7-year-old career claimer Back Talking broke down in last night’s 5th race at Mountaineer and can be presumed dead. Prior to his fatal fall, Back Talking “lacked speed and traveled mid track throughout.” The complicit: jockey Brandon Whitacre and the gelding’s sole trainer/owner (and breeder), Elex Bowman.
Also, the NYS Gaming Commission has updated the death of Michonne. Originally reported as “non-racing,” the 3-year-old was actually killed prior to Friday’s 9th race when she “broke through gate and ran into rail, fracturing [her] leg.”
The pundits of racing hold summits to discuss safety and meanwhile the horses continue to suffer and die !! What a sham !! And at a safety summit, Mr. Todd Pletcher stated he did not believe Lasix was detrimental to the horse. Oh really, Mr. Pletcher, and how about the joint injections? And what was going on with Life At Ten ???
Racing is sick and can never be otherwise no matter how many summits and conferences are held.
Back Talking and Michonne, I’m so sorry your short stress filled lives ended this way.
I agree with Rose – all these conferences and summits year after year and they just talk, talk, talk but don’t do the walk. Deeds not words.
Well said, Rose
Amen! I think there is one reason, and one reason only, that the racing industry continues to have conferences and summits and that is to try to convince ALL of us that they truly do care about the horses on whose backs they make a living. It is their way of “deflecting” away from the atrocities that occur. It is the proverbial “we are working on it” yet horses continue to break down and die in the dirt, continue to be maimed, continue to be loaded with drugs and on and on and on. There is an old saying that “actions speak louder than words” yet racing just doesn’t seem to understand that or perhaps they do and have chosen to ignore those words. In any case, i do know what will drive home the message…falling revenues. Yes, it really is all about the money!