Luke Morris whip action

For some….

stewards no longer impose whip bans. They refer the jockey to the whip review committee , a central body, who sanction the riding if appropriate. So Morris may have been referred. We shall find out next week (I think).

As Sir Bob just said "favourite backers will be happy".

Correct by Donegal, AND "whip above shoulder height" is not an actual offence BUT it becomes a consideration for the severity of the penalty WHEN and IF a jockey has been referred for an ACTUAL whip offence, IE frequency, severity or one of the other actual offences.

if the idea was to improve the image of racing I'd have thought the whole point of it was to eradicate whip over shoulder height a la Morris.

Swifty, I don't disagree, but was just quoting the actual rules (I think!!) which I thought would be helpful to any on here who consistently misunderstand them.

The BHA instruction video demonstrates that the whip should not be raised above 'shoulder height'

[   This image is no longer available.   ]

Here is thrasher Morris on that earlier wolver winner
[   This image is no longer available.   ]


If it should not be raised abover shoulder height then surely it contravenes what jockeys should do?

blackbarn, you'd know the rules far better than me.

Anyone connected to the industry,  or enjoys watching horseracing and is concerned about the image of racing especially with it coming under the microscope ever more closely should be in the camp that says "using the whip from that height -[see thrasher above] is totally unacceptable and constitutes an offence under BHA guidelines.

Animal Rising would have a field day with that image.

The three by words are: Encourage, Correction & Safety.

Thrasher is beating that horse like Albert Steptoe would have beaten his living room carpet

Leif - I agree, but have you read the rules? I think you need to try to distinguish between a rule offence and an event that influences the degree of penalty imposed. I think the "event" is whip arm not actual whip, but you can check that yourself. Sorry I cannot make it any clearer on my understanding of the rules and penalties.  What bits did you check?

I am just taking it from the BHA video that the whip should not be raised above shoulder height.
If you read it that it's not a guidance but an instruction, then it could be construed that failure to abide by it constitutes an offence.

It's easy to see why watching Thrasher ride like a rodeo competitor rather than a jockey comes across as an ugly watch, does bugger all for the image of racing, and undermines the industry's efforts to portray a sport that cares for horses.

From what I can see the review committee looks at these elements:

As well as the number of times the whip is used, The Whip Review Committee will look at the force with which it is used, whether it was used from above shoulder height, whether the horse has been given time to respond, the purpose for which the whip was used, whether the horse was in contention or clearly winning at the time it was used, and whether the whip has been used in the correct place (i.e. on the horse’s hindquarter rather than flanks)


Each of those elements contravenes guidance issued by the BHA.

It offers a poor image of racing, thrashing an animal to make it give more.

Dreadful image for racing,the up and coming apprentice must think WTF…

another ugly sack of spuds ride from thrasher.
prolly woulda lost the race had he won it

Dreadful excuse for any young rider to watch….

He is cruel. Full stop. I hate to watch it.

He is powerful as fck.

Should they ban the whip then?

jockey,s style no longer taking in to account as CHAPPERS has convinced the world no matter how hard even someone like AP uses the pro cush its impossible for a horse to feel it, which begs the obvious ? chappers wont/cant answer,
WHY USE IT THEN