3-Strike Whip Rule Remains

Despite a substantial amount of discussion, the 3-strike whip rule remains. The essential part of the rule reads:

A jockey must not strike a horse more than three consecutive times without pausing to only push on the horse giving it a chance to respond before using the riding crop again.

It is in everyone’s best interest to make sure their riders are aware of the rule and abiding by its restrictions. The Stewards’ Office is more than willing to discuss with riders what constitutes a pause to guarantee there is no confusion. Additionally, despite the rumors, this is indeed the same rule that governs whip use in Quarter Horse racing at Los Alamitos. Thus, it has been enacted in other quarter horse jurisdictions and will continue to be enacted in more jurisdictions to follow.