The following, unless otherwise noted, were “vanned off” American tracks last week.
Thursday:
Hey Paulie, Charles Town, race 7 (“broke down”)
Music Appeal, Golden Gate, race 6
Linguini, Hawthorne, race 1 (“fell”)
Sharp Trip, Hawthorne, race 3
Iron Stone Ridge, Penn National, race 7
Angel Above, Sunland, race 9 (“pulled up in distress”)
Pb Sandario Babe, Turf, race 1
Friday:
Cupid’s Messenger, Calder, race 7 (not vanned but “returned bleeding from the nostrils”)
Poster Girl, Tampa Bay, race 9 (“hit rail”)
Saturday:
Mia Missile, Aqueduct, race 4 (“fell heavily”)
Smoking G, Golden Gate, race 9 (not vanned but bled)
Cartel Tease, Hialeah, race 1 (not vanned but bled)
Sisters Girl, Hialeah, race 2 (not vanned but bled)
I’m Done, Laurel, race 3 (“fell”)
Mad Loot, Los Alamitos, race 2 (not reported as vanned but “collapsed after finish”)
Public Defender, Santa Anita, race 7
Truest Legend, Santa Anita, race 8
Streakish, Sunland, race 3
No Secret Bank, Turf, race 1
Haros Jackpot, Turf, race 8
Thabit, Turfway, race 3 (not reported as vanned but “lame”)
Sunday:
Horse Latitudes, Calder, race 8
Assume Nothing, Mountaineer, race 7
Little Miss, Parx, race 8
Kiss Me G Bye, Portland, race 3
Christians Special, Sunland, race 3 (not vanned but “pulled up in distress”)
My Clever Greely, Turfway, race 9
I just have to say, and this is complete honesty…I TRULY didn’t realize the EXTENT of the harm caused to the racehorses until Patrick’s blog. Yes, I was aware this industry was brutal, but I didn’t know the sheer numbers of horses suffering. That was naive of me. It is just so difficult and disheartening to even try to comprehend.
To all of the horses listed above…those that were “pulled up in distress” or “vanned off” or who “broke down”, I am just so damned sorry for each and every one of you. I DO care. I AM trying.
Amen, Joy. Yes, we are trying and, thanks to Patrick’s blog, at least the horses have a voice. The numbers are indeed staggering but they don’t include the horses that are damaged beyond repair once they make it back to the barn. I find it difficult to believe that those who engage in this so called “sport” are in it for the horses. One would think those individuals would be horrified by what occurs at every track in this country but, unfortunately, that is not the case.
I feel for the thoroughbreds! I love them! but it is a stressful job for them. I do wish trainers/owners would be more careful and safer.
Laura, it is not a “job for them.” They are mere pieces of property, bought and sold multiple times over the course of their supposed “careers.” They are, in fact, animal slaves, forced to race, most destined to die horrible deaths. And all, for $2 bets. Horseracing is morally indefensible.
This is mind blowing. I had no idea how pervasive this terrible occurrence is. I am going to spread the word.
Thank you Marleen Bradford! Please do spread the word! Sometimes I feel so defeated, and then I see the power of speaking up and being the voice of exploited animals…there IS power in numbers!