WHIPS
The whip hand Jockeys are having to adapt to new Californian rules
One of Webster’s many descriptions of the word “whip” reads: “An instrument, either a flexible rod or a flexible thong or lash attached to a handle, used for driving animals or administering corporal punishment.” Carlos Arias has a much more benign explanation: a means of making a living. His business card reads: “Arias Whips. Jockey Apparel, Pants/Shirts. Body Protectors, Helmets.” It also has his name, cell phone number, and email address.
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WORDS: ED GOLDEN PHOTOS: CARLOS ARIAS
foRmeR jockey, Arias is the Hillerich & Bradsby of riding paraphernalia. If Babe Ruth wanted a 36-inch, 54-ounce bat to power his 714 homers, Hillerich & Bradsby crafted him a Louisville Slugger. If Wayne Gretzky wanted a hockey stick taped just so with marilyn monroe curves to produce his 894 career goals, easton was happy to comply. If jockeys want a “riding crop” caressing their hands like Paderewski’s gliding over a keyboard, Arias is their man. He has a shop in the back of his home, filling worldwide requests for riding crops “non-stop every day.” He works alone, crafting items both standard and custom, with prices starting at $67.75 for the no frills variety and increasing based on additional bells and whistles. “on a good day,” Arias says, “I can make a whip in 30 minutes. “I take a fiberglass rod about 50 inches long, cut it from both ends, apply masking tape, then vinyl binding on the whip end and flinch-wrapped rubber on the handle.” He is the Stradivari of whip makers. “It’s not that I want to work alone,” Arias says. “I need help, but it’s hard to find someone with the technique and finesse it takes in such a specialized field.” Born in mexico City, mexico, Arias has made his home in monrovia, California, a few furlongs from Santa Anita for the past 28 years. There are competitors, but Arias is the
only one who makes customized whips. His business is international, with riders partaking of his wares in france, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Singapore, and mexico. His clients in the United States include mike Smith, Gary Stevens, martin Pedroza, edwin maldonado, Jon Court, Corey Nakatani, Alex Solis, Jose Lezcano, Joel Rosario, and Junior Alvarado. After riding for nearly three decades, mostly in California, Arizona, and for seven years in Dubai, he hung up his tack in 2007, eventually buying his whip business lock, stock, and barrel 10 years ago from former jockey orlando Garrido, who was plying his trade in Arizona. “He sold me his patent and everything,” said Arias, who will be 58 on November 4. “I turned it in into ‘Arias Whips.’ I’m the only one who does custom whips that I know of. most others make them in batches, and jockeys buy them like someone who shops at Walmart.” Understandably, some jockeys are fussy about their whips, which, due to an amendment of California Horse Racing Board ruling #1688 that went into effect July 1, now must conform to more stringent applications. The amendment to California Horse Racing Board rule #1688 on use of whips was filed with the Secretary of State on march 2, 2015. Perhaps with the intention to soften the blow figuratively and literally, every reference to the word “whip” in said amendment has a line drawn through it,
followed immediately by its politically correct replacement, “riding crop.” The amendment stipulates the following: (a) In all races where a jockey will not ride with a riding crop, an announcement shall be made over the public address system of such fact. (b) Although the use of a riding crop is not required, any jockey who uses a riding crop during a race is prohibited from using a riding crop on a horse; (1) on the head, flanks, or on any parts of its body other than the shoulders or hind quarters: (2) during the post parade except when necessary to control the horse; (3) excessively or brutally causing welts or breaks in the skin; (4) when the horse is clearly out of the race or has obtained its maximum placing; (5) persistently even though the horse is showing no response under the riding crop; or (6) more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond before using the riding crop again. (c) Correct uses of the riding crop are: (1) showing horses the riding crop before hitting them; (2) using the riding crop in rhythm with the horse’s stride; and (3) using the riding crop as an aid to maintain a horse running straight. on June 30, the CHRB issued the following release: “California is introducing the strictest regulation in the country governing the use ISSUE 37 TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM
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