Jumping ahead hands and heels

A RIDING competition using hands and heels only, sponsored by the Melbourne Racing Club (Caulfield and Sandown), will be a feature of the Pakenham Super Jumps Day this Sunday.
Handsandheels riding is just that and no whips are used in any part of the race.
The competition will be conducted to select the jockeys who give the best display of nowhip riding and it will be judged by Racing Victoria’s chief steward Des Gleeson.
“The competition is to encourage jockeys to get the best out of the horse by using the whip only as a last resort,” Mr Gleeson said.
“Horses respond equally well to strong handsandheels riding as riding with the whip,” he said.
The race will be called the Rookie Chasers Series Final and is the culmination of four heats held at other country courses for novice steeplechase horses during the season.
The heats and the final are conducted in association with the four metropolitan hunt clubs, the oldest being the Melbourne Hunt Club based at Pakenham.
It was Melbourne Hunt Club that introduced the nowhips concept for the meeting and joint master of the club John Masterson was keen to promote the concept of nowhips racing.
“One of the aims is to demonstrate that jumps racing horses love to jump and good results can be achieved without the use of the whip,” he said. “We believe horses respond well to kindly treatment and we want to encourage trainers and jockeys to think this way.
“It is our intention to continue in this direction, with the support of Racing Victoria.
“We are delighted to have someone of the stature of Mr Des Gleeson to conduct the judging of this handsandheels racing concept,” he said.
The Melbourne Hunt Club, which recently celebrated its 150th year, will be giving an action display of its horses and hounds.
Racegoers will see the beautifully controlled hounds work with the horses and riders.
Afterwards, there will be a “meet and pat the hounds” session in the mounting yard and children are welcome.
“The Melbourne Hunt Club has a long history associated with the Pakenham district,” Mr Masterson said.
“It dates back to the 1860s and the historic IYU station, which was located just a few kilometres south west of the present racecourse.”