The California Horse Racing Board has renamed horse whips used by jockeys and unanimously passed new limits on how many times they can be used in races, including those held in Del Mar.
A 45-day discussion at Del Mar's Surfside Race Place took in a wide range of equine issues, and among them was the CHRB Rule 1688, Use of Whips.
The board decided to refer to whips as "riding crops" and limit them to three hits in succession. The new rule is meant to allow more time for horses to respond, according to the members.
The meeting was closed Wednesday night, and the amendment was passed unanimously.
Horses will not be disqualified by the overuse of the crop, but jockeys will be fined.
At the close of the discussion, Chairman Chuck Winner said there had been no prior suggestion of eliminating the crop all together.
"Perhaps in the future things could change, but this is a huge step forward," he said.
Local
The new rules will go into place across the state in the first part of 2015, according to Darrell Haire with the Jockey's Guild.
