One of the top drivers in the sport has spoken out on proposed new whipping rules that he says are "too restrictive” and “almost completely take the whip away."
D’Arcy Egan’s most recent column for The Cleveland Plain Dealer explains that the Ohio State Racing Commission’s new whipping rules for Standardbred racing have not gone over well with drivers or the state’s horsemen’s association.
Late last year, the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association announced that it had hired Renée Mancino as the organization’s new executive director. She has made the association’s position on the proposed rule pretty clear. She told Egan that she understands that public perception is a very important issue when it comes to the use of the whip, but that the proposed new rules “are being upgraded to a level of absurdism."
Egan’s column explains the proposed new whipping restriction in his column, stating the following (in addition to limits on whip/snapper lengths, and that drivers have to keep a line in each hand at all times):
’Whipping would be restricted to elbow and wrist action only. The whipping arm couldn't be raised above shoulder height. The whip also could not be applied below the sulky shaft, or between a horse's legs. Drivers are banned from using a whip on a tired horse or a horse that is not responding or in contention.’
Ohio State Racing Commission Chairman Robert Schmitz told Egan that racing jurisdictions in Canada, Pennsylvania and Kentucky have similar whipping rules in effect, and that his commission “wanted to ban one-handed use of the whip in Ohio.” Mancino has countered by saying that many drivers have told her that by not allowing one-handed whipping, the safety of the drivers and the horses could be a major issue.
One of the top drivers in Ohio, Aaron Merriman, is against the proposed changes. A winner of more than 7,200 career races in the sulky, Merriman has been quoted as saying that he doesn’t utilize his whip all that much, but that the proposed changes are “too restrictive.”
"You've got to remember people wager on horse races. If a driver can't effectively use a whip, people who have bet a lot of money on a horse might mistakenly think the driver is not trying because he hasn't gone to the whip."
The column explains that the proposed rule changes are being reviewed by two state boards – the Common Sense Initiative and Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review – and could possibly be in effect in July.
(With files from The Plain Dealer)
Arguably the best race of the
Arguably the best race of the last ten years Art Official defeating Somebeachsomewhere in the Meadowlands Pace.
A stretch drive of the ages.
If anyone has a problem with that STANDARD of driving then we should give up on the game all together.
Flawless driving at its best on center stage
Not abuse not a pounding none of the derogation I've read on this blog
Two championships driven with class and respect !!
Can't imagine it any other way.
John - They may be against
John - They may be against whipping if their horse is not in contention. But when it comes to cashing a ticket, they want their horses hit harder. You take a poll.
Ontario you can point your
Ontario you can point your finger, but if you're against the tradition TURN OFF THE (simulcast) SIGNAL, put your money where your mouth is !!
Explain to me why on three Saturday's every summer millions of people have watched horse racing, unfortunately it isn't harness racing, why I have NEVER heard a pre or post race interview asking anyone affiliated with racing as to "whipping" or urging the horse in any manner or context of the action, especially when so apparent and in the eye of so many?
Why can't a driver put both lines in one hand?
Do jockeys put the reins in one hand?
I'd like to relate urging a horse to fighting in hockey, its part of their culture and its something that's not going to sway a person one way or the other from attending
What ever your opinion, whatever the policy, it should be standard throughout the industry.
I know I've seen to many races where a driver made the mistake of putting both lines in one hand and the horses were disqualified....then seconds later on another monitor you see a different driving style. DO YOU THINK THE PEOPLE WHO PLAYED THEM HORSES PLAYED ANOTHER RACE? My guess is they went to the casino where things aren't as confusing. That's not perception it's our reality
My comments are with the understanding that we are talking about the vast majority of drivers that represent this game in a professional way
Mr Merriman, Mr Robinski is a
Mr Merriman, Mr Robinski is a fan/gambler and he has a right to his opinion whether you believe he is an expert or not. Gamblers who wager on races or sports or on anything else they choose to wager on, are all going to have opinions.
