3/5 at Tampa, Race 3

[fantini33]

Please tell me i didn't just see this happen. The 3 year old filly in the 5 post was delaying the start of the race. Not being unruly, just stubborn. Gate crew couldn't get her to move forward. Then....some asshat in a dress shirt, with his left arm in a cast, takes the long whip from one of the guys and proceeds to blast her 4 times with it. Not the flick of the wrist, I'm talking full Nolan Ryan windup. The camera guy must have been in shock because he stayed right on it throughout. Until it was to late anyway..they switched to a front gate view and you can see her slowly stepping forward. With God as my witness, his swings looked angry. Not the coercive type you sometimes see. The gates open and she runs about 100 yards before being eased.

Are you effing kidding me. I had no action on the race, so that's not it. I am rarely stunned by the things I see and generally think people overreact. But this I found appalling.

Please tell me I'm not crazy. Did anyone else see this?