New York Looks to Place Restrictions on Riding Crop
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Watching other states act, New York state is now looking to accelerate the pace for putting in place some sort of restrictions on the use of riding crops by jockeys.
The New York State Gaming Commission on Sept. 21 said it will hold a meeting sometime in October to consider input from various stakeholders, but commission board members made clear that crop regulations are coming in some form soon.
"From my perspective, it's time to move on that,'' said Peter Moschetti, a board member who raised the issue before he and his colleagues ended a brief monthly meeting.
Moschetti said New York regulators will consider "everything from an outright ban" to some lesser restrictions. New Jersey recently banned the use of riding crops starting in 2020 unless the whips are used to protect the jockey or horse. Lesser restrictions have been OK'd in Kentucky and California, and some industry officials have complained about the ad hoc rules that can change from state to state.
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Moschetti said regulators could also consider permitting riding crops, but limiting their use to a certain number of times in a race or mandating that only underhand motions, not overhand, can be used.
"I think that this is a matter that needs to be brought to closure … It's been out there too long,'' added Barry Sample, chairman of the state Gaming Commission. He said the agency's staff will determine whether a meeting with various stakeholders sometime in October will occur via remote means or be conducted in-person.
The agency's staff conducted what Moschetti called a "comprehensive report" on the riding crop issue that was completed in July. An agency spokesman said the report is internal and would not be publicly released.