Sometimes they may be right sometimes they may not be, that is open to debate. Without customers/gamblers this industry is dead in the water and I think if the majority of customers were polled they would be against whipping.
In reply to Mr Merriman, Mr Robinski is a by John Carter
Exactly my statement. All
Exactly my statement. All gamblers don't agree. I'm saying as I did in the article that they need to be protected. Without them we don't exist. So again. I'm the last that should be attacked.
In reply to Mr Merriman, Mr Robinski is a by John Carter
Sorry Mr Merriman, I am gonna
Sorry Mr Merriman, I am gonna agree with Mr Robinski as well. I am not an expert as well, but I see MANY races won at Canadian tracks, and the Meadowlands, and other tracks that have tighter whipping rules. You say you do not have any violations, well that would be hard to have in a jurisdiction like Ohio.
Take note, before you say we are not experts, look who the first to reply was..... Jack Darling. Are you REALLY going to suggest that he too is wrong for that, as he says the same thing as Mr Robinski.
MR. Merriman don't presume I
MR. Merriman don't presume I agree with the Ontario, Canada, United States or any other jurisdiction regarding the "whipping rules" . You are the only person on the record who has stated his agreement with use of the whip in some form on a horse in a race.
Mr Merman: If anyone is being
Mr Merman: If anyone is being presumptuous it is you. As you said" You don't know me", and therefore you have no idea if I am an "expert" or not. Perhaps you should stick to as you say "what you know'!
Wayne Robinski, In response
Wayne Robinski,
In response to your question, the bad guys are those who whip and slash horses; those who abuse the abuse of the horse rules with regularity, not only the whipping rules but those involving so called "kicking" violations. Some may call it simple dropping one's foot, but its against the rules and gives those who do it an unfair advantage over those who obey the rules.
Aaron Merriman is a good guy because as mentioned he drives more races than any single person in North America and likely the world and has never had a single whipping fine or violation.
If the standard for non inclusion in the business of drivers were Aaron Merriman's, then I would guess that instead of us having a decline in the number of horses, there would be a drought in the number of drivers - probably leaving ZERO.
Well Well Well Mr Merriman:
Well Well Well Mr Merriman: So the over 90% who disagree with you are "commenting Unintelligibly" . Would that include Mr Odonnell??
In reply to Well Well Well Mr Merriman: by Dr Wayne Robinski
I'm not on here to debate or
I'm not on here to debate or even respond to you. But you Mr. Robinski made an ignorant comment towards me. Without using what I say or for/against. No ones named where mentioned. Mr Odonnell said it right. It was a broad yet correct statement. Of their being a winner still. He didn't wholeheartedly dig any deeper than that. So you look like you will start a debate with anyone. I feel I'm as is Murray are ambassadors of this sport and live and breath it. We only want the best and longevity. You sir seem to take any context and twist it into an argument. I stand down. You are arguing for the sake of it. You're no expert. I don't know u. You're not an advocate or judge. Never heard of u if you're a trainer/driver. So please stick to what your expertise is in.
In reply to Well Well Well Mr Merriman: by Dr Wayne Robinski
Also AGAIN - Mr Robinski -
Also AGAIN - Mr Robinski - I'm not for whipping. I race at many tracks where it's not allowed. I don't want the restrictions to be away from the finesse harmless use. Which that's where Ohio's stance is. It's beat them as much as u can as long as hands are in hand holds. But don't goose them where it doesn't hurt. So we should be on you for liking the new rule proposal.
"Find a different job" -
"Find a different job" - that's a new one. I'm one with no whipping violations on my record. That's why I feel like I have a right to speak. My opinion means something. I drive more horses a year than anyone. I'm not abusive nor like abusivness. I simply feel there needs to be some whipping action - especially harmlessly to ensure our integrity. I love the comments by the colt trainers.....which I've did some research. They have taken whips daily to "educate" their colts.
