If so is that not tantamount to 'abusing a racehorse' in his own opinion and by his own standards?
Would have thougt some of those big boats he trains might need to be encouraged with the 'jockey aid' more than most, imo.
Times change, eh?
LOL - after the race MJ praised Murtagh for his efforts. Tbf though, it's a while ago now.
"My job is to go out and to do my best for the owner and trainer, not for anyone who may be watching on television at home," Murtagh added.
"But their decision to ban Murtagh was staunchly defended by Malcolm Wallace, the Jockey Club's director of regulation.
"You can't win at all costs," Wallace said. "You cannot have horses flogged from pillar to post. The public just won't accept it," he added.
Over 9 years ago now - it could have been written this week!
hard to forget about the ones that are narrowly beaten.
went on to do a few quid during the day on a bit of tilt.
Oh no, silly me, the OP was referring to MARK JOHNSTON, the trainer.
No wonder this forum is ridiculed by authorities when such errors are made.
Can someone tell me if these pre-race smacks are 'free' or whether, in fact, they are included in the new totting up equation.
As I understand it, the new rules are in place to (in no particular order) to promote better horsemanship, to protect the horse and to improve the public's perception of the sport.
In terms of the latter, it can be argued that striking horses before the race is no different to striking horses at full stretch.
So what is the official line on this?
FWIW, I do have respect for the "bigrust1" post.
Oct 18, 2011 -- 12:52AM, saxon farm wrote:
I know, salmon spray. I am probably far too much "old school".FWIW, I do have respect for the "bigrust1" post.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/racing-jockey-club-to-scrutinise-mccoys-whip-use-on-beeno-578214.html
The comment about use of the whip before the race is interesting.
Reading the article about AP's ban for use of the whip on Beeno before the race, the key element seems to be:
"[The use of the whip] was deemed to be an unsavoury sight for the viewers of Channel 4 according to the stewards"
It is not the well being of the horse but the viewers on Channel 4 which was important to the stewards.
From another poster on this forum, it seems the BHA asked surveys to be carried out on opinions on use of the whip of presumably the general public. The professor who was involved in the pre-rule research has stated that use of the whip is not cruel. The pad whip does not harm the horse in its racing state.
This is nothing to with "abuse" of horses but upset the public. There is an idea that this will put people off racing. I asked a friend of mine who had not heard about this issue. Her view on the whip was it had always been used and so what was the issue. Another fried felt the whip was cruel but had no information to base that decision on. It was an emotional response. A response based on how he felt it would be to be "whipped" himself.
