Why do the trainers and jockeys hit the horse with an electrical rod prior to racing?

Question

Isn't this cruel and unnecessary?

Answer 1

the trainers tell the crooked and few jockeys that do carry a shocker

when to hit the horse with juice during a race. if you get caught it

is not a life-time ban, as most would think.  but i think a 1 year ban.

i know a few quarter horse jockeys at los alamitos, that also ride

at the current fairplex meet at the l.a. county fair, that carry

a hot stick.....can't give names....but feel free to e-mail for picks

and i will thrown my plays for the day.....

Answer 2

Without knowing exactly what you saw or heard, let me try to answer.  

I suspect you have seen a member of the gate crew using a broom hanlde to nudge a horse into the starting gate, or an excited animal react abruptly to a "wake-up" slap with the jockey's stick.  If they were using some kind of electrical device, you'd never see it.

I believe you're referring to a small electrical device knkown to most in the racing indusrty as a "machine".  It's not a rod or anything like it.  These things are banned from all racetracks in North America  to my knowledge.  Not only are they frobidden in racing, they can't be used on racetracks for training purposes, either.  It makes little sense to use something like this before a race.  A trainer or jockey would be foolish to jolt a horse before the race even starts. The one and only one I've ever seen was the length and width of a credit card and about as thick as half a deck of playing cards.  This was twenty years ago, so I'm sure that larcenious horsemen have used current technology to make them smaller by now.  The idea seems to be to hit the horse with a machine during a race when the nefarious rider thinks he needs a quick burst of speed to improve his position.  It's only effective for about a thirty yard burst.

I understood that the unit was worn near the cuff of the jockey's sleeve and pressed on the horse's neck.  It's always a question of how the horse will react to the machine, so unscrupulious jockeys were well advised to use the machine on a horse in a workout (not to be confused with the pre-race warmup) before trying it in a race.  Before, during and after the race there are a lot of officials watching the action, so it's hard to keep this sort of thing hidden and effective at the same time.  If a race steward (usually a retired trainer or sometimes a retired jockey) suspects anything the jockey can be strip-searched.  If the machine is found, the rider will be barred from racing not only from the track where he was caught, but usually in that state AND any other state whose racing authority has reciprocal agreements.  He is also inelligible to work as a trainer.  

That being said, can we assume that the costs for being caught are enough to keep horsemen from cheating this way?  Unfortunately, not.  Events that involve dollars will sometimes attract the criminal element, but security measures are usually effective in keeping larceny at bay.  I have known plenty of jockeys over the years that have been before the officials--after winning a race nobody thought they had a prayer of winning--and have had to "bare it all" in order to prove their innocence.  They know that if they "plug horses in" one too many times they're bound to get caught.  An unseasoned rider that suddenly starts winning more than his share of the time will, sooner or later, find the racing officials going through his short and curlies.  

Oh, the machine that I saw twenty years ago...I flet applied to my elbow when I wasn't expecting it.  I jumped about six feet.  I guess I had asked one too many questions about those things.   The jockey who "educated" me reitred and now works outside the industry.

The use of machines is far from the cruelest thing that happens in racing.  While almost all race horses are treated better than most household pets, some are pushed into competition before they're mature enough, not fully recovered from injury, or at a competition level above their capability.  Fine animals are retired to stud, put out to pasture or put to sleep because their trainers--or more likely owners--can't be prudent enough to keep thier horse in the barn rather than the racetrack.

Want to see a good piece of fiction on cruelty to racehorses?  Check out "For Kicks" by d**k Francis.

Answer 3

They don't unless they are looking for a possible lifetime ban from racing!

Answer 4

This wouldn't happen unless they want their racing license suspended or revoked and a very expensive fine.

Answer 5

Im a jockey by trade here in Australia,and Ive hit up a horse with the jigger prior to racing.It just keeps them on the ball.

Answer 6

I've never heard of this or seen it happening, you are misinformed my friend.

As GoforGin said, anyone caught doing such a thing would face a lengthy ban from the sport.