Consultation on whip rules

NEW Zealand Thoroughbred Racing is to begin consultation on possible changes to whip rules.

Changes made last year restricted use of the whip to no more than five times before the final 100m and then to be used as the rider’s discretion.

NZTR said in the long run whips were probably going to be banned but the debate was how long that would take and the process to get there.

The consultation will close on February 12.

Other racing jurisdictions have already imposed more restrictive whip use than New Zealand.

France has limited whip use to just five times within a race, Ireland eight times and the United Kingdom seven.