USING THE WHIP

[toothman]

I am only the most casual of thorobred fans, just watched feature from the Spa.
Boy, those jockeys were whacking the crap out of their horses with those sticks/rods!
More humane or less humane than harness racing?

[Fuguzzi]

It's called a bat. leather tab about 2 inch square. Most of the contact on the hind end or neck is less punishing than it looks. Most of the time they "twirl" it to encourage or frighten the galloping horse. I believe a harness driver can do much more damage with the length of the whips we use, stifle blasting, going under the shafts, cutting etc.  Both are needed so I can not quantify humane for you.

[Fuguzzi]

Personally, i see much less use of the whip in aggressive, punishing fashion today for a variety of reasons from this crop of drivers than the era I came out in. I remember paddocking a horse at YR that Lachance drove on a frigid night and he literally castrated the horses right testicle from some devastating side arm shots - true story. It was just a 3yr old colt too

[Mailbox Money]

H.I.S.A. capped the number of swats at 6.The judges watch closely for violators. They are allowed all the non contact waving of the stick they want.

[Stan durbread]

Personally, i see much less use of the whip in aggressive, punishing fashion today for a variety of reasons from this crop of drivers than the era I came out in. I remember paddocking a horse at YR that Lachance drove on a frigid night and he literally castrated the horses right testicle from some devastating side arm shots - true story. It was just a 3yr old colt too

Back then Lachance could lift on of their back feet with the whip. Too many Karen’s today to appreciate someone trying to win

[Stan durbread]

And usually only took him a count like G Nap blasting one 16 times to set a useless record

[Mailbox Money]

And usually only took him a count like G Nap blasting one 16 times to set a useless record

LaChance was lethal when they came out with the rawhide whip in the 80's! I  used to wince from sound it made when it contacted the flesh! Racing didn't score any points with the activists during that period of time for sure!

[Fuguzzi]

 

[theokodjak26]

I see very little whip abuse when watching the top thoroughbred jockeys. There is more rough riding in the thoroughbred game. In harness racing rough driving is pointed out negatively much more often than thoroughbred jockeys. This week both Ortiz brothers got away with putting their fellow jockeys at risk with reckless riding. Finally Ortiz Jr was given a three day suspension for next week but it didn’t stop him in Saturday’s Jim Dandy to barreling into another horse in the stretch. Unfortunately the judges allowed him to stay up as the winner. But in harness racing we see many fines being doled out for whipping abuse. The fines don’t seem to be high enough to deter this abuse. Just check “Fines and Suspensions” each week on the USTA website to see what I am talking about. You will also find the never ending trainer fines and suspensions for drugging the horses and themselves.

[Generation XYZ]

  fine me, excessive use of the whip 

[Kirby's Ace]

Ceba Horsey in Delaware that  can tear one up!

 

[Generation XYZ]

Ceba Horsey in Delaware that  can tear one up!

 

or at the Saratoga Swingers Club