The Ohio State Racing Commission (OSRC) approved a revised “use of the whip” rule (3769-17-17) at the group’s March 30 meeting. The rule must still be reviewed by two other state boards (Common Sense Initiative and Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review) before taking effect in 90 days.

While there are already regulations—via state codes—in place for the use of the whip in harness racing competitions, the new additions are more specific and restrictive. The new rule will affect all four of Ohio’s pari-mutuel raceways—Northfield Park near Cleveland, Miami Valley Raceway in Lebanon, Scioto Downs in Columbus, and Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway in Dayton—as well as the Buckeye State’s 60 county fairs that conduct harness racing