Sport is made for betting

The stubborn Australian Racing Board and the Australian Jockeys' Association went head-to-head over the changes to the whip rules brought in on August 1 in Australia. Jockeys were rightfully frustrated about a major change to the rule which would bring about a suspension for them if they used the whip too many times in the closing stages, trying to win the race, yet the result wouldn't be overturned - so they'd be stuck between a rock and a hard place. Jockeys walked out across Australia last Thursday, stopping several race meetings during the day, and threatened further action. The spring carnival was never realistically under threat, but the jockeys wanted the issue sorted out before the big stakes were on the table. Jockeys, ARB reach whip compromise My query is, in six or so seconds that it takes for the last 100m, how many times more could a jockey whip a horse anyway?

These guys do a pretty good job already of shooting themselves in the foot, but Patrick Smith of the Australian manages to give them more of the lambasting they deserve for their pig-headed ignorance of how the modern world works. If idiots like this lot ran the world since time began, we'd still be living in huts thinking the world was flat. NSW racing fights for life Here's the deal Bob Bentley - don't blame the corporate bookmakers and Betfair for the damage left behind by the incompetence and arrogance of NSW racing administrators. The money they've pissed up the wall on legal fees fighting forlorn cases would fund at least two months of city racing. Every other state is doing just fine, but NSW has created the mess it's in, nobody else... Bill Saunders also weighs in with his views Something doesn't quite add up When publicly-elected officials go on ego-stroking campaigns wasting money with little regard for the consequences, they really should be hung out ...