MEDIA RELEASE 27 May 2025
Court Concludes Padded Racing Whips Hurt Horses
On 27 May it was proven in a Tasmanian court that padded whips cause pain and suffering to horses. This is the first court decision, since the introduction of padded whips in 2009, against their use on horses. The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses are once again calling for an immediate ban of the whip in racing.
“The Magistrates Court in Tasmanian has made the groundbreaking ruling that whipping a horse with a padded whip does indeed cause pain and suffering to the horse,” said General Manager for the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, Helle Erhardsen.
“This ruling is significant because it wasn’t any old whip in question, it was the specific padded whip which is approved for racing, and which Racing Australia claims do not hurt horses.”
The conventional whip was replaced with a padded whip in 2009 because of the massive public concern about the pain it inflicts upon horses to be whipped.
Despite studies which, according to the RSPCA, show that the padded whip “will cause a similar level of pain as occurs with a conventional whip”, the racing industry has justified its continued use of the whip by arguing it has not been proven that whipping hurts horses. With this court decision, that argument is no longer valid.
The guilty ruling relates to Tasmanian racehorse trainer Liandra Gray, who was recorded on CCTV in July 2022 hitting a racehorse with a padded whip more than 40 times. Under the Animal Welfare Act, the RSPCA charged the trainer with committing an act which “caused or was likely to cause unreasonable and unjustifiable pain or suffering to an animal.”
The defendant Liandra Gray pleaded not guilty. In her defence, she claimed she had used less force with the whip than a jockey would in a race. On May 27, 2025, after considering extensive evidence, including several hearings and expert reports, Magistrate Evan Hughes of Devonport Court found the defendant Liandra Gray guilty:
Although the whip was padded, it was proven that it caused the horse to experience ‘unreasonable and unjustifiable pain or suffering.’
“The Australian racing industry can no longer hide behind a smokescreen of being unaware of the pain they are allowing jockeys and trainers to inflict upon horses used for racing,” said Ms Erhardsen.
 “We now have a legal judgement that whipping a horse with a padded whip is a criminal act of cruelty to animals. In light of this, the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses once again calls for an immediate ban of whip use across the racing industry.”
Currently in Australia jockeys are permitted to strike their horse five times prior to the last 100 metres of a race, and from thereon at their own “discretion”.
“This court decision could just be the best news of all time for the welfare of racehorses in Australia,” Ms Erhardsen said.
I certainly for one is hope the whip is completely banned there was a documentary done by the A.B.C. about few years ago and showed the damaged done by the over whipping they change the rule to only five hits with a down the main straight but some jockeys still got very heavy handed with the whip and really beat the horse the animal could run any faster than what is was.
I’m beyond elated at this news and to the sensibility of the magistrates ruling. A fantastic win for horses.
What wonderful news. I hope this becomes Australian law as soon as possible. I can’t even watch horse racing and see those magnificent animals being whipped just so gamblers and owners can make money from a win.
This is
It is so necessary to stop whipping race horses.What inhumane morons they are who commit this act.Let’s keep.pushing to end all cruelty to noble, magnificent horses who are deprived of good lives by profiteering industry
Let’s push fora ban on racing altogether.Keep fighting ,thank you Coalition
great news about the use of whips.
one wonders what fine Liandra Gray got.
I believe horse racing should be banned as it is such a cruel ‘sport’. maybe one day.
At last, some sensible thinking. Of course horses feel pain, that is why they use a whip, to make the horse go faster out of fear of the whip.
This decision is a small step forward in recognising legislative failings in animal welfare and cruelties of horse racing. Surely, this latest decision is a timely pathway to the introduction of a complete ban of the disgusting practice of whipping.
It doesn’t take a genius to understand that a padded whip inflicts pain and suffering to horses. Just try whipping the jockeys and ask if it hurts!
This decision is a small step forward in recognising legislative failings in animal welfare and cruelties of horse racing. Surely, this latest decision is a timely pathway to the introduction of a complete ban of the disgusting practice of whipping. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that a padded whip inflicts pain and suffering to horses. Just try whipping the jockeys and ask if it hurts!
I’m so happy for you and for all the horses of Australia! Oh, I’m so happy! – Happy and relieved.
I hope from now on everything with your priceless fight will become much easier and faster.
It may not be known for you, but, from 2019 also I have been fighting for your poor racehorses from here, Finland, by speaking about their life under the horrible whippings on your racecourses and in harness-racings. – The latter ones we have been able to see for years during weekdays by internet.
I saw it important to report at least a couple of the beastly whipping scenarios seen there, but, I also gave a link to the important video by your Jonica Newby, ( ABCcatalyst, Are we beating our horses to the finish line?), in my long manifesto against the horse racing industry; “Kilpahevosten kova osa”.
Of this the manifesto proper, of 20 pages, is now available also in English. But they both can be found on my blog: inhimilliseenmaailmaan.blogspot.com . — Old stuff today, but it succeeded to cause a very welcome tumult in the industry after it was slipped to Sweden “under the tables” in 2021. – Today almost all the harnessracing in Europe is done on non-beating line. – And now also the bad-reputed dressyr-horse training is getting much attention both in and outside the industry.
But really, I am so happy for your success in the Tasmanian court!
Is there any danger that the verdict will be over ruled, or is this now “the final word” for Australia?
I hope New Zealand takes notice. Great news acknowledging whipping causes pain and suffering. Good work everyone imvolved
Excellent news, but will this lead to a ban and if so will that only apply to Tasmania? A good first step hopefully more to follow
All those that whip, abuse & cause the Deaths Of Animals…. Deserve a good whipping!
Yes, we remember that excellent ABC doco showing how painful the whips are but nothing has changed. If you watch a race on TV showing front-on view you can see how ALL the jockeys are furiously whipping their horses many many times near the finish! None of them stick to the 5 times idea. I really wish the horses could refuse to race exactly like one brilliant grey (can’t remember its name) did so it was sold to a good rider who has ridden it for pleasure riding. What a clever horse! It now enjoys its life! No whips!