Horse-friendly riding crops becoming standard

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/13/2009 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Humane treatment of thoroughbred racehorses has been front and center since the tragic accident Barbaro suffered early in the running of the 2006 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

This week and next two major racing venues institute use of horse-friendly riding crops. Del Mar in California began using the new crop on Wednesday of this week and next week jockeys at Monmouth Park in New Jersey will carry the softer instrument.

"This is a great step for racing," commented champion jockey Garrett Gomez at Del Mar. "All the jocks discussed it and wanted to make this move. One of our biggest problems was getting enough riding crops for everybody. With Del Mar's help, we were able to get a big enough supply, including for riders who couldn't necessarily afford them. With the new riding crop, horses seem to react to the sound of the popper rather than from a physical reaction to the whip. It's good for racing and we wanted to be at the forefront."

Del Mar purchased 40 crops from four different suppliers so that an adequate number will be available.

"Both the jockeys and Del Mar are pleased to achieve this milestone," said Darrell Haire, regional manager for the Jockeys' Guild. "Thanks to the cooperation of Del Mar management, especially Joe Harper (track president and general manager) and Craig Fravel (Del Mar executive vice president), as well as Bo Derek and the California Horse Racing Board, we were able to attain this goal that will be beneficial to the welfare of the horses competing at the meet."

The new crops have been endorsed by the Jockeys' Guild, which represents riders on the national level.

"Del Mar management has been exemplary in their cooperation and communication with the jockeys," said Terry Meyocks, national manager of the Jockeys' Guild. "If all segments of the racing industry worked together the way that Del Mar has worked with the riders, many of the challenges that the industry faces could be overcome."

Monmouth Park's director of racing, Mike Dempsey, announced Thursday that the new riding crops used by jockeys will become standard at the Jersey shore track on Wednesday, August 19.

All Monmouth Park jockeys will use the new riding crops in all races starting that day. Riders at the Oceanport facility have used the softer crop in the last race each racing day since Wednesday, July 8.

The new riding crop has been mandated for use at Delaware Park and Philadelphia Park. Jockeys have been voluntarily using the lighter and softer crop at Saratoga Race Course.

Wwjuno Horseracing Betting News

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).

Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.

A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.

Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.

"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.

De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.

The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.

The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.

De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.

But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.