[NoLuvForPletch]

Originally Posted by prudery

I do not know what part of the race you are speaking of, but the " telltale " blow was delivered just before the wire, just ONCE ...

When the mare's head jerked away, he did not hit her again ...

Otherwise I am in agreement with Blackthroatedwind, and I might add that whatever happened some punishment is in order, but the owner/trainer are not without responsibility here ...

If Jeremy Rose has had a reputation for excessive whipping and temper tantrums before, they knew ... And they chose to ride him ...

They never said this was his first ride for them, and as Rose and the connections work the same circuit, they were aware, at the very least, that he was a power rider and a whipper, as suggested ...

If the mare was a sensitive type, Rose did not fit her ... A rider of finesse rather than force would have been better ...

But if riding Rose gave them a winning advantage, the heavy whipping was part of the package .... And they chose to ride him ... --Knowing the mare would be whupped good, at the very least ...

Of course, there is a difference between knowing a rider is Mr. Whippy, and having the rider cross that line --accident or not ...

And as usual the only party here truly innocent and victimized is, of course, the horse...

Ummmm...does your screen go dark after he cracks her across the face? He almost immediately hits her twice more on the shoulder after the initial blow.