A harness racing driver in Sweden is at the center of a unique controversy this week: his local municipal government, rather than the sport's governing body, has handed the driver a one-year ban from using the whip anywhere in Sweden, reports Harness Racing Update.
Joakim Lövgren drove his trainee Picadilly at Jägersro in April, after which veterinarians noticed marks on the horse's body consistent with whip use. By rule, the veterinarians must report those marks to the county board in which the races were held.
The board responded with a $420 fine and a 10-day suspension for Lövgren, as well as the one-year ban from using the whip.
Sweden has some of the strictest whip use regulations in the world, and the harness racing governing body, Svensk Travsport, is diligent about punishing those who break those regulations. Nonetheless, the local government decided to hand down a major whip ban, a decision which could have worldwide implications for horse racing if other governments follow suit.
Read more at Harness Racing Update.
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