RA Stands Firm On New Whip Restrictions

Racing Australia is standing by its decision to introduce further restrictions on whip use from December despite protests from jockeys.

RA announced on Tuesday jockeys would be limited to using the whip five times before the final 100m of a race.

The news came as a surprise to representatives of the national and state jockeys' associations who said they believed there was to be further consultation on the issue.

NSW jockeys' association president Mark Newnham attended a meeting at Canterbury races on Wednesday which included senior jockeys, RA chief executive Peter McGuaran and several trainers including Chris Waller.

Newnham said jockeys felt a rule change was unnecessary.

Under whip rules introduced in 2009, jockeys are restricted to hitting a horse five times in a forehand manner before the 100m but have an unlimited number of backhand strikes.

The changes will restrict whip use in either manner to five hits before the final 100m of a race.

Newnham feels a minor number of riders are guilty of excessive backhand use of the whip and the issue is more prevalent interstate.

"When the whip rules came in we had a lot of complaints from NSW jockeys who kept comparing themselves to other states and ours were being more heavily penalised compared to other states," Newnham said.

"Now we don't have a problem and this Victorian-based push is because they (Victorian officials) weren't policing it from the start."

Newnham wants an emphasis on educating young jockeys in proper whip use and says the culture is already changing in line with international stars like Joao Moreira, renowned for his soft hands.

"What we've got to get across to young jockeys is you are not trying to hurt the horse, you are trying to get him to extend his stride and maintain momentum," he said.

"When I started riding everyone wanted to ride like Greg Hall or Mick Dittman. Now all the kids want to ride like Joao Moreira."

McGuaran described Wednesday's meeting as "respectful" and said it gave him the chance to explain the process RA had undertaken to reach its decision.

He said RA wasn't prepared to allow for unlimited whip use in the modern era and policing the current rule was too subjective.

RA intends standing firm on the new whip restrictions, although McGuaran says any new arguments will be heard.

"The board has made a decision and believes it took proper process .... it made the decision in the best interests of racing," McGauran said.

"But we'd never slam the door in the face of the AJA (Australian Jockeys' Association). If they put new information in front of us we'd consider it."