No-whip experiment shelved for Friday

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockeys and horseplayers can breathe a sigh of relief this week following cancellation of the no-whip experiment initially scheduled for Friday at Santa Anita.

Standard protocol regarding the whip will be in place for the eight-race card. Jockeys will carry conventional riding crops that they can use as deemed necessary.

The about-face comes on the heels of last week’s announcement from the Jockeys’ Guild that riders would not carry whips during the April 12 card at Santa Anita. The experimental trial was in response to a rule change proposed by the California Horse Racing Board that the riding crop be used only for safety for horse and rider.

Guild representatives believe additional research is necessary before changing the existing rule, which allows a jockey to use a whip three times in succession. Part of that research was to include the no-whip trial on Friday. After extended discussions between the guild and Thoroughbred Owners of California that continued early this week, the guild opted to delay the no-whip experiment.

A press release issued Wednesday by the Jockeys’ Guild said, “The guild has postponed its planned experiment to have its members ride without them as the organization works toward longer-term implementation of policies consistent with recent guidelines issued by the California Horse Racing Board.”

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The guild will ask jockeys at Santa Anita and Golden Gate to use the recently developed 360 GT riding crop, which was used the past weekend Keeneland. The 360 GT, which has a circular foam-like cushion and is without edges, has been developed in the interest of safeguarding horses and riders.

While guild officials worked late Wednesday morning to draft the press release, the Santa Anita racing office sent a mass text that said jockeys would carry whips Friday.

Guild representative Darrell Haire confirmed the change.

“We’re not going to do this Friday,” Haire said, regarding the no-whip trial. “We’re going to do like we’ve been doing, status quo, with the three strikes just the way it is.”

The announcement that jockeys will carry whips Friday is a relief to California horseplayers torn between undesirable options – to either wager on an unprecedented no-whips experiment, or redirect betting dollars to less-familiar racing circuits. For now, much of the money will stay locally.

Perhaps even more important is the issue of safety. Trainers and jockeys expressed concern this week regarding potential hazards of a race without whips.

Rafael Bejarano, one of California’s top riders, said the whip “is necessary.”

“We use it to correct the horse, to show the horse, to keep the horse straight,” he said. “It’s a necessary thing we use.”

Prior to the announcement that whips would be used, Bejarano said, “Everybody is hoping on Friday that it’s not going to be a disaster.”

Horses respond to signals from riders, who employ the whip as a tool. Horses tapped on the shoulder early in the race will produce more speed, horses merely shown the whip are less likely to lug out or lug in, and horses respond to whip encouragement late in the race.

“You have to have the whip for safety, even if you don’t use it,” jockey Martin Garcia said. “It makes a difference for everybody, it’s part of the safety. If you don’t have a whip, you would just have to scream. Other than that, what can you do? You don’t have options.”

For now, jockeys will continue to carry whips. Neither the TOC nor Jockeys’ Guild immediately support the CHRB proposal that would limit riders to using whips only “when necessary to control the horse for the safety of the horse or rider.” The current rule allowing jockeys to use the whip three times in succession before pausing to give a horse a chance to respond would be eliminated under the proposed rule.

A copy of a letter from TOC president Greg Avioli this week, addressed to guild president Terry Meyocks and obtained by Daily Racing Form, partly outlined the TOC stance. “First, TOC does NOT support the proposed revisions to the whip rule. … TOC believes that the proposed rule is unworkable for many reasons and will NOT accomplish the CHRBs (sic) objectives as we understand them.”

The letter stated TOC support for the Jockeys’ Guild: “TOC requests that we join with the Jockeys’ Guild in developing and presenting to the CHRB a joint proposal on what appropriate changes could be to the existing crop rule that would be acceptable to both of our organizations.”

The TOC letter included acknowledgement of the anti-racing backlash in the wake of 23 equine fatalities this season at Santa Anita, saying, “… we know for certain there are a number of organizations currently working on a statewide anti-horse racing ballot initiative in California.”

Friday at Santa Anita, the eight-race card will proceed as normal. The seventh-race feature is a 6 1/2-furlong allowance sprint for California-bred fillies and mares. Tapitha Bonita is the 5-2 program favorite in the seven-horse field.

Although the race is shorter than two-turn specialist Tapitha Bonita would prefer, she might be good enough anyway. Fast-working comebacker Wandering Patrol is working very well for her return, while Chasing Lucas is likely to set the pace.

First post Friday is 1 p.m. Pacific.