back to the whip and the 4-miler.

​I was watching highlights of Irish racing the other day and a thought entered my head. I experience thoughts on a regular basis, if not either enlightening or thoughts that manifest into life-changing wisdom. I thought this ‘thought’ to be profound, though, and another thought suggested I shouldn’t keep it to myself but will share it in the hope it will be debated by racing people more qualified than myself to gage its true merit.
Would fewer horses suffer tendon, back or other injuries if jockeys were banned from using the whip to gain greater effort from their mounts?
To my mind, whether it be flat racing or National Hunt, the more tired a horse becomes, especially in the final furlong, the harder it is for a jockey to keep it on an even keel. Easier, of course, for the better jockeys and less so for the lesser and more inexperienced jockeys. I noticed, and this is highlighted when viewing the finish of a race from the head-on camera, that very few horses remain galloping in a straight line when a jockey pulls the stick through from one hand to the other as horses tend to roll with the direction of the stick, either left to right or vice versa. This must cause greater strain to go through tendons and the overall musculature of the horse’s body. I am not suggesting this is why horses suffer tendon injuries as this type of injury can occur on landing after a fence or through taking a false step. But it must have a bearing when the horse is at its most fatigued.
When Frankie won on Enable at Ascot this season, he said he didn’t want to use his whip after the first stroke to get her going because he didn’t want to risk losing ground by unbalancing her. My thought at the time was why couldn’t all horses be ridden in a similar vein and it should be template for the way all young jockeys are taught to ride a finish? The phrase ‘poetry in motion’ comes easily to mind.  When Enable was in full flow Frankie was completely in rhythm with her stride and she ran as straight as a gun barrel. Enable was trying her heart out and I accept that some horses are not as amenable. But it provided evidence for those who believe the whip is not vital in succeeding in a tight finish.
If the whip was banned tomorrow, jockeys would adapt and, in a few months, as John Francome has said, we all will wonder what the fuss was about. But what I would like to know is this: do most injuries occur in racehorses during the final furlong and is the risk extenuated at courses like Epsom and Goodwood that have a short pull-up? Another issue that has exercised my mind over the years.
If, as I have championed for many years, a twelve-month trial period of hands and heels races for professionals was instigated, not only would no-whip races be scientifically analysed but data would be provided on whether horses suffered less injuries than when the whip was allowed. Thus far the debate has only been about the benefits and drawbacks to humankind, perhaps now we should seek to discover if the horse population will benefit from a ban, apart from getting a hiding once in a while. Whips, by the way, even the modern cushioned variety, hurt. Have a friend slap you across the face with one and find out. Whether it leave a wheal is really not relevant.
 
After hearing what Patrick Mullins had to say on ‘Luck on Sunday’ about the changes to the 4-miler that is no longer the Cheltenham 4-miler, it seems the B.H.A.’s consultation was not as extensive as they might want us to believe. The National Hunt Chase is a very important race as far amateur jockeys are concerned, yet the sport’s most successful ever amateur, Patrick Mullins, was not asked for his opinion, and neither were Jamie Codd or Derek O’Connor, three men who know a bit about riding racehorses and Cheltenham racecourse. It seems that in shortening the distance the B.H.A. have actually added danger to a race they have tried to emasculate with their alterations. Now, according to the wise and experienced P.Mullins, sixteen novice chasers will be charging into the first fence with only a couple of hundred-yards to get themselves organised before being funnelled into a downhill turn. Congratulations to all concerned. Another fine mess to add to the universal disapproval of the mares chase Cheltenham propose to include into an already diluted Festival. But hey-ho, I dare say the B.H.A. will consult widely with all concerned as to which race to discard in favour of yet another mares only race.
Incidentally, for those who might not know, I wanted the National Hunt Chase upgraded to a 4-mile Champion Chase for professional jockeys. As the National Hunt Festival is named after the National Hunt Chase, a race that predates the Gold Cup, I thought it one of my better ideas. A championship race at what is to all extent and purpose is a festival of champions.