Rule needs teeth
If we must have a whip rule, then it needs to be applied properly.
Clearly, some jockeys believe that using the whip beyond the approved number of strikes leads to improved performances from horses.
And there are times when that “gain” from breaching the whip rule outweighs the “pain” of the resulting penalty. Why else would jockeys do it?
Stewards should have the courage to overturn results where breaches occur and there is a close margin.
To do otherwise is to rob punters and connections of horses whose jockeys have followed the rules of their rightful winnings.
If stewards don’t have the courage to enforce the rule properly, then it should be taken out of their hands.
For example, where a breach of the whip rule occurs and the final margin is less than half a length, the finishing positions should be automatically reversed with no discretion required.
Oakleigh South (Vic)