The Quebec Jockey Club management has announced that the drivers will go ‘whipless’ in all the harness races held at Hippodrome 3R on November 18 and November 25.
“This is an experiment of pari-mutuel racing without whips,” said Director of Racing Murielle Thomassin. “There will be absolutely no whips allowed on the track these two special days.
“Our society is very conscious of animal welfare,” Thomassin continued. “The Quebec Jockey Club is ready to change with the society and evolve in a sport where the horse is our pride and joy. We must respect and protect them at all cost.”
Over the past ten years a few tracks, Plainridge Raceway and Indiana Downs, have experimented with different forms of 'whipless' racing. The biggest movement was announced in 2016 when Harness Racing Australia voluntarily decided to phase out and ban the whip. Not just in races – but on training tracks and stables, too.
“We will see how the racing goes these two days without whips,” Thomassin said. “We will study the races themselves and the wagering patterns too and maybe come up with some changes for the 2019 harness racing season in Quebec.”
Track Notes: Live racing at 3R gets underway Sunday at 12:50 pm first post. Featured will be both a Preferred trot (race three) and a Preferred Pace (race eight). For more information and to get a free race program, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with from the Quebec Jockey Club)
Going to be tough to race if
Going to be tough to race if the entry box doesn't get filled I would think!
I remember quite a few years
I remember quite a few years ago, in Ontario, what looked like riding crops were used. It was about three feet long and stiff as a board with a flap on the end to make a noise to get the horse to go. Seemed very humane but never caught on. Whips are needed for safety reasons. Will the lines in both hands rule still apply ?
Hope it will stay forever and
Hope it will stay forever and around the world on all tracks
J'admire cette femme qui
J'admire cette femme qui prend des décisions pas facile depuis quelle est en place elle a du guts faut lui donné ca c est une grande femme lol
bonne chance a toi