Punishment for hitting

[erins isle]

Yesterday I saw a race where one horse was hit eight times in the straight. In our country you may hit a horse max four times (the straight is 600 m.) How is this in the USA, does it depend which racecourse?

[steward]

Yesterday I saw a race where one horse was hit eight times in the straight. In our country you may hit a horse max four times (the straight is 600 m.) How is this in the USA, does it depend which racecourse?

In a world of filled with bona fide outrages, the extra four hits are #37,567,494 on my list. Aren't there some Serbs or Kosovars nearby that need your attention, counseling, and expertise in conflict resolution more?

[Toccet02]

uh, yes, but this is a thoroughbred horse forum, so I don't think his question is that crazy. let's be nice.
-Volunteer Moderator

[gotpaints]

Yesterday I saw a race where one horse was hit eight times in the straight. In our country you may hit a horse max four times (the straight is 600 m.) How is this in the USA, does it depend which racecourse?

In a world of filled with bona fide outrages, the extra four hits are #37,567,494 on my list. Aren't there some Serbs or Kosovars nearby that need your attention, counseling, and expertise in conflict resolution more?

This is a forum about thoroughbreds. I don't see why people can't post why they are mad about something (or even ask a question like this poster) without you basically calling their concerns dumb. If it was a forum about world conflicts, maybe, but not a thoroughbred racing forum.

[pfrsue]

I think it's a very fair question, and it's one that I don't know the answer to and would be interested in finding out.

Is there a strict criteria for what constitutes excessive use of the whip, or is it basically subjective at the discretion of track stewards?

[springboro]

it is a fair question ... and does anyone know what the rules of whipping are in the US?

and four smacks to Steward for unbelievable rudeness. Rough morning there? Play nice indeed!

[majxmom]

I saw a stakes race on TV this weekend. The leader was way out in front by about 15 at the quarter pole, and suddenly hit a wall. The jockey started banging on that horse repeatedly, trying to drive her in. It was obviously doing no good at all, in fact was probably interfering with her. But if he didn't bang on her, would the jock have been called in for not making enough effort? I wish he would have waved the stick a few times and then gotten busy with his legs, hands, and voice.

When I first heard about the whip restraint rules in England, I thought they would be unenforceable. Who could keep count? But it seems to work and now I support them.

[Toccet02]

sheesh---how about 8 smacks? I re-read the original question and there's no context about world problems or even being totally outraged at all, just a question that's totally appropriate to this forum.

Anyway--guess someone is feeling world problems heavily today.
Much more productive to scream at CNN for carrying stupid celebrity stories, if it concerns you.

[Tiz]

I don't like to see a horse whipped much, especially with a big lead. It doesn't seem smart to punish a horse for trying to win a race, and it looks to me that all the moving around, and swinging, just makes it harder for the horse to run. If you ever ridden, you know how easy it is to throw your horse off balance.
Gary Stevens is a good one to watch for judicious whip use, imo.
steward has already been smacked around enough, so I'll leave that alone.

[steward]

I am a staunch defender of horse racing. There is a systematic effort to change public opinion it by making it look like animal abuse. Activists posing as fans used message boards to pound that message home. They wish to apply death by a thousand cuts.

I take the opposite view. I don't need to re-read another thread talking about whipping, drugging, breakdowns, or any of the other in-your-face negatives that are used in the drumbeat. Hitting a horse another time or two with a tiny piece of flap is not a subject that should be dwelled upon by humans trying to save the world. If it comes up once a year, fine.

My personal recommendation to the OP: find another outlet like ballet. Seriously.

[Tiz]

steward, let me find someone in your neighborhood that can borrow a rider's stick to give you a couple of roundhouse whacks. Then you will have earned the right to define it as a "tiny piece of flap". I'd even wager that you'd want a four whack experience over the eight.

Right now public perception is reality, right or wrong. Be stubborn about addressing it, and the thousand cuts continues until we're gone.

[steward]

steward, let me find someone in your neighborhood that can borrow a rider's stick to give you a couple of roundhouse whacks. Then you will have earned the right to define it as a "tiny piece of flap". I'd even wager that you'd want a four whack experience over the eight.

Right now public perception is reality, right or wrong. Be stubborn about addressing it, and the thousand cuts continues until we're gone.

Acting passively in the face of aggression will only encourage the peta set. Ban whipping and they will use something else. They won't be satisfied by your capitulation.

The way to combat perception is not by surrendering but counterattacking. Mocking someone's obsession through sarcasm is one method.

PS: FYI, these characters are political allies with guys who dress in leather and whip each other for fun.

[gotpaints]

I think it's a very fair question, and it's one that I don't know the answer to and would be interested in finding out.

Is there a strict criteria for what constitutes excessive use of the whip, or is it basically subjective at the discretion of track stewards?

I'm guessing it's up to the stewards. I've watched jockeys hit a horse all the way down the stretch and not get in trouble and jockeys hit a horse only 4 or 5 times around the turn and the stretch and get in trouble.

[gotpaints]

steward, let me find someone in your neighborhood that can borrow a rider's stick to give you a couple of roundhouse whacks. Then you will have earned the right to define it as a "tiny piece of flap". I'd even wager that you'd want a four whack experience over the eight.

Right now public perception is reality, right or wrong. Be stubborn about addressing it, and the thousand cuts continues until we're gone.

Acting passively in the face of aggression will only encourage the peta set. Ban whipping and they will use something else. They won't be satisfied by your capitulation.

The way to combat perception is not by surrendering but counterattacking. Mocking someone's obsession through sarcasm is one method.

PS: FYI, these characters are political allies with guys who dress in leather and whip each other for fun.

No one said anything about banning whipping. The op asked if we had a rule about the number of times a horse can be whipped. This is a board where people go to learn and talk. Not to be told that they need to find a new hobby because they ask a question.

BTW, I'm not anti-whipping, I use one on my horse to get the speed I need, but I also use it only when I feel she needs it, not over and over and over again.[/u]

[gotpaints]

steward, let me find someone in your neighborhood that can borrow a rider's stick to give you a couple of roundhouse whacks. Then you will have earned the right to define it as a "tiny piece of flap". I'd even wager that you'd want a four whack experience over the eight.

Right now public perception is reality, right or wrong. Be stubborn about addressing it, and the thousand cuts continues until we're gone.

Acting passively in the face of aggression will only encourage the peta set. Ban whipping and they will use something else. They won't be satisfied by your capitulation.

The way to combat perception is not by surrendering but counterattacking. Mocking someone's obsession through sarcasm is one method.

PS: FYI, these characters are political allies with guys who dress in leather and whip each other for fun.

No one said anything about banning whipping. The op asked if we had a rule about the number of times a horse can be whipped. This is a board where people go to learn and talk. Not to be told that they need to find a new hobby because they ask a question.

BTW, I'm not anti-whipping, I use one on my horse to get the speed I need, but I also use it only when I feel she needs it, not over and over and over again.