In the most recent harness rulings, the following appeared under “Whipping Violations.” (Note: As there are about the same number of “violations” each week, the fines are clearly not functioning as deterrents. Therefore, they are irrelevant and I am not citing them. None of these drivers, of course, received suspensions.)
Thomas Tharps, Northfield, Apr 27: “Did whip the horse excessively during the final half. The penalty will be reduced if not appealed.”
Michael Peterson, Hoosier, May 2: “Inappropriate use of the whip.”
Brett Erickson, Cal Expo, May 3: “Use of the whip more than six times. Second offense within Cal Expo season.”
Franklin Milby, Rosecroft, May 4: “Excessive use of the whip (one-handed whipping).”
Then, at two recent steeplechase events, these:
Foxfield, Apr 27:
“Ryan Treacy was observed striking Fingal nine times.”
“Sean McDermott was observed striking Who’s Counting, the eventual winner, seven times.”
“Brian Barry was observed striking Oscar Winner, the eventual winner, seven times.”
And at Great Meadow, May 4:
“Graham Watters was found to have struck his horse, Welshman, eight times, two strikes in excess of the six strikes allowed.” As I previously reported, the stewards noted that Welshman, who again was flogged eight times, “suffered a possible puncture of his LF tendon sheath” during the race.
While this shouldn’t be necessary, here is Dr. Rick Arthur, the former equine medical director of the California Horse Racing Board, talking about whipping at a 2019 conference. Keep in mind that Dr. Arthur, although a vet, is pro-racing.
I read somewhere that have got more nerve endings on skin than we do. So whipping hurts them MORE than it would on our skin/butt.
We also don’t see the visible damage the bruising does without imaging where the bruising typically occurs.
Bunch of sadistic perverts in the stands on their backs celebrating ‘horse racing’ or Gladiator sport for animals. Despicable.
“…whipping simply looks abusive.” Well, that is because WHIPPING IS ABUSIVE and who doesn’t know that?
But, at least, he, Dr. Arthur, admits that whipping hurts the horse and that’s why they use the whips on the horses.
This is why I say these people are sadistic. They know whipping the horse hurts the horse and they enjoy it so much that they “work” as jockeys or drivers and get paid to do it.
As far as the fines for whipping violations go, it’s like a “pay to play” where, in order to keep doing this hideous whipping of exhausted horses to make the horses run faster and farther than any horse would otherwise (and because these people are sadists), the jockeys and/or drivers just pay a little extra money for the “privilege (?)” to continue to engage in their favorite morally depraved choice of collecting a paycheck.
They should be arrested for Animal Cruelty and put in jail.
Horseracing needs to be banned.
Dr. Rick Arthur is Bob Baffert’s Enabler. If it were not for him, all of Baffert’s abuse would have come to light decades ago, if he had ANY integrity whatsoever. XOXO
I have heard this gentleman speak before. Everything he says is correct! I never used a whip on any horse when galloping at the track even when told to in am. Good video. Of course my not using whip when told to did not actually endear me to the owners/ trainers. They could not find riders to exercise their horses many times late in the season at our now gone 1 mile track.