They're more likely to ban whip use in its entirety in the current environment.

Fines totalling well over $300,000 imposed on jockeys this year for using their whip more than 5 times prior to the 100m

Appearing to do their bit to help solve Australia,s debt problem.

In the heat of a close finish what jockey has time to count the number of times the whip has been struck.

Cheers.
darky

Of that total,,over $100,000 in fines for Victorian jockeys
They top the national list for whip offences

Queensland jockeys,,with over $70,000 in fines,,are 2nd to Victoria

The push is on to change from 5 to 8, prior to the 100m.
This would eliminate 93% of current breaches.

Would look like a good move to me

Whip usage restriction been in place for a while in the UK
Introduced in 2011,,the permitted number of uses of the whip,,7 times for flat races & 8 times for jumps races
A maximum of 5 strokes in the last furlong or from the final obstacle

In 2012 amended whip regulations were implemented,,under which stewards can use their discretion as to whether to punish a jockey for ‘excessive whipping’
So not automatic fines / suspensions

Interesting comment from Zac Purton recently

Some of his winners in Hong Kong would not have won had he been riding to the new Australian whip rules

Purton feels encouraged to ride winners in Hong Kong because the only whip rule there is that a horse out of contention is not unduly tested & all reasonable and permissible measures are taken to ensure a horse is given a full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible placing

Regardless of the distance of the race,,same threshold of strikes for a five-furlong sprint as for a two-mile staying race