ARCI Strengthens Rule Restrictions on Crop Use

Jockeys will be prohibited from using the riding crop more than two consecutive times before being required to wait three full strides in order to give the horse a chance to respond under an expanded model rule on use of the riding crop adopted by the Association of Racing Commissioners International last week.

The modified rule tightens restrictions already in place but clearly says that any use of the crop to "urge" the horse must be limited. The new ARCI Model Rule continues to rely upon the judgement of the stewards as to when to impose sanctions, but is clear that using the crop more than two consecutive times or not waiting three full strides before reuse is to be regarded as a rule violation.

"We've been talking with the ARCI for basically the entire year," said Terry Meyocks, president and CEO of the Jockeys' Guild. "We got input from riders and they got input from regulators. We've tried to come up with something that is fair and can address perception. 

"There are guidelines included that the regulators can adopt regarding number count. You use the crop twice and then the chance to respond is three strides. It will likely just take riders and stewards a bit to acclimate to what they believe strides are.

"We have also maintained all along that we need to educate the general public and reassure them that horses are being protected. Safety is very important for the riders and also for the horses. We never condone animal abuse and we've said all along, if a horse if out of contention, you put the stick away. Also, if someone hits a horse after a race after frustration, they should be penalized. The jockeys have been willing to work with everyone to help come up with rules that are in the best interest of racing." 

ARCI passes model rules that it then encourages its state member regulators to adopt as a way of encouraging uniformity in the rules of racing, which is regulated from state to state.

ARCI did not include an overall strike count in the actual rule but did approve corresponding guidelines to advise officials that use of the crop more than six strikes during the race is something to be assessed. The ARCI board did not want to remove the authority of the stewards to exercise judgement based on the specific instances of the race but did want to provide guidance as to when to start questioning the possibility of overuse.

"If our accredited stewards cannot judge when a (rider) has crossed the line then perhaps they should not be in the stand," said former jockey and racing official Doug Moore, executive director of the Washington State Racing Commission and chair of the ARCI Rider and Driver Safety Committee.

"If the officials fail to exercise their responsibility in this matter then the feeling at the meeting was that the matter must be reviewed up top in assessing someone's job performance and deciding whether to keep them on."

"Several years ago we changed the riding crop requirements to rely upon poppers which provide an audible stimulation to the horse in addition to the visual one of showing the horse the crop," said ARCI chairman Tom Sage. "As a result, it is extremely rare to find a horse with evidence of crop misuse coming in off the track."

"In helping to protect the horse we may have created an opposite impression with the public as they now hear the noise coming from the crops," he said.

ARCI president Ed Martin noted that testimony from The Jockey Club as to public perception was taken to heart and the regulators found it compelling to help address that by defining clearly what the chance to respond should be.

"The image of someone wailing away on a horse coming down the stretch is not a good one for a sport struggling to assert a positive image. But controlled and limited use with three full strides to respond was something the regulators believed would help mitigate that," he said.

There was resistance to putting a hard strike limit in the model rule to emulate what Maryland and Delaware have enacted. Some jurisdictions felt that it would be deemed arbitrary and not withstand a legal challenge in their states. Others questioned the "magic" of six strikes, asking why not five or seven or eight? The collective wisdom was to use a strike limit as a guideline and leave the judgement in the hands of the officials because every case is unique, especially when you consider different track lengths.

There was universal agreement that any abuse of the horse in any way must be severely addressed. The ARCI committees intend to develop progressive penalty guidelines in this area in the coming months to ensure that multiple violations are deterred across the system.

"We appreciate the input we have received on this issue from countless individuals and organizations like Breeders' Cup, the Thoroughbred Safety Alliance, The Jockey Club, the AQHA, the Jockeys' Guild and our regulatory veterinarians," said Sage. "We believe we have found a balance that protects the horse, mitigates perception problems, and maintains the essence of a sport where every horse runs its best in every race."