tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23411101.post114355482946030225..comments2023-11-02T04:59:06.277-04:00Comments on The Bug Boys: To whip or not to whip....that is the questionBaloohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13545153702733450246noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23411101.post-39053420662651783942007-01-07T13:19:00.000-05:002007-01-07T13:19:00.000-05:00I was an exerciser rider for years and have work a...I was an exerciser rider for years and have work at many tracks and farms breaking babies..I got out because of the abuse. the spectators in the grandstand dont see the abuse behind the scenes.."pin firing" their legs because they have sore shins. it involves burning holes into the flesh, at which point the legs swell. they also apply mercury directly to shaved legs to blister the skin..the belief is that it will increase circulation. The leg swells to 2 or 3 times its normal size, the skin underneath literally dies and peels off in pieces with the hair attached. This is just a scratch on the surface of things that are done in the name of racing. If most saw what goes on behind the scenes...next time you're at the track ask to see the state vet and ask them about these procedures...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23411101.post-1144787617097343672006-04-11T16:33:00.000-04:002006-04-11T16:33:00.000-04:00Belmo - Thanks for the feedback...However, I would...Belmo - Thanks for the feedback...However, I would love to see a 2.5 mile maiden!Baloohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13545153702733450246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23411101.post-1144161894130879502006-04-04T10:44:00.000-04:002006-04-04T10:44:00.000-04:00There is no reason -- none whatsoever -- to keep t...There is no reason -- none whatsoever -- to keep the whip in the game. It's still in the game because of tradition, and because racing doesn't make any changes quickly. But the whip is an anachronism that needs to go the way of the 2 1/4 mile maiden race.Belmohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07857310602795509149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23411101.post-1143771751496442622006-03-30T21:22:00.000-05:002006-03-30T21:22:00.000-05:00Just my opinion but from watching a lot of races, ...Just my opinion but from watching a lot of races, it seems to me that the well-trained horses respond to a tap of the whip and a cluck much better than the jockey who is flailing and bringing it from high above his head. The smarter the thoroughbred, and make no mistake, there are some smart ones, the more recalcitrant and obsitnate they become the harder you whip them.Joe Danaherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16825712391466467325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23411101.post-1143672840754472232006-03-29T17:54:00.000-05:002006-03-29T17:54:00.000-05:00I rarely see what I would call abuse. But sometim...I rarely see what I would call abuse. But sometimes I wonder when I see a jockey hit a horse when it seems obvious he will finish out of the money. The English Jockey Club has some information at:<BR/>http://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/rules/whipuse.htmlJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03874325506841146077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23411101.post-1143640470549474152006-03-29T08:54:00.000-05:002006-03-29T08:54:00.000-05:00Every horse handles the whip differently. The Joc...Every horse handles the whip differently. The Jock needs to know the horse, and what he will and will not repond to. You could beat the hair off a horse, and he may not respond. Every horse is different!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com