“Brutal use of the whip resulting in welts.”

Last week, according to the stewards at Delaware, both 5-year-old Salagadoola and 4-year-old Thendara’s Lost were scratched for being “lame in the post parade.” That’s lame before the race, meaning – well, you know what that means. Also, the “claim” (sale) of Steele Money was voided because the 4-year-old came back “unsound.”

At Saratoga Saturday, Slang “was pulled up then transported off via ambulance.” But here’s the thing, in her most previous race on Jul 11 (also at Saratoga), Slang, you guessed it, “was transported off by ambulance.” That’s consecutive races where she could not walk off the track under her own power. And get this, Slang is but two years old, and these were just her third and fourth races. The man most responsible: trainer Norm Casse.

Also, this ruling just came down in Maine on trainer Zach Vickerson for “conduct detrimental to the best interest of horse racing”: “The Commission found that Mr. Vickerson was in violation of not being truthful in statements made to a department representative and failed to report the death of his horse, Crush Me, on Dec 10 [2023].” Fined $500, suspended 10 days.

Finally, among the many whipping violations in harness world last week, these:

Lexington, Aug 13: “Ronnie Gillespie is hereby assessed a civil penalty of $500 and suspended three days for brutal use of the whip resulting in welts.”

Hoosier, Aug 20: “While driving No. 2 Tantrum Blue Chip, Brad Ferguson violated the whipping rule by whipping behind the gate before the start and again in the stretch. Mr. Ferguson is fined $300.”

Hoosier, Aug 22: “While driving No. 1 Modern Q, Marvin Luna was found to have welted the horse.” Fined $500, suspended three days.

Plainridge, Aug 26: “While driving No. 4 Winwithawhisper, Mitchell Cushing was observed using his whip after the finish line. Mr. Cushing is hereby fined $100.”