A campaign against the use of the whip in horse-racing has been mounted by Animal Aid.

Headlined “IT’S TIME TO STOP BEATING HORSES” the campaign makes the point that “horses are the only animals that may be beaten in public for entertainment,” although until fairly recently foxes and deer could be torn to bits by dogs for the same purpose.

Also mentioned is the fact that Towcester racecourse has announced a ban on jockeys using whips from October this year, against strong opposition from jockeys, some of whom claim that the horsewhip is manufactured to deliver a mild sting.

There is a view that jockeys who favour the whip should be made to drop their trousers, bend over and take a dozen vigorous lashes, to fairly test the theory.