HERE WE GO AGAIN .. IN CIRCLES AND BACK TO SQUARE ONE. IT'S PROVED TO BE A PRETTY POINTLESS EXERCISE

By Graham Potter | Monday, February 9, 2026

It is the old …nowadays basically boring argument.

Perhaps pointless would be a better description.

Not that the argument which questions why a blatant whip rule breach doesn’t have any bearing on the race result itself is not a valid query, it is just that racing authorities have, on the weight of the significant evidence at hand, seemingly turned their backs on ever taking a race away from a winner on the basis of a whip rule breach … or, again if you want to put it differently, taking a race away from a winner who broke the rules.

So why is the whip rule there?

To pamper to the pandering of those who want it to be there … a number possibly made up mostly by people outside of racing, most of whom couldn’t tell you what they are looking at.

If that’s so important to racing’s image … then enforce it in a manner which does not put a question mark behind the result being a fair outcome,

If it doesn’t wipe out the offending (if it doesn’t work) … and there is no question about that … then remove the rule from the Rules Of Racing.

Like many, I rest my case for the countless time.

Yawn. Boring. Pointless.

Nobody is listening … or maybe those who can make a difference suffer from selective hearing for a reason that only they can understand.

The latest result to rattle this particular cage came in the $2 million Inglis Millennium for two-year-olds in the seventh race at Randwick on Saturday.

In a race in which only 1.50 lengths covered the first six runners across the line, James McDonald, the rider of the winner Fireball, was found guilty of breaching the whip rule. He was the only rider of the six horses in a driving finish charged under the whip rule.

From the official steward’ report: J. McDonald pleaded guilty to a charge under AR132(5) for excessive whip use, in that he used the whip on 20 occasions in totality, including 9 occasions prior to the 100m.J. McDonald’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period to commence on Sunday 15 February 2026 and to expire on Wednesday 25 February 2026, on which day he may ride. J. McDonald was also fined $20,000.’

The winning margin was 0,62 lengths.

And, on cue, all of the comments that have been surrounding this issue for so many years came flooding out again on social media. Mostly the commentary was one-way traffic from racing enthusiasts and punters … the lifeblood and core audience of the sport … who, once again, were making their feelings felt about how dissatisfied they are with regard to the whip issue.

I hope they have come to terms with the fact that it is good for their blood pressure if they let off steam, but that little is likely to change beyond that.

That is until someone with the clout, courage and the conviction comes along to right this very unsatisfactory situation, to quiet the noise that a result such as Saturday’s provokes and to tame the turbulence that it produces within racing, which is unhealthy for the industry … while at the same time honouring all animal welfare requirements to an acceptable level.

McDonald, who, as reported by Racenet, called his punishment ‘disappointing’ … which is disappointing.

He is due to start his suspension next Sunday (February 15) leaving him clear to ride Autumn Glow next Saturday in the $300 000 Group 2 Apollo Stakes in which the unbeaten Chris Waller trained mare will attempt to extend her unbeaten run which currently stands at eight wins from eight starts.

When jockeys are allowed to take their suspensions … well, that is another question all together.

‘till next time.

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