Kentucky one step closer to whipping regulations

The safety and welfare committee of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) voted Monday to recommend changes in racing rules governing the use of whips in Standardbred racing.

The committee voted to ban all one-handed whipping in Standardbred racing. The committee adopted a rule that would require a driver to hold a line in each hand and keep both hands in front of the body throughout a race. Previously, a driver could hold both lines in one hand and the whip in the other during the homestretch of a race

The committee also banned the use of a whip with a “snapper.” A snapper consists of strands of material at the end of a whip.

The proposed changes will be considered by the commission at its next meeting Monday, Sept. 22.

“I am delighted that the safety and welfare committee approved these changes,” said KHRC member Alan Leavitt. “These reforms make Kentucky the first racing jurisdiction in North America to ban abusive whipping in Standardbred racing.” Leavitt also stated that “this great step forward was made possible by the unanimous approval of the board of the Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association.” 

Pompano Park recently enacted a rule that prohibits a driver from putting the lines in one hand in order to strike a horse. A driver at Pompano could also be penalized if found guilty of striking a horse below the shafts of the sulky. A first offense calls for a $100 fine, but an additional fine of up to $1,000 could be imposed if a driver is found guilty of whipping a horse excessively. The driver could also be suspended and/or ejected from Pompano. (with files from KHRC)

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