The new whip rules in the UK are perfectly clear and straightforward and now the jockeys are used to them they work very well. The whip is to be used as an "aid" not as an instrument of abuse. There is a scale of penalties for various offences, not just those involving the whip, and a "totting-up" process which means that persistent offenders can get a very long holiday indeed. There is also a reciprocal arrangement with other racing authorities that means bans in other countries - like that of Richard Hughes in India - was carried through into the start of the English season. Perhaps the difference between British racing and American racing is that the stated principle of the British Horse Racing Authority that the welfare of the horse is paramount?

All this has been discussed on the Overdose thread over many years.

Yes, Amy, we started with Overdose, who bless him, despite all his travails is still soldiering on, and it broadened into a cornucopia of topics of interest to perhaps a select, but certainly a group of like-minded individuals, who enjoy racing from all around the globe and have been talking about it for many years now. Of course, anyone is welcome there;  it isn't an exclusive club. I shall continue to post in my old home, but the "best of British" as we would say from across the pond, to anyone who wants to talk about parallel topics here.

I've been following British racing closely in recent months, especially since the new whip rules came about (and the other obvious perks that come along with betting on British races like no raceday medication to deal with).  I definitely see the value in the whip regulations...and it does go a long way in improving image of the sport.  However, I'm not sure that drawing the line at 8 strikes instead of 9 or 4 strikes instead of 5, or whatever the rule is, is considered keeping the horse's welfare in mind.  If that were the case, it looks like the authority would have stopped the use of the whip entirely.  I understand having to draw the line somehwere, but it seems a little bit overkill to say 8 strikes is OK but 9 is worthy of a prison sentence.  I guess I just don't see it as "excessive" until the jockey is clearly using the whip like a complete fool (hitting the horse every stride...see Borel's ride in the 2009 Whitney Handicap on Rachel Alexandra).  At any rate, my point was that I've noticed the penalites more often in the bigger races where the reward outweighs these punishment...assuming that the jockey doesn't have several days waiting to be served already.  You rarely see 3 whips bans stem from one race, unless it's a big one.

The full sister to Nathaniel, Great Heavens, wins the Darley Irish Oaks at Curragh yesterday.  Princess Highway the Street Cry filly was one I was looking forward to seing again in here, she finished third.

What a tremendous turn of foot from Great Heavens - she is well named.

VIDEO:   http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/great-heavens-john-gosden-heavens-gives-gosden-and-buick-more-joy-in-irish-oaks/1077263/reports/#newsArchiveTabs=last7DaysNews

Great Heavens lands Irish Oaks

It wasn't as plain-sailing as the result suggests as she lost her position under William Buick in the straight and was a little short of room when about to start her challenge.

But, when switched into the clear in the centre of the track, she finished her race with relish, outstaying all of her rivals in the testing conditions for a clear-cut success.

http://www.skysports.com/racing/race-report/0,,11068_512451,00.html

 

Interesting.  I feel like if they are going to be that strict about it, they ought to take it away completely - but in the same sense, the whip is often more used as an aid - jockeys don't have the ability to use their legs to tell horses to stop moving to the left/right or to straighten out - it is all done by hand - so the whip can help a horse that is not very good at listening to the hand aids (If that makes sense?)  Thank you for the information :-)

Nice race!  Very good turn of foot!  I like that Street Cry filly too, will have to keep an eye on how she continues doing :-)

Oh what an exciting finish!  Happy for Danedream - sad that Deep Brilliante was not brilliant on this day but there will be others, this was the filly's day, she got Nathaniel who ran a really nice race in the King George.

 

It really was exciting!  Great race!