So before each of you attack me or the venue I race, look at facts. I don't abuse nor carry any fines nor reputation as a slasher. Just keep letting new rules and poor judgement sway your ridiculous views. I'm not for whipping. I'm for not getting fined for goosing and harmless use of whip. So continue to watch the thoroughbreds destroy us in handle. And the track where whipping is allowed the whole mile. It seems all Canadian backlash I get....when it was the place where they did a country wide strike against the rule.....hmmm. Where were the comments then?! Enjoy your days. Please read and learn my stance and my issues before commenting unintelligibly.
Mr Murray Brown: Read
Mr Murray Brown: Read carefully your comment about my statement in response to Mr. Merriman's whipping statements. You assert that you also disagree with some of his views on the subject. You might want to read the statement made by Mr Odonnell(a man who has been there thousands of times), with regards to the whipping of horses. Now I have a question for you Mr. Brown, if Mr. Merriman is "one of the good guys" as you asset, who are the bad guys and what are they doing??
If you don't believe that
If you don't believe that these whips hurt, try one out. I came home from the races one night with an autographed whip and was showing it to my wife because I was very proud of it. She said "Lemme see that whip Jimmy." So I handed it to her and as a joke she tap me with it and it left a welt on my right arm. I love my wife and I was not mad at her because she was just playing around but I can certainly tell you that it hurt and that this was no comparison to what horses get.
Wayne Robinski, I believe
Wayne Robinski,
I believe your comment regarding Aaron Merriman is ill advised.
I disagree with some of his views on the subject.
However I have seen him drive in hundreds of races. He is one of the good guys. He rarely uses the whip and NEVER uses it brutally.
If all drivers were as judicious in their use of the whip as Aaron Merriman is, then we would not be having this conversation.
MONEY Mr.O'donnell, MONEY!!
MONEY Mr.O'donnell, MONEY!!
Since the institution of the
Since the institution of the new whipping rules in Ontario, not a whole lot has changed in a negative way. Those who were predicting all sorts or doom and gloom were wrong. As Billy O rightfully points out, there is still a winner in every race. The horses go just as fast, perhaps even faster. The better drivers still win a lot of the races. The same applies to the better trainers.
The main beneficiaries of these new rules are in order of importance, the horses upon who's well being the sport depends. They have been spared all sorts of unnecessary harm, also the owners who's horses have often been spared the misery and pounding which have allowed them to race in a healthier state, both physically and mentally.
Effective use of the whip is
Effective use of the whip is a tool that trainers use to do nothing more then to tell the horse to go faster it's a form of communication between horse and driver, a simple set of taps on the horse's rump should be enough, if that does not work then I would suggest that the horse be retrained to respond with minimal urging. Quality training / Quality driving speaks for it self what it comes down to is Quality Judging.
I think Mr Merriman needs to
I think Mr Merriman needs to find a different job. There are many who should join him!!
Is it okay to beat a human
Is it okay to beat a human with a whip? Is it okay to beat a dog with a whip? Then why should it be okay to beat a horse with a whip!! Beating a tired horse in the stretch serves no purpose other than abuse. Beating a horse with the whip does not indicate that a driver is TRYING it only indicates the driver lacks a certain set of skills otherwise to encourage the horse. Enough of the sickening slashing and pounding. If no driver is allowed to beat their horse than does that mean they are all not trying?? Like Bill said there is one winner in every race I would guess it hard to say the winner didn't try hard enough. Watch the bloody races and you will find that the winner often never even sees the whip!! Mostly the horses that are losing are being hit with the whip... losing...losing... whipped yet losing. Whip a human and you will be rightfully arrested, whip a dog and the same result. Whipping a horse should be no different I could care less whether someone bets money on it or not. That is no excuse to support mindless abuse.
Back when i used to play the
Back when i used to play the races i don't ever remember complaining after the race was over, that i lost because the driver wasn't beating the hell out of my horse. Wether drivers like it or not, in this day and age it just looks bad and this industry does not need any bad publicity that can be avoided. So whipping rules should be in place.
