According to the chart, Conversational was a “went wrong, vanned off” in the 1st at Churchill this afternoon. This, as regular readers know, is KentuckyRacing-speak for dead. And she is, as confirmed by multiple sources. She was but two years old.
Part of California’s “Safer Racing”: “Locked up during race, fell, unable to rise – catastrophic lumbar fracture, significant spinal cord compression.”
Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on some of that state’s kills this year.
Hygh I. Q., Jan 5, Golden Gate S
“Post-surgical sudden death – cause not identified.” Also: “severe gastric ulcerations in the stomach.” Hygh I. Q. was three years old.
Better Tomorrow, Jan 7, Golden Gate R (euth Jan 15)
“Suffered multiple fractures at the wire. Conservative therapy was attempted with splint, NSAIDs, and stall rest. Today [Jan 15], a fragment of the bone pierced the skin and the fracture became open and euthanasia was elected.” Also: “[multiple] severe, complete ruptures; severe arthritis; extensive cartilage erosion; gastric ulcers.” The 3-year-old Better was made to suffer for eight additional days like this.
Big Fabuloso, Jan 8, Los Alamitos R
“Locked up during race, fell, unable to rise. Catastrophic lumbar fracture: complete, displaced fractures of [multiple] vertebrae; massive subdural hemorrhage and significant spinal cord compression – multiple variably-shaped fragments within spinal canal.” Big Fabuloso was three years old.
Hi Fidelity, Jan 14, Cal Expo S
“Collapsed in barn, nystagmus, seizures, head trauma; hemorrhages in head, stomach, intestines.” Hi Fidelity was 14 years old.
Mugaritz, Jan 16, Golden Gate R
“Catastrophic fetlock breakdown: multiple comminuted fractures; [multiple] severe, complete ruptures.” Also: “severe osteochondral disease.” Mugaritz was six years old.
Is This Entertainment, America?
The following video shows three horses going down at three tracks yesterday: Romped at Belterra (another horse, Majestic Valley, collided with Romped and lost the jockey); Above the Line at Penn; Gattosing at Charles Town. All three were “vanned off.” I will of course follow up with the relevant racing commissions.
Fox Rox, Samurai Zip, Again
The unconscionable abuse continues for a pair of long-suffering horses. In the same race Wednesday at Presque Isle, Samurai Zip, 12, went under the whip for the 77th time, and Fox Rox, 11, went under for the 120th time. 120. PA’s “Equine Safety and Welfare Action Plan” exposed as the obscenity that it is, again.
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