October
MayIt's a beat-up
Matt Stewart’s column on the use of the whip (28/4) had little value other than as an attempt to create controversy.
Has he compared the old whip to the current one? Today’s lighter whip is more of a persuader to get horses from the mounting yard to the barrier. It is also useful in a race when a horse suddenly changes stride or direction.
The old whip was vastly stronger than the current one, and the change in my opinion was a good one.
In the last 200 metres, when the whip is mainly used, jockeys’ movement in the saddle as they use the persuader also encourages horses to stretch out.
If journos like Matt Stewart keep writing about the whip they may be talking themselves out of a job.
If whip restrictions are tightened again (which I don’t think should or will happen), turnover will drop as will the resulting returns to the industry.
A vast number of punters (including myself) would stop punting and would not require form guides and racing papers. Sales would almost certainly drop.
Scribes, stop being controversial for the sake of it. Instead, write and talk about how racing is better than ever.
Kilmore (Vic)