Anyone who witnessed the loading of Quality Road into the starting gate for the Breeder's Cup Classic, knows that the horse did not want to go in. He kicked. He bucked. He put up quite a fight and in the end, he was scratched because of lacerations and bruises suffered during the loading process.
There is much discussion about whether or not a helicopter hovering overhead freaked him out or whether it was the presence of so many other horses in the gate. Personally, I think it was the blindfold that did him in but I am not sure what other options the starters had to try and load the horse.
Usually a blindfold calms a horse. If you remember the photo of Barbaro "flying" over the recovery pool at New Bolton Center, you know he wore a blindfold to keep him from thrashing. The theory is that a horse that is just coming out of anesthesia will remain calmer if he doesn't actually "see" himself suspended in mid-air. Likewise, a horse being cajoled into a space which he finds threatening, will not mind going in if he does not actually "see" where he is going.
The problem was that for Quality Road, NOT being able to see freaked him out more than seeing the narrow opening of the starting gate. He totally lost control when he was not in control and the assistant starters are very lucky that they were able to hang on to him. If he had broken free he would have tried to flee and most likely done serious damage to himself in the process.
As it stands, Quality Road is now a seriously traumatized horse. He would not load onto the plane to bring him back to Belmont Park so he is being vanned home with a 48 hour layover at Churchill Downs. The plan is to work with him slowly and individually, schooling him in the gate, so that he can continue his racing career.
According to Chris Baker, farm manager for owner Edward P. Evans, Quality Road is "like a puppy dog in the barn." During his gate schooling in the mornings, "he is an angel. You can't get him to do anything wrong."
We may never know what sent this large, typically high strung thoroughbred over the edge while loading for the biggest race of his career, but it is certain that it will take a lot of time to undo what was done. Patience, consistency, gently handling and positive reinforcement will all be needed to convince Quality Road that it is OK to trust humans all over again.
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I realize that this response is late but I just read this blog for the first time today. You are wrong about Quality Road - he did not want to be hit with the whip, THAT was his undoing. He was hit before and after he was blindfolded. The helicopter certainly was a factor. Being pushed by the gate crew and then blindfolded when he was already upset were factors. His issue had nothing to do with his desire to race as evidenced by his subsequent performances. The horse's issue is not with the gate but with the gate crew.
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