888sport ambassador Neil Callan (@neilcallan78) gives his thoughts on the whip rule changes, as well as a glimpse at a busy book of rides at Haydock on Saturday...
New Whip Rules
Obviously, the big news this week has been to do with the new whip rules. From my point of view, I’m not really sure what was wrong with them and a change didn’t seem needed.
I think it’s a bit of a joke to be honest and it’s pretty baffling why they are so focussed on areas around the education of racing instead of improving the sport in actually useful ways.
British racing would be in a much healthier position if we did that as opposed to these rule changes, which some way down the line the powers that be will change again anyway.
Of course as jockeys we’ll learn to adapt and we’ll figure out the best way to do it under the new regime, but the point still remains that this is something that really didn’t need addressing.
There are far more pressing issues in the sport, such as small fields and low prize money, that need looking at, and this is only being done to please those people that quite frankly have no idea about horse racing. The whole thing is laughable.
I’m on the PJA Advisory Board and when I got word of these rule changes, I told them that this was a joke and the response I was given was that this was the best outcome given they wanted to take the whip away.
Jockeys can no longer use the whip in the forehand position once the new whip rules are implemented in the autumn.
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 12, 2022
PJA Flat President P J McDonald gives a demonstration of how this will look and outlines the benefits of adopting a backhand position for both horse and rider pic.twitter.com/PzrmlE3XUi
If they take the whip away none of the jockeys will ride, it’s as simple as that. It’s happened in other countries and the jockeys have refused to ride and it will happen here too.
Unfortunately, the way I see it is that this is the first step from those who don’t want racing as a sport really putting their foot down. If that were to happen, what do the thousands of people employed within the industry do?
They can’t just walk into another job in racing because there won’t be any. As I’ve said, there are far more important issues in the sport than the whip but it’s pretty clear that those in positions of power don’t agree.
Rides At Haydock On Saturday
I’m up at Haydock on Saturday evening and my first ride is NIGHT BEAR in the 1m2f handicap (6:30). He’s been running consistently enough but hasn’t got his head in front for a while.
It’s not the strongest of races and he has been dropped another three pounds since his last run, so let’s hope this is the day his luck changes.
Night Bear gets up to win under @PMulrennan in the 100% @RacingTV Profits Returned To Racing Handicap for @edvaughan1 👏 pic.twitter.com/j4Kg6LLHxE
— Redcar Racecourse (@Redcarracing) June 27, 2020
I rode the winner of the race LORD UHTRED finished third in on his debut at Yarmouth and it was pretty clear he was very coltish that day.
He was running all over the place in the early stages but when the penny dropped he flew home in quite eye-catching fashion.
The Godolphin horse that finished second has subsequently won, so the form looks solid and you’d like to think we’ll see plenty more improvement from him in this novice contest (7:00).
SPANGLED MAC looks a very nice ride to pick up in the seven-furlong handicap (7:30).
He’s won his last two starts, including at Yarmouth on Wednesday where he looked to have a bit in hand, so with any luck we can make it a hat-trick.
He looks one of my better rides on Saturday.
Talk about timing it to perfection! 👏
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 6, 2022
Check out this ride from @ConnorPlanas aboard the @gbougheyracing-trained Spangled Mac at @kemptonparkrace 👀 pic.twitter.com/6jdGNMW31x
Next, I’m on RUSSELLINTHEBUSHES in the five-furlong handicap (8:00).
I don’t know too much about her but she’s been running okay for a while now which is always encouraging.
She’s four pounds below her last winning mark, so is handicapped to be competitive.
I’m back onboard SAVROLA in the mile handicap (9:00) and hopefully he can go well.
He was pretty green when I rode him at Doncaster on his second start and hopefully he’ll be a bit more streetwise now after a further run at Newcastle.
I’d like to think he’ll be quite progressive as his career unfolds, but whether he can win first time up in a handicap, I’m not sure.
FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th July 2022
