Dubai World Cup-winning trainer Michael Stidham has condemned the actions of one of his staff after he was caught slapping her around the head as she was being saddled for a race.
US-based Stidham released an apology on social media after footage of the incident at Turfway Park in Kentucky was posted on Twitter.
The three-year-old filly Chippewa was being attended in the saddling box before a race on Thursday, in which she finished ninth of the 12 runners, when Stidham’s assistant is seen striking her on the neck with an open hand. She finished ninth of the 12 runners.