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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Is Whip Use Important to Thoroughbred Racing Integrity? What...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(11); 1985; doi: 10.3390/ani10111985

Is Whip Use Important to Thoroughbred Racing Integrity? What Stewards’ Reports Reveal about Fairness to Punters, Jockeys and Horses.

Abstract: The idea that whip use is critical to thoroughbred racing integrity is culturally entrenched but lacks empirical support. To test the longstanding beliefs that whip use aids steering, reduces interference, increases safety and improves finishing times, we conducted a mixed-method analysis of 126 race reports produced by official stewards of the British Horseracing Authority, representing 1178 jockeys and their horses. We compared reports from 67 "Hands and Heels" races, where whips are held but not used (whipping-free, WF), with 59 reports from case-matched races where whipping was permitted (whipping permitted, WP). Qualitative coding was used to identify and categorise units of analysis for statistical testing via logistic regression and linear mixed model regression. For both types of race, we explored stewards having anything to report at all, movement on course, interference on course, incidents related to jockey behaviour and finishing times. There were no statistically significant differences between WF and WP races for anything to report (OR: 3.06; CI: 0.74-14.73), movement on course (OR: 0.90; CI: 0.37-2.17), interference (OR: 0.90; CI: 0.37-2.17), jockey-related incidents (OR: 1.24; CI: 0.32-5.07), and race times (0.512 s, = 1.459, = 0.150). That is, we found no evidence that whip use improves steering, reduces interference, increases safety or improves finishing times. These findings suggest that the WF races do not compromise racing integrity. They also highlight the need for more effective ways to improve the steering of horses.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-29 PubMed ID: 33137898PubMed Central: PMC7693319DOI: 10.3390/ani10111985Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates the impact of whip use on the integrity of thoroughbred racing by analyzing 126 official race reports. Key aspects like steering, interference, safety, and finishing times were compared between races that permitted whip use and those that did not. The study found no definitive proof that whip use influences these aspects significantly.

Research Context and Methods

  • The research conducted aimed at contesting the commonly held belief that whip use is integral for aspects such as directing (steering) horses, minimizing interference during races, increasing race safety, and improving the finishing times of horses. This belief was tested through the analysis of official race reports.
  • A total of 126 race reports from official stewards of the British Horseracing Authority were investigated. This data represented 1,178 jockeys and their horses.
  • The reports were divided into two groups for comparative analysis. One group consisted of 67 “Hands and Heels” races, where whips were held but not used (referred to as whipping-free or WF), while the other group was composed of 59 case-matched races where whipping was allowed (described as whipping permitted or WP).
  • Qualitative coding was used to identify specific units for analysis. Each of these units was then tested for statistical significance while taking into consideration different factors, such as anything to report, movement on course, interference on course, incidents related to jockey behaviour, and finishing times.

Key Findings

  • The study found that there were no statistically significant differences between WP and WF races for the aspects that were investigated.
  • Neither whip use, whether for steering horses, reducing on-course interference, increasing race safety, nor improving finishing times was found to be statistically significant.
  • The findings suggest that races where whips are not used do not compromise the integrity of racing.

Implications of the Study

  • This research contributes to challenging the longstanding cultural belief about the significance of whip use in thoroughbred horse racing.
  • The study underscores the need for more effective methods for steering horses during races which could mean that the industry could explore alternative methods of control that do not involve whip use.
  • This could pave the way for improved welfare of racehorses, by potentially limiting or eliminating the need for whip use.

Cite This Article

APA
Thompson K, McManus P, Stansall D, Wilson BJ, McGreevy PD. (2020). Is Whip Use Important to Thoroughbred Racing Integrity? What Stewards’ Reports Reveal about Fairness to Punters, Jockeys and Horses. Animals (Basel), 10(11), 1985. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10111985

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 11
PII: 1985

Researcher Affiliations

Thompson, Kirrilly
  • University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5034, Australia.
McManus, Phil
  • School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Stansall, Dene
  • Dene Stansall, Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1AW, UK.
Wilson, Bethany J
  • School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
McGreevy, Paul D
  • School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

Grant Funding

  • 2658-003 / RSPCA Australia

Conflict of Interest Statement

Kirrilly Thompson is the National Participation Manager of Pony Club Australia, which has a collaborative relationship with Thoroughbred Industry Careers. Paul McGreevy and Phil McManus have received funding from the Australian Research Council for their project, “Caring for Thoroughbreds”. Paul McGreevy occasional conducts research funded by RSPCA Australia. Dene Stansall has been the Horse Racing Consultant to Animal Aid (registered in the UK as Animal Abuse Injustice and Defence Society. Company number 1787309) for over twenty years. He advises on policy in relation to campaigning for improvements to horse welfare. Animal Aid is an organisation that does not support the use of animals for sport, entertainment or gambling. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Stallones L, McManus P, McGreevy P. Sustainability and the Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing Industries: An Enhanced One Welfare Perspective. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 31;13(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13030490pubmed: 36766378google scholar: lookup
  2. Wilson BJ, Thompson KR, McGreevy PD. The race that segments a nation: Findings from a convenience poll of attitudes toward the Melbourne Cup Thoroughbred horse race, gambling and animal cruelty. PLoS One 2021;16(3):e0248945.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248945pubmed: 33760873google scholar: lookup
  3. Tong L, Stewart M, Johnson I, Appleyard R, Wilson B, James O, Johnson C, McGreevy P. A Comparative Neuro-Histological Assessment of Gluteal Skin Thickness and Cutaneous Nociceptor Distribution in Horses and Humans. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 11;10(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10112094pubmed: 33187204google scholar: lookup
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