The Flank Pictures - why context matters.

[Chief Stipe]

The following two pictures were posted by @Thomass to supposedly highlight whip abuse.  They are snapshots presumably taken from a TV replay of the race.  They were posted in the largest possible format allowed on BOAY - no doubt to emphasise the point being made.  It is questionable that the horse is being hit on the flank (defined as the area between the ribs and the hip - not sure what the racing rule definition is) or that the pictures are even in close sequence.  The first picture is chosen to create a visual impression of extreme force - the second picture suggests that force was exerted on the flank of the horse.

Now look at these pictures in the context of what the "normal" viewer sees on Trackside in the no more than two minutes it takes for the broadcast of the race before Trackside broadcast the next race from some remote location in Australia.  Watch the video below at normal speed or even slow motion.  Bearing in mind that the only way a Steward could see how the whip was used and the number of strikes for every individual is to sit in a bunker watching a High Definition video in ultra slow motion.

Now go back and count every whip strike and location of the strike for every Jockey.

What's more do you think and Animal Rights Activist who doesn't like racing would have seen anything unless something had been snapshotted out context?  

Greyhound Racing created a rod for their backs with the creation of KPI's that they had no way of influencing beyond a certain point or at all.  I hope Horse Racing doesn't do the same.

[Freda]

Believe it or not, I actually do get your point.  Both about the videos and about the 'rod for the back'.   But highlighting what appears to be misuse is the only thing we CAN do.

And when the best of the international riders get it right more often than not, it clearly is not impossible to manage.

I found an interesting teaching video of an American former jockey, on a mechanical horse showing young riders how to swap the whip over into the other hand smoothly.

Showed it to a local mentor, who seemed not to be very interested.  After a few weeks I asked what the response was?  Oh, he said, it was thought to be too advanced and not suitable for apprentices.

FFS.

[curious]

Here it is in a clip direct from the NZTR replay. You shouldn't need to bother with slomo. A blindman could see it.

 

 

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, curious said:

Here it is in a clip direct from the NZTR replay. You shouldn't need to bother with slomo. A blindman could see it.

 

 

FFS have you got Superman eyes?  Now you are taking 2 second clips out of context.

[curious]

How is it out of context? It's a direct unedited clip from the replay video. Strike on the flank from arm above shoulder. Anyone in the stand or watching the tv replay would see it but not a mention from the stipes.

[Gammalite]

44 minutes ago, curious said:

How is it out of context? It's a direct unedited clip from the replay video. Strike on the flank from arm above shoulder. Anyone in the stand or watching the tv replay would see it but not a mention from the stipes.

From what you are saying , i have just viewed a few races from the famous Royal Ascot. currently being run in front of a viewing audience of Millions.

you are dead right , and in some of these races you notice a Huge Flank whack they give them once every 50m or so up that huge long straightaway at Royal Ascot. 

one example, CARMERS won a staying race the Queens Vase on wednesday , leading turning in and tired   by just kept up to it with a smashing whack every 50m or so.  I'd put the video here but it is too disturbing really. 🙄 

The horse was wandering about but the combination of the Blinkers (Chief will hate that) and the BIG big Whacks saw the 3 yearold take the victory, when it otherwise wouldn't of.

so It is Whack and Win . even at the Biggest stage of all at  Royal Ascot. 

There is a SOLUTION , and a very easy one. we did it at the harness racing . and that is You must keep both hands on the reins AT ALL TIMES.  i.e NOT have reins in one hand. means your scope of whip use GREATLY reduced to probably just a slap on the shoulder as the horse is ridden out , and there would be ZERO flank strikes.   easy peesie solution.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, Freda said:

Believe it or not, I actually do get your point.  Both about the videos and about the 'rod for the back'.   But highlighting what appears to be misuse is the only thing we CAN do.

 

No it isn't.  Complain immediately to the Stipes. Make a complaint now.  Ask for an explanation.  Don't put the offending Jockeys on your horses.

1 hour ago, Freda said:

And when the best of the international riders get it right more often than not, it clearly is not impossible to manage.

 

Do they?

Google "James Macdonald Jockey whip penalty" and you will see has a very long list of crimes as do ALL the top Jockeys.  Also observe how many Jockeys hold their whip in the hand away from the camera and switch hands depending on the racecourse direction.

 

 

[Freda]

13 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

No it isn't.  Complain immediately to the Stipes. Make a complaint now.  Ask for an explanation.  Don't put the offending Jockeys on your horses.

Do they?

Google "James Macdonald Jockey whip penalty" and you will see has a very long list of crimes as do ALL the top Jockeys.  Also observe how many Jockeys hold their whip in the hand away from the camera and switch hands depending on the racecourse direction.

 

 

I did say more often than not...and they switch their whip to suit the horse, not the effing camera.  

[billy connolly]

2 hours ago, Freda said:

I found an interesting teaching video of an American former jockey, on a mechanical horse showing young riders how to swap the whip over into the other hand smoothly.

Swapping the whip is the least and last thing apprentice jockeys should be concerned about and in my view it's questionable whether it should be permitted at all.

 

2 hours ago, Freda said:

But highlighting what appears to be misuse is the only thing we CAN do.

Ironical that the majority of the slow bastards you've been associated with are the very ones who are in need of the whip the most, flank or no flank.