In response to an interview I did earlier this month, NYRA spokesperson Patrick McKenna said the following: “[T]he opponents of horseracing who seek to end the sport in New York are certainly entitled to their opinion, but they’re not entitled to their own set of facts. The fact is that thoroughbred racing in New York State…is safer today than at any point in recent history.”

Yesterday, Ms. Kavanaugh, a 3-year-old filly being prepped for her first race, was killed at Belmont: “horse sustained an injury while galloping – euthanized on track.” For NYRA, she is the 53rd “athlete” killed at its three “stadiums” – just this year. (Since 2009, the death toll is over 1,000.) Is this how we’re to define “safer today than at any point in recent history”? Is this how we’re to mark progress? For shame, Mr. McKenna. For shame, NY horseracing. For shame, all who continue to support this vile industry.

The NYS Gaming Commission reports that No Code “collapsed and died after breezing” at Belmont Saturday. The Todd Pletcher horse was but three years old, an adolescent – “collapsed and died.” He is the 52nd kill at a New York Racing Association (NYRA) track this year; meanwhile, NYRA continues to boast of its “industry standard when it comes to safety and integrity.” You can’t make this stuff up.

The 9th at Parx yesterday: “Right in Tune flashed speed, suffered a catastrophic injury midway on the turn and was subsequently euthanized.” This was the 3-year-old’s second race; in his first, Aug 22, he was a “stopped abruptly, DNF.”

Then, in the 7th at Penn, there was the following. (For some reason, the track decided to show the fall over and over and over again. The second clip reflects that.)

There is no definitive word yet on the fallen, Little Ms Scarlet.