Poll: Should the current whip rules be even more stringent?
Many changes have been made in recent years, both to the whip rules and the construction of the whip itself. However, the whip issue just refuses to go away. Nine jockeys incurred the wrath of the stewards at the Cheltenham Festival, while on the Flat, Eddie Ahern hit the headlines for the wrong reasons when receiving a three-month ban for a cumulative set of whip offences.
While the newly designed whips have much morecushioning than their predecessors, the public perception of whip abuse remains something about which racing's administrators are rightly concerned. Should the current whip rules be made even more stringent? If so, what form should this take? Should jockeys receive longer bans, heavier fines or maybe you think that the horse should be disqualified? Should the whip be banned completely?
Please vote in our poll and we would also welcome your comments, which can left in the box at the bottom of this post.
The poll comes in two parts: vote either yes or no to part one, which asks where you think the whip rules are stringent enough. If you do, your work is done, if no is your chosen answer, then please complete the second poll, which asks you about more severe penalties for those jockeys who transgress.
ROB WRIGHT
Racing Editor
