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Video of Happy Happy B dying at Belmont yesterday. At the end, in addition to seeing the heartless winners basking in their moment, you’ll hear the track announcer (John Imbriale I believe) utter this vile line: “The #5 Happy Happy B is a ‘did not finish’ result because he did not cross the finish line with the rider in tow.” Actually, you dolt, he was a DNF because he was in the throes of dying.

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Last week on U.S. flat tracks (racing only):

American Quality “fell late” at Parx
Regal Run “vanned off” at Parx
Silver Dagger “vanned off” at Parx
Say It Ain’t Soni “vanned off” at Remington
Tap a Miracle “vanned off” at Arapahoe
Cryptoblue “fell over [dying horse]” at Charles Town
Blueridge Mountain “vanned off” at Churchill
Miranda Sofia “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Commander Grace “pulled up, refused to load on two different vans” at Gulfstream
Juan Boly “vanned off” at Monmouth
Notorious Flirt “pulled up bleeding from the nostrils, vanned off” at Belmont
Chance It “vanned off” at Belmont
Unique Unions “vanned off” at Belmont
Miss Teheran “bled, vanned off” at Belmont
Union Boy “bled” at Golden Gate
Fun At the Fort “hit a fallen rival, DNF” at Monmouth
Wall Streete “hit rail, vanned off” at Pocatello
Tf Bad Mamma Jamma “hit rail, DNF” at Will Rogers
Clear Steps “vanned off” at Churchill
Backstage Bud “hit the rail, DNF” at Remington
Texas Bluebonnet “vanned off” at Remington

While not all the “vanned” end up dead, most do, as borne out by our year-end FOIA reports. But even if death is not the ultimate result, the above are victims nonetheless, suffering painful injuries – in the case of the bleeders, pulmonary hemorrhage – so that some men may gamble, others chase pots of gold. (For any new confirmed deaths during the week, please see our running annual list.)

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The 4th at Belmont just a little while ago: “Happy Happy B was closing in belatedly when suffering an injury seventy yards from home to the right front, fell heavily in the shadow of the wire…and was euthanized on [the] track.” The 2-year-old Happy is the 83rd horse killed at a NYS track this year – all subsidized by taxpayers.

Governor Hochul: phone/contact; twitter
Senate Leaders
Assembly Leaders

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The 4th at Charles Town last night: “Cryptoblue fell over Ask Me How Iknow nearing the five sixteenths pole…the latter suffered a fatal injury and had to be euthanized on the track.” (I will update on Crypto as information comes in.)

Before taking a look, consider this: If there were another sport – a real sport – in which athletes were dying regularly (my work indicates almost six horses are killed racing or training across America every day), how do you suppose that sport would handle those deaths? Do you think that after the body was removed, the day’s action would continue? Worse, can you imagine a celebration for the winner while his dying compatriot lay prostrate on the field? It is sick beyond words.