Two horses are dead from colic-related complications: 3-year-old Keen Katana on Sunday (at Belmont) and 6-year-old Fast Bullet just this morning. The industry and its apologists are quick to dismiss fatalities like these as simple misfortunes, something that can and does happen in myriad horse settings the world over. But we’re not fooled – Racing’s handprints are all over these young corpses.
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Fast Bullet was already at stud for a year – he wasn’t racing when he died
I didn’t read where Patrick stated he “was racing” when he died.
Yes, already at stud, so what – Ontario stallions Wando at 14, along with Saffir at 12,
both died from apparent heart attacks not long ago. Some of their runners (and non-runners) didn’t end up in good places at all…… racing handprints
Well this is Horse RACING Wrongs so I just assumed that he though he died from racing – when in fact, he died at the farm where he was standing stud yet it is claimed that “racing’s hand-prints are all over these young corpses”
Agreed. I don’t see where Patrick put up a big stink about Dullahan dying of colic either. Colic happens to any and all horses. This isn’t just horse racing.
Oh my goodness…you assumed….
So once again, some explanation is needed for something that is really quite elementary to those who have a handle on the racing industry. That’s right, Britto…Horseracing Wrongs…you’ve got that part. But it appears you don’t realize the horseracing industry is comprised of much more than just the RACING element. This gambling industry – the Thoroughbred racing industry – also includes the breeding aspect…hence, “racing’s handprints”. Simple.
What a horrific life this young horse endured…to be trained by Baffert and Lukas, then to make it out of racing alive only to live the lonely and unnatural life of a breeding stallion. WinStar president Walden even states Fast Bullet suffered “ups and downs” during treatment for his colic…so his agony was not a short-lived occurrence. Absolutely tragic.
Sarcasm Joy, sarcasm…
Colic is the number one cause of death in the entire horse population. Has nothing to do with horse racings wrongs. In fact horses that race have a lower % of colic deaths then the general population due to superior feed and better day to day care. That’s a fact research it.
Show us the studies, Mr. Juffet. When I was still on CANTER-MI’s executive board (for nearly ten years) and sat alongside John Stick, DVM and Chief of Staff, MSU Large Animal Teaching Hospital, the subject of colic and racehorses came up often due to the large numbers of cases. Standing in stalls 23 hours/day (ie, inactivity), eating out of hay bags at the the level of their heads (not down, as in grazing – there is increased salivation when in the grazing position), dehydration due to regular Lasix administration and with-holding of water prior to racing in addition to poor appetite (and therefore poor water intake) post-race, and one of the major risk factors in the causation of colic…ulcers…and it is well documented that approx 90%-95% of all racehorses suffer from gastric ulcers. So NO, the equine general population does not see an increased incidence of colic compared to racehorses…it is just the opposite.
Oh my…just took notice of the several last words you penned, Mr. Juffet…”better day to day care”…on what planet are you observing daily racehorse care? I witnessed horses standing in filthy stalls until nearly noon for their first meal of the day…year after year after year. And the majority of tracks are just exactly like the one I spent (too much) time at.
Colic can be caused by the weather changes and the way the weather has been up and down lately, it wouldn’t be surprising if that was the cause.
And the ups and downs means he was doing fine and then went downhill again. As is expected of Colic
Britt05 – CLEARLY Fast Bullet had racing’s hand prints all over him! He came from the racing industry to a farm where he was used to for breeding, aka monetary gain! Just look at how many stallions WinStar has – do you think they care about the well being of one horse? Merely a drop in the bucket for them! I saw a post by Mary on here once – when you mix money and animals the animals always lose – couldn’t agree with that statement more after seeing this!
Colic can be caused by many things, including change in diet, change in the weather, dehydration,eating a bad weed or plant, stress, among others. In all honesty there are hundreds of reasons a horse of any breed can colic. Horses in general are a very sensitive animal and it does not take a lot for them to become ill or injured. Although some are definitely more sensitive than others. Colic like symptoms are also common in other intestinal illnesses, infections, and viruses. All the medications racehorses are given also take a toll and weaken their immune systems.