Animal rights group call for a ban on the use of the whip in horse racing

WARNING: Graphic. IT was the horrifying moment the race that stops the nation became the race that shocked the nation. A year on, what’s changed?

WHEN a green sheet went up around the stall of Japanese stallion Admire Rakti last year, the Melbourne Cup suddenly became the race that divided a nation.

The tragic death of the race favourite rocked racegoers and came just minutes before reports that another runner, Araldo, might have to be euthanased after being spooked by a flag and breaking his leg on the way back to his stall.

But a year on and not much has changed when it comes to new measures to safeguard the welfare of the 24 horses vying to win Australia’s most prestigious race.

In the aftermath of Araldo’s accident, the Victoria Racing Club acted immediately to ban flags in horse areas for the remaining two days of the 2014 Spring Carnival.

A year later and the flags are back. The club hopes that increased education and messages, including in racebooks and on big screens and signage, will ensure racegoers will behave in an appropriate manner.

Oversized flags will continue to be banned — but this was a ban that was already in place prior to last year’s race.

There will, however, be one change.

Following a review sparked by Araldo’s accident, the VRC moved to address congestion in the horse walk, which horses use to return to the mounting yard after they race.

“The process for horses returning to the mounting yard for Group 1 races has been altered so that horses will return in the natural order they arrive in from the track, rather than waiting for the winning horse,” a VRC statement said.

“This change means the process for horses returning to the yard in Group 1 races is the same as all other races, and will reduce the likelihood of congestion in the horse walk.”

The moment Admire Rakti collapsed and died in the stalls after running the 2014 Melbourne Cup. Pic: ABC

Skikato Kayoshi, Admire Ratki’s strapper, is reduced to tears after the horse’s death.

Still, horse welfare advocates believe not enough has been done to protect racehorses — particularly around the use of the whip — for this year’s Melbourne Cup.

Racing Australia is introducing new whip rules which will limit the number of times a jockey can whip a horse during a race to just five strikes prior to the 100-metre mark. Backhand strikes will also be banned, along with the use of the whip on consecutive strides.

However, these changes do not come into effect until December 1.

Elio Celotto from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses believes these changes do not go far enough and has called for a complete ban on the use of the whip.

“When there’s money at stake, most trainers/owners will push the horse to the point of breakdown and risk the horse’s life for the sake of winning the race,” he said. “We think that the racing industry should take some affirmative action, firstly by banning the use of whips. Norway has banned them since 1982.

“And I have been to Norway and seen these races and it’s a much better spectacle because you can see these jockeys trying really hard, riding hands and heels, and they don’t need a whip. They don’t even need it to control a horse.

“We think that would create a level playing field for everybody. And the best horseman on the best horse would win the race. Rather than the horse that is running out of fear.

“That’s why we see so many unfortunate incidents.”

RSPCA Australia’s chief executive officer Heather O’Neil also called for a ban on the use of the whip after last year’s race, saying there was no evidence that whipping made horses go faster.

“If anyone suggests repeated whipping does not hurt horses, they should try it on themselves,” Ms O’Neil told Fairfax last year

Beating and overriding a horse is categorised as cruel under Victoria’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. It attracts fines of up to $36,000 and 12-months imprisonment.

— with Emily Moulton

Araldo, ridden by Dwayne Dunn, becomes tangled in the fence after being spooked by flag wavers at last year’s Cup. It broke a leg and had to be put down. Picture: AAP Image/Hamish Blair

Admire Rakti with jockey Zac Purton is led out for the race last year. Picture: Colleen Petch.

Originally published as Animal rights group call for a ban on the use of the whip in horse racing