8 Apr 2009

Jockeys shun use of padded whips

10:09 pm on 8 April 2009

Moves by racing officials to make the use of padded whips compulsory is "political correctness gone mad," jockeys say.

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Board believes the new whips will make the sport more humane and wants them to be mandatory by the start of the racing season in August.

The northern branch of the New Zealand Jockey's Association says the whips do not have the same effect on a horse that normal ones do.

The association says if an unruly horse will not react to a padded whip, making them compulsory may also compromise the safety of jockeys.