THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - UNHAPPINESS LEADS TO AN UNEASY TRUCE

By Graham Potter | Sunday, November 29, 2015

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

The new whip rule, which will further restrict the use of the whip by jockeys, is due to be introduced on December 1 ... and riders are not happy.

Many see it as just another weak-kneed response from racing authorities who they claim continue pander to the perception of animal activists to the detriment of the racing product.

Now let’s get one thing clear. Whichever side of the fence you sit on in this argument, nobody wants to see a horse mistreated, in any race or elsewhere else, least of all the jockeys, most of whom were attracted to the game in the first place because of their love of the thoroughbred and the true, competitive spirit that is an intrinsic part of racing.

There are, and have always been, penalties in place for excessive use of the whip and therein probably lies the better solution to the whip issue than the current rule amendment.

Heavier penalties for those in breach of the rule, with the severity increasing dramatically with the level of transgression, would have an effect on the way riders go about their business ... and, yes, we have to be talking about suspensions and not fines.

By all means, restrict the use of the whip ... but that can only legislated to a point where the race result itself is not compromised if the racing product is to maintain any satisfactory level of integrity.

The question is when does the rule go too far in that regard and has it done so with this latest amendment?

Queensland Jockey of the Year, Damian Browne has a firm response to that question.

Writing in his personal blog on horseracingonly.com.au, Browne stated, “There will be horses whose winning chances will be compromised under the new rule and you would think that in itself would be a huge consideration against implementing a rule of this nature.

“If you don’t give some horses a few reminders to keep their mind on the job they won’t get there. There are horses that need a bit of help and there are others where you don’t have to use the whip at all. As a professional jockey it is our job to know that and to only use the whip accordingly.”

It must be remembered that a jockey is charged with giving his or her mount the best possible chance of gaining its best possible finishing position. In fact there are serious consequences for them if they don’t, not to mention the negative fallout for the industry.

Not only are they charged to do so, but, importantly, jockeys must be seen to do so by racing’s customer, the punter.

Keeping that perception of a fair race intact will have a greater impact on the sustainable future of racing than any perception on whip use, so if the whip rule compromises that outcome in any way, it is doing racing no service at all.

The bottom line is racing authorities are meant to be serving racing’s best interests and not that of any outside lobby group.

Can they truly say they doing so with regard to this important issue?

The Australian Jockeys Association (AJA) has decided against taken any industrial action with regard to the implementation of the new whip rule which comes into effect on December 1.

AJA General Manager Des O’Keeffe said that decision was made on the basis of serving the best interests of the industry, but he also made it clear that were strongly divided views amongst the AJA membership on the whip issue at this time.

“The issues were hotly debated at both national and state levels. Although it was a long way from unanimous, it has been agreed that we’ll endeavour to ride to the new rule commencing Tuesday,” said O'Keeffe.

But O’Keefe did not spare racing authorities saying, “Whatever Racing Australia says, the fact is its consultative processes caused as much anger as did the rule change itself.”

The opposition to the new rule from the majority of jockeys is well known but their arguments fell short of convincing Racing Australia who remained steadfast in their mission to implement the new rule.

As O’Keefe stated, “It will now be up to Australia’s punters, trainers, owners and racegoers to decide what they think of it.”