Apparently there's been a lot of debate this week about the use of the whip in horse racing. I haven't read any of it. Just saw the headlines. I couldn't even tell you what sparked it. I honestly can't recall ever seeing a horse marked by a whip. I'm sure that, more than ever, what Jockeys use today, have been developed with the horses welfare as the priority. But the sight of a horse being hit by the man or woman riding on their back will always be too much for a lot of people, mainly outside of racing.
Would horse racing without the whip look a bit like the Corinthian Charity Race run today? First of all this is for a very important and worthy cause, The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund. The horses are from right across some of the biggest yards but the Jockeys are amateurs though not to be confused with people like Derek O'Connor who is an Amateur Jockey, the riders in these races are celebrities or just ordinary folk getting the opportunity of a lifetime - to ride in a horse race at The Curragh.
Gordon Elliott, a former Jockey himself, is a big supporter of these charity races and will usually have at least one runner in them. Flat To The Max went in this one with Maurice McCarthy onboard. I couldn't tell you who Maurice is or what he does but this was at least his second race on a horse as he came 6th on one for charity at Punchestown in May. Maurice and Max got away well today, finding themselves at the back of a leading group of 6 and maybe looking like their favourites status was justified. However, after the first few furlongs, Max drifted back through the field alarmingly which makes me wonder was something wrong with him. I'm sure we'll find out tomorrow.
I didn't really fancy our fella for this one and had gone for a bigger priced horse called Pearl Warrior who was running well in third or fourth most of the way round behind the two top weights, Aussie Valentine and Neverushacon for Jessica Harrington, ridden by TV Presenter Yvonne Connolly. Neverushacon didn't appeal to me as I thought 1m 4f might be too sharp for him as a staying chaser and the ground too hard. Aussie Valentine looked the best horse in the race but was also carrying 12st 6lb which I thought would be too much. I must've only been watching this leading pair battling it out (whilst also watching Shane Lowry winning the golf) because neither Jockey appeared to use the whip which made me wonder did the riders in this race even carry them. Having watched the race again, a few of the riders in behind the leaders did use their whips but the front two had both hands on the reins at all times. Neverushacon cruised to the front 2 out and continued to move away from Aussie Valentine to win by five lengths. Edification pipped Pearl Warrior for third and Flat To The Max came home last but one.
Occasionally, you'd see a really good horse stay on the bridle the whole way round when racing in lesser company. This was different. It's strange to watch two horses going head to head from 2 furlongs out without the use of the whip and we'll never know whether Aussie Valentine would have finished closer to the winner or even caught him if he'd had a few reminders. But then again it's also strange for me watching horses racing round a course without jumps. Hopefully Max was ok after the run and well done to Yvonne Connolly for a brilliant ride on the winner.
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