An amended rule that will severely curtail use of the whip was approved by the California Horse Racing Board meeting at Los Alamitos on Thursday.

Jockeys will be able to use the whip twice in succession and no more than six times during a race, always utilizing the whip in an underhanded position "at or below the shoulder of the jockey.

The proposed rule would prohibit use of the whip in training, striking a horse on any part of its body other than shoulders or hind quarters, during a post parade or after the finish unless to control a horse, and when a horse is "out of the race" or has optained its maximum placing.

The rule was approved by a vote of 5-0. Implementation of the rule is months away.

The rule will soon be placed in a 45-day public comment prior before the issue is brought before for potential changes or ratification.

An article on this subject will be presented later this afternoon, Pacific time, on DRF.com.