Harness Racing Australia has today announced they will ban the whip from 1 September 2017. This is BIG. This landmark decision makes the Australian harness racing industry the first racing code anywhere in the world to voluntarily end whip use in horse racing. Ending the use of the whip is a huge step toward protecting harness racing horses from unnecessary and unjustified pain and distress. In the past, more than 37,000 of you have told us that you were concerned about the use of whips in racing. Today’s announcement is a powerful sign that the harness racing industry was and is listening to your concerns about horse welfare. The time when people would tolerate watching horses being whipped is long past. Of course, we’d like to see this new rule in operation today. However, we understand that for the safety of both drivers and horses, we need to take a little time to change ingrained behaviours and adapt to this new way of racing. You might like to congratulate Harness Racing Australia on this bold and world-leading decision. We look forward to seeing their progress on this and other welfare issues into the future. No doubt this announcement will catch the attention of the Thoroughbred racing industry and its governing body Racing Australia. Let them know that it’s time to follow Harness Racing Australia’s example and set a timeframe for ending whip use in racing once and for all.
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Harness Racing Australia has today announced they will ban the whip from 1 September 2017.
This is BIG.
This landmark decision makes the Australian harness racing industry the first racing code anywhere in the world to voluntarily end whip use in horse racing.
Ending the use of the whip is a huge step toward protecting harness racing horses from unnecessary and unjustified pain and distress.
In the past, more than 37,000 of you have told us that you were concerned about the use of whips in racing.
Today’s announcement is a powerful sign that the harness racing industry was and is listening to your concerns about horse welfare.
The time when people would tolerate watching horses being whipped is long past.
Of course, we’d like to see this new rule in operation today. However, we understand that for the safety of both drivers and horses, we need to take a little time to change ingrained behaviours and adapt to this new way of racing.
You might like to congratulate Harness Racing Australia on this bold and world-leading decision.
We look forward to seeing their progress on this and other welfare issues into the future.
No doubt this announcement will catch the attention of the Thoroughbred racing industry and its governing body Racing Australia.
Let them know that it’s time to follow Harness Racing Australia’s example and set a timeframe for ending whip use in racing once and for all.