George Nap Fined For Use of Whip In Winners Circle ?

[makingit]

Saw in the fines and suspension bulletin today that Nap used his whip in the winners circle. How does one do that?

[Arrive at Five]

I saw it happen live. After he unhooked the left side of the sulky which he rarely does, the horse kicked back at him and he smacked him in the ass with his whip. Trainer Sean Bier was standing right there when it happened, but they're buddy buddy.

[bello]

Not exactly the same but Paco Lopez got 18 months for whipping an unruly thoroughbred he was on after a race. What a difference in punishments. Harness racing needs HISA to survive.

[makingit]

Thanks gh2009

[Arrive at Five]

Not exactly the same but Paco Lopez got 18 months for whipping an unruly thoroughbred he was on after a race. What a difference in punishments. Harness racing needs HISA to survive.

Paco already had 10 previous whipping violations in the past which definitely factored into their decision.

[2beblunt]

All it was is a tap of the whip cmon

[bello]

All it was is a tap of the whip cmon

I didnt see it. If so I should not have jumped in!

[Arrive at Five]

All it was is a tap of the whip cmon

I agree, it wasn't a vicious slash, more letting the horse know he didn't like being kicked at. Horses have big asses, so it barely even feels the whip. Surprised the blind judges even saw it happen unless someone tipped them off.

[Harness racer]

I agree, it wasn't a vicious slash, more letting the horse know he didn't like being kicked at. Horses have big asses, so it barely even feels the whip. Surprised the blind judges even saw it happen unless someone tipped them off.

Someone surely told.  They don’t pay attention to that stuff.  Bier wouldn’t say a word no matter how hard he hit the horse.  Too scared he’d cut them off!   

[2beblunt]

Its also Georgie Nap not a Dover inbred

[Kirby's Ace]

Someone surely told.  They don’t pay attention to that stuff.  Bier wouldn’t say a word no matter how hard he hit the horse.  Too scared he’d cut them off!   

Bier couldn't train a horse to shit until Nap came along!

[Locked in with pace]

Just watched the replay. Horses get hit 10 times harder down the lane. A horse that kicks can be a serious problem. More of a teaching lesson tap for the horse.

[Yonkers1A]

I agree, it wasn't a vicious slash, more letting the horse know he didn't like being kicked at. Horses have big asses, so it barely even feels the whip. Surprised the blind judges even saw it happen unless someone tipped them off.

Horses definitely feel it, they may have big asses, however they can feel a fly land on them, let alone a whip.

[hoosierboy]

Just watched the replay. Horses get hit 10 times harder down the lane. A horse that kicks can be a serious problem. More of a teaching lesson tap for the horse.

Agree

[Grandstand Handicapper]

Apples and bowling balls. What Lopez did was abusive and punitive. What George did was disincentive. If it hadn't happened front and center there would be no fine. This sport and industry has more than enough substantial issues and problems to deal with. Optics can be important. Relative though. However, we shouldn't be concerned about the ones that overblown due to cosmetics and overreaction.