JOHN Oxx believes that Irish racing must do more to promote its social and economic benefits to a changing world, but he says equine welfare standards are already high in the sport and the use of the whip on thoroughbreds must be defended.

The globally respected trainer aired his views in a week when welfare and integrity issues again dominated the racing news agenda in the USA, Ireland and Britain.

A new move to greatly reduce the use of raceday medication is gaining traction in American racing, while in Britain a significant number of trainers are voicing displeasure over how the racing authorities have handled a range of welfare issues recently, the latest coming at Cheltenham.

Denis Egan, chief executive of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said: “There is a push internationally to apply more stringent rules in relation to welfare and there is greater focus on it. Some countries, where there are big changes, are starting from a very low base. We are happy with where we are positioned on welfare.”

However, the IHRB is about to bring in new whip rules. Starting on April 9th, stewards will consider punishing a jockey for using the whip excessively “if the rider appeared to have hit his mount with the whip nine times or more during a race when his whip-hand had left the reins.”

If a jockey is found in breach of the rules for a fourth time in a 12-month period they can expect an additional minimum penalty of six days.

DISAPPOINTMENT

The Irish Jockeys Association has expressed its disappointment at how the new rules have been introduced. Spokesman Andrew Coonan said riders had not been consulted and that it painted jockeys in a poor light. The IHRB says it advised riders in the middle of last year that the rules would be changed if there was no improvement in the number of whip offences.

Describing the new rule as a backward step, Ruby Walsh said: “I’ve always believed that whip rules are very important. There are times when two strikes are too many and there are times when horses respond to 10 or 11 strikes. Putting a number on it never made sense to me then – and it still doesn’t make sense now.”

The IHRB says that stewards will still be allowed use their discretion and jockeys will not necessarily be disciplined if they use the whip nine times or more.

In Britain a stewards’ inquiry is triggered if a jockey is adjudged to have used the whip seven times in a flat race or eight over jumps. The limit is five in France and last week the owners of Santa Anita racetrack in California said they want jockeys to use the ‘riding crop’ as a corrective safety measure.

John Oxx said he hoped stewards here would “stick by the spirit” of the new rule and take factors into account such as the distance of a race.

“I would hate to see the whip banned,” he said. “It would be the easiest thing to do but that doesn’t mean it would be right. Remember that the thoroughbred has been selectively bred for hundreds of years to race for the whip.

“Horse breakers such as Gary Witherford will tell you that the whip is really a signal to the horse, and we have bred from those horses who relax in a race and then respond to pressure, those that go forward for a crack of the whip. Those who don’t are not favoured by breeders.

“In some countries the whip is not used but you will find that those countries don’t have a breeding industry, so it doesn’t really matter who wins the races. It’s just another form of entertainment with no other economic or societal benefit.”

BENEFITS

Oxx also stressed the social and economic benefits of horseracing as we know it. “It’s a business, it gives a lot of employment but there is a bargain between man and horse. In return we have to look after them and care for them. There will sometimes be injuries and in some cases the right thing to do is to put them to sleep on humane grounds because, although the injuries can be repaired, the recovery process is too stressful and arduous for the horse.”

Brian Kavanagh, CEO of Horse Racing Ireland, added: “It’s a case of communicating to an audience that may not be familiar with racing the level of care and attention which thoroughbreds receive on a daily basis. This is obviously more necessary in more urban based societies.

“I think anybody involved with the industry begins with a love for the horse and the level of exercise, care and attention they receive is higher than most other animals and this needs to be communicated. I don’t see it as a case of ‘us and them’ rather a logical explanation by the industry of the positive horse welfare practices in the industry.

"Regarding the whip, I have always said this is a perception issue, not a welfare one."