DEL MARDEL MAR — For the California Horse Racing Board meeting that will be held Thursday across the street from the Del Mar racetrack, the item about jockeys’ use of the riding crops is buried on the agenda at No. 19 in the order of business.
In a gathering that seems primed for contentiousness, the issue might top the list for lightning-rod subjects.
In March, after a series of breakdown fatalities at Santa Anita, the CHRB unanimously ed a rule that restricted jockeys from using their crop — more regularly referred to as a whip — unless it’s necessary to control the horse for safety reasons.
A second CHRB vote after a 45-day public-comment period was required for the rule to go into practice, but the process hit some snags. The state’s Office of istrative Law rejected language in the rule about jockeys’ purses being disqualified, and the CHRB had to amend how it is written.
Two possible amendments to the rule will go before the board on Thursday. Both could be accepted, rejected or further modified, and any vote to adopt a rule would then start the public-review process over again.
It would likely be months before any new rules were instituted.
One amendment removes much of the previous verbiage of the rule and more simply states: “A jockey or exercise rider may use a riding crop during a race or training when necessary to control the horse for the safety of the horse or rider.”
In other words, a jockey wouldn’t be able to strike a horse to try to make it run faster.
The amendment says that if stewards determine the crop was used for that reason, a jockey can be fined or suspended, and the horse can be disqualified.
The second amendment would outlaw the use of overhand whipping of the horse. Riders would be restricted to waving the crop at the horse or tapping it on the shoulder with the crop in the down position. Jockeys would have to hold both reins throughout the race.
The rule changes would further make California the most restrictive state for the use of crops. In 2014, the CHRB ed a rule that jockeys could strike a horse no more than three times in succession before giving it a chance to respond.
An adoption of the new rules would alter decades of horse racing practice.
Many jockeys and horsemen contend that being unable to strike the horse will lead to chaotic running and unpredictable racing, while CHRB board and racing executives say the public demands more humane treatment of horses during a time when horse safety in the industry has never been more scrutinized.
Before its most recent summer meet, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club adopted a “local” rule that crops could not be used on horses in training. DMTC President Josh Rubinstein said the track further s a change in the crop rules for racing.
He said surveys of the public continue to show that people don’t want to see horses hit with whips.
“As we’re being much more progressive with medication and vet scrutiny, the riding crop has to be a part of those reforms,” Rubinstein said. “We need to make that happen.”
Rubinstein said he understands the concern of horsemen as well as the betting public. But he hopes a rule that will be fair to all is adopted.
“From a horse player’s standpoint, I understand that you want your jockey to be on his belly and riding as hard as he can,” Rubinstein said. “The jockeys have said that the crop is critical to control and steer the horse. I’m hopeful that there’s a way the crop can still be used, but in a different way that the public accepts, while still allowing the people in the industry to feel like the rider is able to give them the maximum effort.”
Jockey Joe Talamo, a 29-year-old regular on the Southern California circuit who is nearing his 2,000th career victory, called the use of whips “a delicate situation between the jockeys, trainers, owners and public perception.
“That’s where the fine line is,” Talamo said.
“Perception” remains the buzzword on the topic.
“I hate to say it, but perception is reality,” Talamo said. “My personal opinion is that if they say you can’t use whips at all, then it’s going to be like a merry-go-round out there. Trust me, there are horses I’ve won on that if I hadn’t used the whip, I wouldn’t have finished in the top three.”
Talamo said there are horses that wouldn’t require any whipping to run at their fastest. Others, he insists, who are either new to racing or less inclined to accelerate, need the signal that the whip provides.
Flavien Prat, 27, who has won a total of three riding titles at Del Mar, agreed that every horse reacts differently.
“Maybe it’s the horse’s first time racing,” he said. “The horse doesn’t know anything about running a race. You hit the stretch, you’re going for the lead, and your horse is just looking around. You’re going to get beat if you can’t do anything about it.
“Or you can just touch him on the (behind) and tell him, ‘Hey, you’ve got to run all the way through the wire.’ ”
Talamo retrieved his whip from the jockeys’ locker room. It had a flexible leather end on it. For comparison, he showed off a newer whip that has a dense foam tip. Riders can choose to use either.
Talamo said he does not believe that the whipping is very painful to the horses.
Prat said, “Trust me, a 1,000-pound horse won’t feel anything. I promise you, if that horse wanted to stop because it’s feeling pain or that it’s tired, he’s going to stop.”
Emotional win for trainer
One week after a horse he trains suffered a racing breakdown at Del Mar but was saved by surgery, trainer Andrew Lerner won his first stakes race here.
Queen Bee to You ($8), a 5-year-old mare ridden by Prat, seized the lead in the stretch and beat Show It N Moe It by 4 1/2 lengths in the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes.
“It’s a great feeling and an emotional win,” Lerner said.
A week ago, Lerner’s Princess Dorian suffered fractures to her leg and later had successful surgery at San Luis Rey Downs’ equine hospital. Lerner said she is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.
Notable
Slewgoodtobetrue, a 3-year-old filly trained by Peter Eurton, collapsed and died in the barn area after a workout on Sunday morning. She had six career starts (two wins) and last raced in April, finishing fourth in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks.
