to be fair to Brodie , i also seen on tv someone saying that it wasn't an issue about cruelty but public perception,
10 would seem like a good base to instigate a review of the drive, but just like the nz police on certain scenarios use their power of discretion, thought that would of been the way this was enforced but apparently not
I think the media article was about greyhounds so the person may not have been aware of the official stance of who they were representing, but if that makes Brodie a liar then it also makes the person representing on tv a liar doesnt it?
these polar opposite views just create confusion and unfortunately for drivers and punters a rule that was designed to appease animal liberalists , has had a significant impact on some races, some drivers look a bit shaky about whether or not to continue to whip in a tight finish,
counting to 10 may not be hard, but in a race when your hypo-vigilant your focus is on the horse and the scenario your in, not 2 at the 400m then 3,4,5,6, 7....8 +2 = 10 or was it 9 oh no they may have counted 1 that was just a slight motion fuck thats 11, oh no how im gonna tell the missus, there's gonna be a change in the income for a bit so we will have to hold up on the luxury lifestyle for a bit.
They may need to put l.e.d counters on the whips, sounds stupid but no more stupid than the blanket no tolerance policy enforcement of this rule
I admit i don't like the rule but felt that common sense would prevail assuming that the stipes would have the knowledge and experience to differentiate between a driver trying to comply with his obligation to give his horse every chance to win and a driver blatantly flogging his nag.
They need a wider leeway to apply discretion on a case by case basis and if the stipes cant be trusted to do that then they should drop it, cause for a rule that was about public perception, i bet only a tiny percentage are happy, but the perception of the punter, let alone the owners, trainers and drivers is far more detrimental to racing than the soapboxing of animal activists
hope D.Keast doesn't give up (wouldn't blame him if he did) and realizes hes been a victim of bureaucratic fucktardery!