PROPOSAL #1

Proposed deletion from paragraph 3.2 Inspection Committee:

It is the responsibility of the local Race Secretary to select an Inspection Committee of three qualified people for each approved race meeting. The Race Secretary, or his/her appointee, will officially check-in those Whippets that qualify to participate in the meet. This person can also be the "Timer for Measuring Procedure." The purpose of this committee is:

· To measure and inspect all Whippets following procedures described in section 3.2.2 (Measuring)

· To check and inspect all Whippets for all characteristics that might disqualify them from racing.

· To check muzzle of each racer for safety.

 

Reasoning for proposed deletion:

i. Safe commercially available muzzles are now in general use. Homemade muzzles are no longer used.

ii. It is so rare that an inspection committee follows this rule that it has, in effect, already been eliminated from use.

 

Proposal 1 - Delete checking muzzles for safety. 6 Clubs For, 6 Clubs Against.  This did not pass.

 


 

PROPOSAL #2

Proposed additions to paragraph 3.2.1 Disqualifications:

Those disqualifications covered by the Whippet Racing Association program are:

 

· WHIPPET BITCHES IN HEAT OR SEASON

· A WHIPPET THAT SHOWS POSITIVE EVIDENCE OF SICKNESS OR ABNORMALITY (ie, LAMENESS) THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE WHIPPET OR TO OTHER WHIPPET RACERS.

· THE USE OF ANY DRUG, STIMULANT OR NARCOTIC

· Whippets traveling by air as Service Animals for all or any part of the trip to an event shall be ineligible to compete in WRA events. Exhibitors flying in with animals should be prepared to present their airline tickets/proof of payment to show that their animals traveled to the event as cargo.

 

Reasoning for proposed addition:

i. In recent years, it has become popular in many venues to abuse the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for title III (public accommodations and commercial facilities) in order to convey dogs to events where they are entered in competition. The abuse of this law by competitors in all venues is a disservice both to the disabled and to all exhibitors in various canine competitions, including whippet racing.

ii. Dogs traveling as Service Animals/Emotional Support Animals travel at no expense to the passenger and ride in the cabin. Both of these factors convey an unfair competition advantage that is not available to other racing whippets traveling by air, paying full fare to travel as cargo.

iii. It is possible that a legitimate Service Animal might be injured racing at an event, thus depriving its owner of the important and necessary service it provides.

 

Proposal 2 - Disqualify dogs flying in the cabin.  All Clubs voted Against.  This did not pass.

 


 

PROPOSAL #3

Proposed additions to paragraph 3.2.1 Disqualifications:

Those disqualifications covered by the Whippet Racing Association program are:

 

· WHIPPET BITCHES IN HEAT OR SEASON

· A WHIPPET THAT SHOWS POSITIVE EVIDENCE OF SICKNESS OR ABNORMALITY (ie, LAMENESS, loss of limb, missing eye, or blindness in one eye) THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE WHIPPET OR TO OTHER WHIPPET RACERS.

· THE USE OF ANY DRUG, STIMULANT OR NARCOTIC

 

Reasoning for proposed addition:

i. Periodically, this topic generates heated discussion among racing exhibitors. Better it be spelled out to eliminate the discord that continued debate produces within the fancy.

ii. Inspection/Roll Call is intended to make certain that all exhibits are sound, for the protection of the animals. It also serves to ensure that the average public spectator will not perceive that injured dogs are being abused at WRA events and subsequently complain to authorities.

iii. It is in the best interests of the WRA to be proactive on this issue in order to protect our amateur sport from becoming a target for animal activism using disabled exhibits to justify their activities.

 

Proposal 3 - Disqualify dogs with loss of limb, eye or blindness.  1 Club For, 11 Clubs Against. This did not pass.

 


PROPOSAL #4

Proposed deletion from paragraph 7.3 Whippet Race Champion Award Points:

 

Whippet Race Champion Award Points are earned by the Whippets earning the highest number of racing points in a race meet. The points are awarded according to the schedule of points presented below.

· No Whippet which has already earned a Whippet Race Champion, or an Award of Racing Merit, shall earn WRCh Award Points.

· If the Whippet(s) with the highest number of race points have their WRCh, or ARM, title the Whippet(s) with the next highest number of racing points, that have not earned their WRCh, or ARM, will receive the Award Points.

· All Whippets with the title of WRCh, or ARM, count as entries when awarding WRCh Award Points.

 

Reasoning for proposed deletions:

There are no longer whippets with ARM titles entering WRA events, so elimination of these phrases are mere housekeeping.

 

Proposal 4 - Remove ARM titles.  11 Clubs voted For, 1 Club voted Against.  This proposal passed.

 


PROPOSAL #5

Proposed addition to paragraph 7.3 Whippet Race Champion Award Points:

 

Whippet Race Champion Award Points are earned by the Whippets earning the highest number of racing points in a race meet. The points are awarded according to the schedule of points presented below.

· No Whippet which has already earned a Whippet Race Champion, or an Award of Racing Merit, shall earn WRCh Award Points.

· If the Whippet(s) with the highest number of race points have their WRCh, or ARM, title the Whippet(s) with the next highest number of racing points, that have not earned their WRCh, or ARM, will receive the Award Points.

