Richard Dunwoody is recognised as one of the all-time great jump jockeys and has won every major race including the Grand National twice. He has been among the Jockeys Association's spokesmen in negotiations with the Jockey Club over the whip. "We have been saying all along that this is a cosmetic exercise and that can't be right. Horses do go quicker for a smack. To me it is more cruel to hit a very tired horse once and in the wrong place than to hit a horse who is running for you or who you are trying to get to stretch 10 or 12 times.
"However, with the way racing is televised now it is very hard to say to the public that this is sometimes necessary. They are sitting in their armchairs and they see horses getting hit. We are trying to educate people about the realities but I'm afraid I think it's going to prove impossible.
"For instance, how do you explain a horse's pain? There is far more pain when a horse's lungs are stressed in a finish or when he hits a hurdle. That hurts more than being hit with a felt cushioned whip.
"It's a difficult position for jockeys. Owners, trainers and punters in the betting shops want to see a horse getting a positive ride and yet the RSPCA and the anti-whip people want to see something else.
"We are doing our best to adapt and on the majority of horses I feel that I can get the most out of them within the rules. Jockeys feel hard done by, though, especially Tony McCoy who has had problems recently.
"But Tony is still hitting them in the wrong place, on the stifle. I am the last one to criticise Tony who I think is brilliant but he has to set an example as champion jockey. It's bad for the sport when the champion jockey is in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
"I feel that coaches are not used enough to show us the correct way to use the whip. David Leadbetter doesn't play golf to the standard of the top professionals but he is still very effective.
"What the stewards don't seem to realise is that by penalising the jockeys, they are penalising racing. People do go racing to watch Tony ride, or Frankie (Dettori) or Pat (Eddery). What they are getting at the moment are headlines saying Tony McCoy, Richard Dunwoody or Norman Williamson is suspended.
I do agree with the bigger penalties for the big races. These races have a big public profile and it's quite important to protect that. It's another incentive to be ultracareful. My priority in, say, the Gold Cup is to do my maximum within the rules. In nine out of 10 cases that is possible.
"What we need are personalities like Sir Peter O'Sullevan or Lord Oaksey to try and give the public more of an idea of the issue, to help them become more aware. If we get that little bit more support from high-profile people and get the message across to the public and the RSPCA, then all the better."
