Seven reasons to whip up a debate

UK's horseracing governing body, the BHA, really whipped up a debate among the folk of Britain last week after seven months of discussion and findings concerning the treatment of horses by jockeys in a race; namely, whether a whip should or shouldn't be used after several high- profile incidents when riders were banned after falling foul of the somewhat murky guidelines.

To put it in simple terms, jockeys riding on the flat are now allowed to strike their mounts no more than seven times in a race, regardless of whether the contest is over two miles or five furlongs. If they breach the new rules they face much more stringent penalties, including money deductions and suspensions.

In what seems a move to appease the animal rights activists and members of the public, who can sometimes be seen venturing out from the bars to catch a glimpse of a racehorse as they cross the line, the BHA have, in my opinion, made the right decision in what was clearly a very touchy subject.

The changes come into effect on October 10 and it will be interesting to find out which jockey creates history by becoming the first to succumb to the regulations. Don't all jump at once!

For those that want a clear example of how the new rules should be implemented, I'd suggest logging on to YouTube and watching the ride that William Buick gave Elusive Kate in the Prix Marcel Boussac on Sunday at Longchamp. Despite his mount veering across the course and doing her utmost to get out of winning, Buick kept his cool and with his stick in the correct hand, maintained momentum and only struck the filly seven times. A fine advertisement for how the measures can be used to great effect under difficult circumstances. Buick is clearly getting in some good practice early.

How many is too many?

On the other hand, take a look at Jamie Spencer on Cape Blanco in the Joe Hirsch Invitational at Belmont last Saturday. As the field approached the final bend Spencer was in pole position to go and win his race, but Deans Kitten, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, was stalking his every move and the duo ended up battling hard to the line with the result that Cape Blanco was struck 14 times on the home straight. Under the new UK guidelines the Irishman would have used up double his amount of ‘credits' and been handed a minimum five-day ban as well as losing out on his riding fee and winning percentage.

I believe if Spencer hadn't been as hard on his mount it could have been a different result, in fact, it WOULD have been a different result. In a further twist, the horse subsequently suffered an injury and was immediately retired...

In a time when international horseracing is at the height of its popularity, all of the above goes to show that there needs to be one rule and one rule alone that all jockeys should adhere to which would ensure that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet regardless of the country they are riding in.