Australian Horse Racing Implements New Whipping Regulations

New regulations on the whipping of race horses are being put into place. (AP Images)"]

Australia has implemented new rules to limit the use of whips in horse races to only three times in the last 200 metres of a race. Jockeys are arguing that it's too distracting to count how many times they whip a horse and have threatened to strike unless the new limit is overturned.

Melbourne trainer Rick Hore-Lacy criticized jockeys for walking out midway through a series of race meetings yesterday.

”˜”˜They were selfish and irresponsible, I believe, calling the meetings off yesterday,’’ he told Radio 3AW.

The new regulations were implemented to stop jockeys from unnecessarily flogging a horse until the finishing line. However, critics are saying that the use of whips is still way over regulations are in other countries. Des Gleeson, Tasmania's chief racing officer, says a rider in England can't use a whip more than nine times through the length of a race, compared to 18 times in Australia.

"Generally it's been accepted, and riders tend to get the best out of their horses riding hands and heels, and using the whip very sparsely," he says.

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