Former chief steward John Schreck wants officials to ban whip protests

REVERED former chief steward John Schreck has called for whip protests to be scrapped.

Jockey Tiffani Brooker and trainer John Zielke winning the Gunsynd Classic with Dreams Aplenty at Eagle Farm. Picture: Picture: Natasha Wood, Trackside Photography

QUEENSLAND Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett confirmed he is in receipt of an official Gunsynd Classic complaint on Wednesday, at the same time revered steward John Schreck called for whip protests to be scrapped.

After running second in Saturday’s Group 3 Gunsynd Quality at Eagle Farm, Violate’s connections took exception to winning rider Tiffani Brooker using the whip 12 more times than permitted on Dreams Aplenty.

WEIR IMPORT ON HOLLINDALE MISSION

They believe they should have been notified of their grounds to protest before correct weight was declared.

Barnett confirmed QRIC is considering the matter.

“I am very supportive of the actions of stewards on Saturday, the outcome which saw a jockey suspended for a contravention of the whip rule well after correct weight was declared,” Barnett said.

Jockey Tiffani Brooker was fined and suspended for overuse of the whip at Eagle Farm last Saturday. Picture: Natasha Wood, Trackside Photography

Connections of Violate are entitled to a QRIC internal review, or then take the case to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) if they are dissatisfied with QRIC’s handling of the matter.

Schreck, who made his name as “the Sheriff” in Sydney before stepping on to the world stage and presiding over Hong Kong racing, said Racing Australia should delete the option for whip offences to be used in protests.

“Objection rules were designed for incidents of horses against horses, which can be measured. It’s tangible. You can see it,” he said. “With whip use I would defy anybody to tangibly justify why you would uphold a protest. It’s a mistake to have it there — it should never have been there.”

Schreck stressed, however, that he is fully supportive of officials cracking down on the use of the whip. “During my time I am ashamed to say I did not do enough to curtail whip use,” Schreck said. “Something needed to be done. (But) the penalties for breaches should be on jockeys and them alone.

Former steward John Schreck says the option to protest over whip offences should be scrapped.

“Why should the owners who pay the money be penalised when their horse had nothing to do with it? It’s different if their horse causes it.

“We just need penalties that provide a suitable deterrent.”

Barnett said he was aware Racing Australia had discussed this topic previously but have chosen to maintain this rule.

“The rule may be on the agenda for consideration again in future,” he said.

In the interim, Barnett said QRIC has no plans to consider extra stewards to monitor whip strikes from the room or a change to it’s method of watching the running of a race.

■ ALLAN Reardon has accepted an offer from Barnett to extend his contract as chief steward for another 12 months, ending speculation he was set to retire.

Originally published as Former chief steward John Schreck wants officials to ban whip protests