title: Whip Rule Breaches in a Major Australian Racing Jurisdiction: Welfare and Regulatory Implications.
abstract: Whip use in horseracing is increasingly being questioned on ethical, animal welfare, social sustainability, and legal grounds. Despite this, there is weak evidence for whip use and its regulation by Stewards in Australia. To help address this, we characterised whip rule breaches recorded by Stewards using Stewards Reports and Race Diaries from 2013 and 2016 in New SouthWales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). There were more recorded breaches at Metropolitan (M) than Country (C) or Provincial (P) locations, and by riders of horses that finished first, second, or third than by riders of horses that finished in other positions. The most commonly recorded breaches were forehand whip use on more than five occasions before the 100-metre (m) mark (44%), and whip use that raises the jockey's arm above shoulder height (24%). It is recommended that racing compliance data be analysed annually to inform the evidence-base for policy, education, and regulatory change, and ensure the welfare of racehorses and racing integrity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Room 206, R.M.C. Gunn Building, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia. jenih@iinet.net.au.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hood
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Room 206, R.M.C. Gunn Building, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia. carolyn131283@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Room 206, R.M.C. Gunn Building, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia. bethany.wilson@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Room 435, F09, Madsen Building, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia. phil.mcmanus@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Room 206, R.M.C. Gunn Building, Sydney 2006, New South Wales, Australia. paul.mcgreevy@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGreevy
keywords: animal welfare; horseracing; racing integrity; whip rule breaches; whip use