The Québec Racing Commission has approved the final changes in the new whipping rules that will go into effect in the provinces starting Thursday (Aug. 26).
The new rules will be strictly enforced by the judges. Horse people in Quebec have been properly notified of these changes well in advance of Thursday's start.
The new whipping rules call for the following:
Section 194 of the Horse Racing Rules Standardbred breed held on a professional racetrack (chapter C-72.1, r. 5) is amended by replacing "of a total length 4 feet, 8 inches, including a cord whose length may not exceed 8 inches," with "the handle of which is a maximum length of 48 inches and a cord measuring between 6 and 12 inches in length. The whip must not be made of leather and its popper cord must not have been altered or knotted."
Article 195 of the rules is replaced by the following:
"195. The driver, trainer or caretaker cannot use a whip on a racing track in any abusive way. He should not also use his whip in any of the following ways: 1 - by touching the horse with the handle of his whip; 2 - by placing his whip under the arch of the sulky; 3 - by placing his whip between the legs of the horse. He can only use a whip to stimulate the horse by performing a wrist movement. In addition, the movement of the whip can only be executed between the drawbars of the sulky."
These rules are amended by inserting, after the following section 195:
"195.1. A driver, trainer or groom should not use a whip in the following situations: a) the horse does not respond to whip stimulation; b) the horse can no longer improve its position in the race; c) the horse does not maintain or is not in the process of improving its position in the race; d) the horse is on the way to winning; e) the horse has passed the finish post at the end of the race; f) in such a way as to cut it or leave marks on it."
Article 199 of these rules is amended by the addition, at the end, of the following paragraph: "The driver must not kick his horse during a race."
For the complete rules of harness racing in Québec, click here.
Horse people are again reminded that these new whipping rules go into effect in Québec on Thursday (Aug. 26).
(Québec Jockey Club)