The NSW Trainers Association (NSWTA) has thrown its support behind the jockeys' bid to have the controversial whip rules amended.Jockeys around the country walked off the job on Thursday after the Australian Racing Board (ARB) rejected their submission and have threatened to strike next week.NSWTA chairman Anthony Cummings said owners, trainers and punters were being penalised along with jockeys who want the rule changed to allow them to use their discretion with the whip over the last 100 metre

The NSW Trainers Association (NSWTA) has thrown its support behind the jockeys' bid to have the controversial whip rules amended.

Jockeys around the country walked off the job on Thursday after the Australian Racing Board (ARB) rejected their submission and have threatened to strike next week.

NSWTA chairman Anthony Cummings said owners, trainers and punters were being penalised along with jockeys who want the rule changed to allow them to use their discretion with the whip over the last 100 metres of races.

"Since the new whip rules were introduced on August 1 it has become obvious that owners, trainers, jockeys and punters are being penalised because their application may have influenced the outcome of some races," Cummings said.

"Where the new whip rules have been breached the result of the race has not been changed, the guilty jockey has been fined or suspended, but the owner, trainer, and jockey of a beaten horse on which the whip rules were not contravened, as well as punters who backed that horse, have no redress.

"This situation is also disadvantageous to the breeders of racehorses.

"The AJA's request that jockeys be allowed to use the new padded whip at their discretion in the last 100 metres of a race should resolve this problem in the best interests of all parties.

"We believe that this use of the whip in the last 100 metres should only be allowed on horses that are holding or improving their position, and are in contention to win or be placed in a race.

"The NSWTA opposes excessive use of the whip in any circumstances and agrees that the stewards must continue to take action against jockeys who use the whip excessively.

"So we urge the ARB to again review the new whip rules as a matter of urgency".

Australian Jockeys' Association representative Des O'Keeffe said he was hopeful talks with the ARB on Monday could herald a change and avoid industrial action.

"We're looking forward to that and we'll see what unfolds but we need a process of engagement, we need it to be meaningful, we need it to be respectful from both sides and we need it to go somewhere," O'Keeffe told TVN.

"We have made some progress in the fact the ARB are now happy to talk to us."