Horseracing industry must ban whips altogether

Jockey Jeremy Rose was recently suspended from racing for six months after whipping a horse so severely that her eye hemorrhaged. Anyone who watched the Kentucky Derby could see Eight Belles being whipped down the home stretch before she collapsed with two broken ankles. Last year, Russell Baze - the winningest jockey in thoroughbred racing history - whipped a broken-down horse to a secondplace finish, where she was promptly euthanized. Baze was assessed a small fine and suspended from racing for two weeks. Yet while penalties are rare, anyone who watches even an occasional horse race can see that whips are used frequently and with great force.

It's time for the horseracing industry to ban whips altogether. The sole purpose of whipping is to cause pain - just so jockeys can get another inch per stride.

While banning whipping is not going to solve all of the problems with racing - horses are raced too young, too often, on hard surfaces that practically guarantee breakdowns - it's a start. To find out more, visit www.PETA.org.
Jennifer O'Connor
People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals
Norfolk, Va.