To Whip Or Not To Whip?

Keith Knight believes horse racing must make provision for a future without whip use should it be demanded

Use of the whip in horse racing is a contentious issue. It is a subject that divides opinion; not so much within racing but on the occasions when spokespersons for our sport must defend a jockey’s right to use a whip against those of who believe the whip to be a tool of cruelty.

Certainly John Francome believes the whip should be done away with. He is perhaps wrong to say ‘people do not come to the races to see horses beaten with a whip’, as I believe some punters will suspect a jockey of not trying if he does not pick up his whip with earnest intent. But I know from experience that non-racing people condemn horse racing out-of-hand because of the whip, because they believe the whip is a form of punishment metered out on a beautiful, defenceless animal. I can defend horse racing and all its players from here to kingdom come; I can assure people that jockeys love horses more than anyone; yet it is of no use because our accusers will retaliate with ‘you do not beat those you love with a whip’, and certainly not for monetary gain.