David Hayes joins chorus of discontent over whip rules fiasco

HALL of Fame trainer David Hayes believes the current whip riding rules allows "cheats to prosper'' and urged the Australian Racing Board to reconsider its position on the contentious issue, reports the Daily Telegraph. It says: Negotiations between the ARB and the Australian Jockeys Association broke down Thursday afternoon after the ARB dismissed a proposal to allow riders to use the whip without restriction in the last 100m of a race. Jockeys nationwide are planning a campaign of indefin

HALL of Fame trainer David Hayes believes the current whip riding rules allows "cheats to prosper'' and urged the Australian Racing Board to reconsider its position on the contentious issue, reports the Daily Telegraph.

It says: Negotiations between the ARB and the Australian Jockeys Association broke down Thursday afternoon after the ARB dismissed a proposal to allow riders to use the whip without restriction in the last 100m of a race. Jockeys nationwide are planning a campaign of indefinite strikes from next Monday, leaving the multi-million-dollar spring carnival under threat.

Hayes weighed into the argument yesterday when he said the ARB either has to accept the jockeys' proposals or make some radical alterations to the rules of racing. If the ARB is not going to listen to the concerns of jockeys, trainers, owners and others in the racing industry, then they have to change the rules because they are untenable,'' Hayes said.