The Santa Anita race track is re-opening today after being closed since March 5^th as a result of 22 horses died due to injuries sustained while racing or training there. On March 16^th,  The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita Park, and the Thoroughbred Owners of California reached an agreement to protect the safety, welfare and integrity of horses and riders at the race track.  Some of the initiatives agreed upon included:

the strict limitations on the use of any pain or anti-inflammatory, Out-of-Competition Drug Testing, and complete transparency of all veterinary records. 

However,  yesterday the California Horse Racing Board voted unanimously  to approve a rule that will make whip use inappropriate“except when necessary to control the horse for safety of the horse or rider".Representatives of the Jockeys’ Guild asked that the move be delayed because it believed there hadn’t been enough time to research the topic and present scientific evidence. There is a 45-day period where the guild can add materials to the debate and a second vote will have to be taken.

Carlos Arias demonstrates how different types of poppers – the leather at the end of the whip – feel and sound.   The use of whips has been a hotly debated topic in the horse-racing world for years.  And Carlos used every imaginable kind of whip during the 23 years that he was a professional jockey.  Many of those years were spent racing at Santa Anita. In 2007 Carlos retired from racing and opened Arias Whips in Monrovia – just 3 miles from the Santa Anita racetrack.

As he works on some whips that he's sending to a jockey in France in says, "I was very lucky that I got into this business which still keeps me with the horses., keeps me with the people, and keeps me at the track."

Whips are generally used by jockeys on racehorses for two purposes– correction of their behavior and incentive to get them to run faster. But the new rules that are being proposed at Santa Anita will dramatically curtail the use of whips for any reason other than as a safety measure.

Carlos says many jockeys are not in support of this idea because it will make training horses more difficult, and they won't have any means to encourage horses during a race.  And while Carlos has 13,000 followers on Instagram from around the globe who appreciate the level of craftsmanship and customization he offers… he’s preparing for a big drop in his sales to jockeys.

“Less use of whips means less need to buy whips. But I will continue to sell to my customers in other states, and other countries. And I have accounts with a number of stores. So I will do what is necessary.”

Carlos says he hasn’t seen many of his jockey friends the past few weeks because they’ve had travel to other cities and states to find work. “I know some guys who took a few days and traveled out of town to other races. But they are looking forward to returning to Santa Anita. The great race place!" Carlos won’t be riding in any upcoming races at the great race place … but he will be there to see what the future holds for his whips.

The Santa Anita race track is re-opening today after being closed since March 5^th as a result of 22 horses died due to injuries sustained while racing or training there. On March 16^th,  The Stronach Group, which owns Santa Anita Park, and the Thoroughbred Owners of California reached an agreement to protect the safety, welfare and integrity of horses and riders at the race track.  Some of the initiatives agreed upon included:

the strict limitations on the use of any pain or anti-inflammatory, Out-of-Competition Drug Testing, and complete transparency of all veterinary records. 

However,  yesterday the California Horse Racing Board voted unanimously  to approve a rule that will make whip use inappropriate“except when necessary to control the horse for safety of the horse or rider".Representatives of the Jockeys’ Guild asked that the move be delayed because it believed there hadn’t been enough time to research the topic and present scientific evidence. There is a 45-day period where the guild can add materials to the debate and a second vote will have to be taken.

Carlos Arias demonstrates how different types of poppers – the leather at the end of the whip – feel and sound.   The use of whips has been a hotly debated topic in the horse-racing world for years.  And Carlos used every imaginable kind of whip during the 23 years that he was a professional jockey.  Many of those years were spent racing at Santa Anita. In 2007 Carlos retired from racing and opened Arias Whips in Monrovia – just 3 miles from the Santa Anita racetrack.

As he works on some whips that he's sending to a jockey in France in says, "I was very lucky that I got into this business which still keeps me with the horses., keeps me with the people, and keeps me at the track."

Whips are generally used by jockeys on racehorses for two purposes– correction of their behavior and incentive to get them to run faster. But the new rules that are being proposed at Santa Anita will dramatically curtail the use of whips for any reason other than as a safety measure.

Carlos says many jockeys are not in support of this idea because it will make training horses more difficult, and they won't have any means to encourage horses during a race.  And while Carlos has 13,000 followers on Instagram from around the globe who appreciate the level of craftsmanship and customization he offers… he’s preparing for a big drop in his sales to jockeys.

“Less use of whips means less need to buy whips. But I will continue to sell to my customers in other states, and other countries. And I have accounts with a number of stores. So I will do what is necessary.”

Carlos says he hasn’t seen many of his jockey friends the past few weeks because they’ve had travel to other cities and states to find work. “I know some guys who took a few days and traveled out of town to other races. But they are looking forward to returning to Santa Anita. The great race place!" Carlos won’t be riding in any upcoming races at the great race place … but he will be there to see what the future holds for his whips.