Quality Road throws tantrum at the starting gate.

I knew that there had been some trouble before yesterday's Breeders Cup but I didn't find video of it until today. Zenyatta was sticky going into the starting gate but Quality Road threw a full blown tantrum.

He bucked, reared, and kicked out at the handlers. They eventually blindfolded him to get him to load, but even then he continued to kick out and soon crashed through the front of the gate. Quality Road was scratched when they realized that he had a scrape on one leg.

Given all the pre-race activity it's amazing that the race went off so successfully!

This video has given me some real insight into how dangerous it can be working the starting gate at the track. And this was the Breeders Cup. You'd think that these horses would be better behaved.