What argument would anyone
What argument would anyone have for beating a horse with a whip? In Ontario since the new whipping rule has been instituted we still have a winner in every race.
This new ruling on the use of
This new ruling on the use of the whip in racing is just a step in the right direction. Jack is right----it is desperately needed in light of the state that horse racing is in due to so many factors with whipping these animals being one of them. They are athletes just like any other---not something to be flogged over the finish line. I don't see any other athletes being whipped and kicked to get them going any faster. Besides, it is an exercise in futility as proven by Drs Paul McGreevy and Andrew McLean.
I personally think the
I personally think the horsemen deserve a vote on the matter at very least, rather than having people who have never driven horses making decisions about driving. I for one don't think there are any further restrictions needed, simply keep the rules as they are, and the judges can rule if someone has been too aggressive in a race.
There are some horses with certain mannerisms or bad habits that need a good firm reminder every so often, and it happens in races. A driver who I wont name once told me of how he got a fine for whipping his horse, who had decided to plant his feet while leading in a race before they hit the wire. Had he not whipped him firmly, it could have and and almost definitely would have caused an accident.
Let the drivers decide if there are changes needed, after all, they are the ones driving in the races, and stop catering to special interest groups who haven't got the least bit of interest in harness racing anyway !
What's painful to watch at
What's painful to watch at Northfield is the quality of the horses. Drivers should not be restricted in the use of the whip. It should be in the hands of the judges to determine if there is excessive whipping and hand down penalties and fines accordingly.
"Public perception " are you
"Public perception " are you kidding me? The thoroughbreds Triple Crown races are the most bet and viewed races on this continent and the jockeys whip those horses, but the people who control them have a back bone and billionaire owners. Who ever thought up these standards for drivers is either a fool or has never driven a horse or bothered to walk through the "race book" and see what the people who use there gambling dollar to play this game thought. If there is abuse of the whip it should be up to the judges to dictate.
Look, we have put drivers in a lot of ways as the face of our industry so why handcuff them now when competition for the gambling dollar is as great as ever.
Why can't we put a limit on the number of times a driver can use his arm in a forward motion
There has to be a better way than these standards, our sport is rooted with history and in its prime why didn't policies like these exist? I guess all the "Hall of Famers" from those times should have an astrix next to their name (because they used the whip).
A whip is a "tool" that
A whip is a "tool" that enhances the performance of a horse!When was the last time you saw a driver whip a horse in the stretch to SLOW it down?
The driver uses the whip at his/her discretion(when it benefits them,not the bettor).One week they use it,the next week they don't.A handicapper reads the running line of a horse that won from off the pace last week(whipped) and bets the horse today and it jogs(no whip).
There is no consistency in using a whip.BAN IT.
The Ohio tracks need this new
The Ohio tracks need this new rule desperately. The simulcasts from Northfield Park are painful to watch. The one handed slashing there is the worst I have seen. There is a powerful movement in the US right now to eliminate this one handed whipping and I hope the commissions hang tough in all the states so we can get rid of this nonsense for good throughout North America.
In reply to The Ohio tracks need this new by jack darling
I agree completely Jack.
I agree completely Jack. During a live simulcast from Northfield Park, I had an opportunity to spot a horse I have not seen in a while that use to race in Hiawatha Horse Park. His name is Haulin. On this night, like most nights for this horse, he's usually parked first or second over, but on this night he was parked first over. From the quarter pole on, the last fifty feet this horse was whipped heavily to the finish. This is not the first time I've seen this happen to this horse in Northfield Park. One would just have to get footage on this horse since he's been racing at Northfield. This horse at best at Hiawatha would pace around 1:57. This particular night the race went 1:55 in change, so I knew at the head of the lane he was done but half way down the lane the driver hit this horse hard, and still did not win.