· All Whippets with the title of WRCh, or ARM, count as entries when awarding WRCh Award Points.

· To qualify for WRCH points, Whippets must place in the top 50% of adult finishers. [i.e. if 20 Whippets finish all four programs, Whippets must place in top ten finishers to qualify for WRCH points (including all dogs who tie for position in the top 10. ). When an odd number of dogs finish, round up to the next even placement, i.e. if 21 Whippets finish all four programs, Whippets must place in top eleven finishers to qualify for WRCH points (including all dogs who tie for position in the top 11. ).]

 

Reasoning for proposed addition:

It has become popular to fill race meets with many retired dogs that only run one or two programs, simply to push the number of entries high enough to generate 2 or 3 sets of points. When there are one or two fillers, no one perceives it to be a problem, but when more dogs scratch than finish the meet, it strains the credibility of the WRA program and diminishes the value of all WRA championships.

 

Proposal 5 - Require dogs earning WRCH points to be in top 50%. All Clubs voted Against. This did not pass.

 


 

PROPOSAL #6

Proposed change to paragraph 5.3.1 First Program:

The first step in selecting post positions in the first complete race program is to determine the total number of entrants in that program, (adult, or puppy). Then group arrange the Whippets in the first adult program according to grade in order by point average. If there is more than one High Point race in any grade, then the Whippets of that grade in the High Point races will be seeded by alternating, according to point averages, in descending order. , between the races in that grade. If there is more than one race in any grade, then the Whippets of that grade will be divided as evenly as possible between the races, with the higher race containing the highest number of dogs. The whippets will be seeded by alternating, according to point averages, between the races in each grade. The Adult Quick Set-Up Chart (See Appendices) shall be used to determine the number of dogs in each race. For puppies, use random draw. Whenever possible, when two (2) or more Whippets have the same numerical point average, they are arranged in ascending order within the group by the score of each Whippet on its last complete race meet. When this information is not readily available, the Race Secretary may use personal knowledge or a random draw to determine placement.

 

 

Reasoning for proposed change:

i. This proposal has the effect of filling the races in the first program to the greatest extent.

ii. There will no longer be single dogs winning the High Point race without competition to take 8 points and dogs graded lower than A may have a chance to earn HP points in the first program.

iii. There is no reason to segregate dogs into races by grade in the first program when grades will be lumped together in the Program 2 draw anyway.

iv. This change can be made with no alteration of the WRA computer program.

 

Proposal 6 - Fill races in 1st program. 2 Clubs voted For, 9 Clubs voted Against and 1 Club Abstained. This did not pass.

 


PROPOSAL #7

Proposed additions to paragraphs 7.5.3 The Whippet Race Champion title (WRCh) and 7.5.4 The Whippet Race Champion Excellent title (WRChX):

7.5.3 The Whippet Race Champion title (WRCh)

Any Whippet that accumulates fifteen (15) Whippet Race Champion Award Points will be awarded the title Whippet Race Champion (WRCh). Whippets must complete the race meet in order to be eligible for WRCh points.

 

7.5.4 The Whippet Race Champion Excellent Title (WRChX)

Any male Whippet that accumulates Fifty (50) National Points, and any female Whippet that accumulates Thirty (30) National Points, earns the title of Whippet Race Champion Excellent (WRChX). Whippets must complete the race meet in order to be eligible for WRChX points.

 

Reasoning for proposed additions:

WRA rules require that dogs finish the meet in order to earn points toward the lowest awards, the CR and CRX titles. Dogs earning higher titles should be held to the same standard.

 

Proposal 7 - Require dogs to complete meet to earn WRCH & X pts. All clubs voted Against. This did not pass.

 


PROPOSAL #8

 

 

Change in Race Track Length for National Race Meet

 

Original Wording:

6.1 Race Track

All WRA meets should be run over a straight, flat, level surface.

(a) All puppy races will be 150 yards.

(b) Adult Whippets may race 4 programs at either 150 yards, 175 yards, or 200 yards. All

rules and points applicable to races at 200 yards will be applicable to races at

any distance run. The National Race Meet must be run at 200 yards, not at

any other distance.

An extra 30 to 50 yards should be allowed from the finish line to where the lure

stops, the over-run. The width of the track should be not less than 20 feet in width,

preferable 20 feet wide at the box area, increasing to 30 feet at the finish line and

after.

 

Proposed Wording: Insert the words in red and delete strikeout text, as

below:

All WRA meets should be run over a straight, flat, level surface.

(a) All puppy races will be 150 yards.

(b) Adult Whippets may race 4 programs at either 150 yards, 175 yards, or 200 yards. All

rules and points applicable to races at 200 yards will be applicable to races at

any other distance run.  The National Race Meet must be run at 200 yards, not at

any other distance.  The National Race Meet may be run at 175 or 200 yards.

An extra 30 to 50 yards should be allowed from the finish line to where the lure

stops, the over-run. The width of the track should be not less than 20 feet in width,

preferable 20 feet wide at the box area, increasing to 30 feet at the finish line and

after.

 

Proposal 8 - National Race Meet track length 175 or 200. 4 Clubs voted For, 8 Clubs voted Against. This did not pass.