Brutal fight with WHIPS leads to 60-day ban as tempers boil over after race

A fierce whip fight has been captured on video after tempers boiled over in the aftermath of a race. The incident took place on the backstretch during a harness racing meeting, similar to trotting, at Shenandoah Downs in Virginia, USA.

Trouble broke out after the completion of the seventh race between drivers Cole Olsen and Corey Braden. Olsen had finished third with Twin B Loudacris and Braden last of the six-strong field with Astarwasborn. In the shocking video the two drivers are seen squaring up to each other as they return with their sulkys.

Olsen confronts Braden and after being pushed away, he aims two sharp strikes of his whip across Braden’s face. Braden follows after Olsen when the two become engaged in a brawl. They wrestle their way to the ground and continue tangling before onlookers intervene to pull the two apart.

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The local stewards were alerted and handed Olsen a 60-day ban. The ruling said: "Driver Cole Olsen engaged in a physical altercation with another driver coming off the Shenandoah Downs racetrack after the conclusion of the 7th race on April 27th, 2025.

"His actions are detrimental to the best interests of harness racing. As a result, Olsen is issued a 60-day full suspension from April 28th, 2025 through June 26th, 2025.

"During this suspension, he and all horses trained and/or owned by him are barred from the grounds under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Racing Commission. Aggravating factors were considered in the determination of this penalty."

The incident was discussed on the forum horseplop.com with one user alleging there was more behind the exchange.

“Corey Braden put his hands NOT ONCE but MULTIPLE times before Cole Olsen ever touched him. FACT. Cole Olsen continued to walk away from him after he put his hands on him the FIRST time, ALSO FACT.”

The user claimed the bad blood stemmed from a driving manoeuvre carried out by Braden during the race which Olsen objected to.