In an era where some states have faced cuts to their budgets, racing regulators talked April 19 about creative ways to place more investigators on the backstretch as a way of discovering wrongdoing and deterring future bad behavior.
The Jockeys' Guild and Kentucky tracks hope to take a big step forward this year in rider concussion protocol.
The implementation of California's new whip rule is a model for tackling other issues.
The transition to California's new whip rule appeared seamless on the first racing day under the mandate July 2 at Los Alamitos Race Course.
California has implemented what it says is the strictest regulation in the country governing the use of riding crops in horse racing, with a new rule to begin July 1.
The Oak Tree Racing Association is back in the race business following a 3 1/2-year absence with the approval of its application to conduct the Alameda County Fair meet by the California Horse Racing Board April 25.
British horse racing's richest day Oct. 15 could be overshadowed by a growing feud over new whip rules that has led one jockey to quit before the big day at Ascot.
Fairplex Park has upgraded its safety and emergency care efforts for the 2009 meet, which begins Sept. 10 and runs through Sept. 28 at the Southern California track.
Jockeys at Del Mar will be using softer equine friendly riding crops in all races under a "house rule" that will take effect at the track on Aug. 12, the Jockeys' Guild announced.
Problems associated with having the necessary paperwork transferred in an efficient and timely matter for horses that move from state to state to compete were the focal point of discussion at the Dec. 15 meeting of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has approved an innovative new wager between Churchill Downs and racetracks in other states.
Working in conjunction with a whip manufacturer, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission is making progress on a padded whip that can be used on a regular basis.
There are four stakes races on Colonial Downs' Turf Cup card June 14, but a race earlier in the day will have many closely watching as well.
Before the entries are drawn for this weekend's big Kentucky Derby (gr. I) preps, and the races can be fully analyzed, this is a good time to briefly take one more look back at last weekend's Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and offer a few odds and ends about the upcoming races.
The National Steeplechase Association has adopted a new whip rule beginning with its April 3 racing at Southern Pines, N.C. The new rule requires the use of a cushioned, shock-absorbent whip by all jockeys. The change in the rule follows that of the English Jockey Club and was created to improve the racing conditions for Thoroughbred horses competing in NSA events.
<i>By Steve Montemarano </i> -- The flagrant use of the whip in horse racing is out of step with how society has changed over the decades. What was once tolerated may now be perceived as wrong.
The British Jockey Club has just amended its whip rules, recommending that jockeys, both in jump and Flat racing, carry whips that have shock-absorbing characteristics. The recommending of these whips is set to be the first step before it is made compulsory for jockeys to carry them as they do not mark horses. Leading jump jockeys are due to try out a new whip, modified by Robert Patton of Old Mill Saddlery, Northern Ireland, from the revolutionary Aircush whip which was launched in 1999,, within the next couple of weeks.
