlong bit would be a goer

There is only one way to end this furore the use of a whip to encourage  a horse

to go forward should be banned absolutely.

or remove their nerves so they dont need a smack wee eck ?

Sooner we get to that point wee eck, the better for everyone.

Wee eck that is the logical way forward to end this nonsense but it seems too many people actually like to see the whip being used and equate it with trying to win as opposed to hands and heels which supposedly isn't trying to win.

if both sides agree then a National Lottery style draw should be used to determine the actual figure allowed. 0-20 in the first drum then 0-10 in the bonus ball drum for the final furlong allowance. This should take place before the best days racing in the calendar on Saturday. Maybe draft in Dale Winton to host.

Koo you might take the piss but the hands and heels races that apprentices take part in

produce races that are interesting, whips to be carried, only to be used for steering purposes.

All the evidence points to the fact that a horse is not hurt from being struck by the whip which is used nowadays. Banning it would be a total nonsense.Gerry and Wee Eck you are in the same boat as Big Mac,enough said

Aye - and Michael Dickinson and Sir Peter O'Sullevan

HillsJW John W Hills
If you agree that using a mobile while driving affects your ability to react, then how does that sit with race riding and counting strokes?

Next week on Dragons Den....a proposal to market a talking whip that counts down from seven...

koo, by the way if the RSPCA summoned a few jockeys for animal cruelty and got Vets to appear in

court and give evidence that in their professional opinion striking horses with the whip was cruel

and the said jockeys summoned were found guilty of being cruel, the whip issue would end overnight.

snaff, interesting point....

I live in the Dorset countryside and know plenty of people who own and ride horses. I have spoken to them about the use of a whip in horse racing and not one single person has said it should be banned. These are people who own and love horses and would never harm one

People who live in or near the countryside know trd.

probably asked 2000 cockernees.

TRD, with respect people who live in glasshouses normally dont throw stones.

TRD.Racing
I agree with you about  9 smacks allowed,7 inside the last. There are going to be a lot of unhappy punters out there when their horse cost them money  because the jockey could only hit the horse 5 times inside the final furlong. And as for jump racing horses like Deano's Beeno would never have won a race. In my opinion the rule is wrong and I for one agree with Richard Hughes' descision.  For what it is worth I will be monotoring which horses need stronger handling before having a bet.  I think it will cost the racing industry millions of pounds as a result of this stupid rule.  GOOD LUCK ALL.

wee eck these are people who know about horses,unlike the people who are clambering for the whip to be banned,or new whip rules that are currently making a mockery of our sport

TSD The BHA think that the new rules will encourage people to go racing,that is absolute rolloxs,what it will do is turn punters away from racing in their droves

TRD, I have been in stables, any indignities horses suffer on a racecourse pale into insignificance

compared to the suffering some horses in training are forced to suffer behind closed doors.

Country v town heard that one before and how the World was going to end with the banning of fox hunting. Missed it big time haven't we?

Can someone please point to this proof that hitting a horse with a whip does it no harm? Personally, until we find a talking horse I don't think there is any. Logic would suggest the idea is nonsense.

I agree with you TRD.  Off to bed now going away for a few days. Sunny Spain I Hope ?

differentdrum,James Willoughby was talking about the scientific evidence that supports that claim,and is a fact.

Did you see the rides Jamie Spencer gave Cape Blanco in America? If you fancy seeing that day in, day out, punters need to move out there. That looks ugly and horrible, whether it hurts a horse or not.

Comparing people on riding school horses/private horses and race riding jockeys and their views on whips is like comparing a sunday league footballer and professional footballer. Both sets of riders of horses may use a whip, but in totally different circumstances. Private horse owners love their horses like their own child, while jockeys love horses no doubt, but use them for a job and making a living.

TRD, again with respect Willo is my favourite pundit but he is a looney.[;)]

It has been scientifically proven by examining blood samples in which,if pain had been inflicted certain chemicals would show up. Differentum,have you handled the new whip? Have you hit your hand with it? It has been changed to cause the horse to respond to the noise and feel of it .There is no pain inflicted.

How are the lengths of bans being decided anyway and is it part of the totting up process and if so should all jockeys have started with a clean slate once the new rule came in?

Kieren Fox gets 15 days, Richard Hughes gets 5 days and 10 days (presumably the second ban being linked to the first), Natalia Gemelova and Pat Cosgrave get 7 days and 5 days, William Buick gets 5 days and James Doyle got 5 days so do you get 7 days as opposed to 5 days if you fall foul of the inside the final furlong part?

And do you get a higher penalty for each extra slap over the limit?

the best ammendement would be that it is compulsory to use the whip 40 times if that bufoon mccrirrick is within a 5 yard radius

Celtic. The rules that were in place before these changes would have seen Spencer get 10 days here for that ride. No one is suggesting that those excesses be allowed.

Why have any rules regarding its use at all the roggrain?

I certainly do not want to see any horse abused in any way shape or form and any jockey giving a horse whip abuse should have the book thrown at him. However,the change in the whip rules are wrong and will do the sport no good at all.

Nobody could say Hughes abused that horse tonight,yes he broke the rules as they stand,but the rules have gone too far

Good point, Gerry G.There has to be a limit on how much urging a horse receives. When it's got no more to give there's no point in continuing. The whip is an incentive to some (not all) horses to keep trying.Excessive use of the whip could push a horse one step too far.

BJG     13 Oct 11 21:40 
Bring in the American rules imo

Just googled 'American whip rules' and this was first result[;)]

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http://www.paulickreport.com/news/the-biz/shanklin-u-s-should-emulate-britain-s-whip-rules/