Scandinavian farce proves the whip is an essential part of a jockey's toolkit

Think of the least accurate racing scene you've watched in some movie. You know the kind of irritating thing I mean, where all the jockeys except the hero/heroine are practically motionless as the fairytale finish plays out and the horse we're supposed to be cheering for sweeps past the field in the nick of time.

It just goes to show the value of a regular betting habit because any director would become alive to the importance of riding out once some jockey has let them down for fourth place on a 25-1 shot. Most of the beaten riders in these movies should be getting dragged into the stewards' room as the credits roll.

These thoughts came to mind while watching a replay of the third at Klampenborg on Saturday, the race which nearly caused a jockeys' strike across Scandinavia. The degree of animation from most of the riders involved left quite a bit to be desired, for all that they were getting low in the saddle and push, push, pushing.