In an article from the Thoroughbred Daily News, the hugely popular rider of American Pharoah and California Chrome, Victor Espinoza, commented on the imminent rule changes regarding the whip in California. Riders are going to be told that they can only use their whips for corrective and safety purposes – for instance to keep a wayward horse from lugging sideways, impeding other runners, or attempting to run out or jump the rail etc..
Victor was then quoted as saying:
“I think I’ll be the one put at a disadvantage because I am the strongest jockey out there,” he said. “If that is going to be the rule and that is the case, I always follow the rules. That’s it. I think some horses will be affected, definitely. There are laid-back horses that don’t want to do anything on their own. But most of the horses are trained to run and bred to run, so I don’t think it will affect most of them that much.”
Victor – if you are the strongest jockey out there, you will be the strongest at galvanizing and pushing a horse out to the wire with hands and heels. This new whip rule will show the racing world exactly who the strongest jockeys are. They will be those with the most fitness, strength and stamina, those who can most successfully ride a horse out to the wire without resorting to the whip. These riders will differentiate themselves from the weaker “stick jockeys” – i.e. those who rely the most on their whips.
This rule will also show us who the smartest riders are. Tactical awareness and reserving a horse’s resources for the stretch will become paramount. Slower starts and faster finishes? Yes please. A visually, vastly more entertaining, and healthy spectacle than fast starts and slow finishes, wouldn’t we say?
And this radical new whip rule will hopefully be good for the breed. The honest horses who have the most heart and naturally try the hardest will win the most races and the most prestigious races. The lazy horses that don’t try their best or give their natural ability and need the encouragement of the whip to win – will not. And in the long run, as this is factored into who becomes a top stallion or a top mare and who does not – this can only be good for the breed.
As for what the new whip rule can do for thoroughbred racing’s public relations in these troubled times? Surely it can only improve the public perception of horse racing and help bring new fans to the sport.
Bring it on.
— Carl Wilson