Another Dead Horse and Busy Whips
The CHRB has confirmed the death of Sunny One at Golden Gate. Apparently, the 5-year-old was found dead in his stall on November 29th, just two days after finishing 2nd in a GG race. His trainer was Alex Sywak, his…
2014
Read MoreAnother Dead Horse and Busy Whips
Abused, MIA
A pair of abused animals who have gone missing: 4-year-old Strong Alex Cat: May 3, Golden Gate, last, 26 lengths back May 23, Golden Gate, “pulled up lame,” vanned off Jul 3, Oak Tree, last, 22+ lengths back Hasn’t been…
Jacaranda Cat, 3, Dead at Turf
3-year-old Jacaranda Cat is dead after breaking down yesterday at Turf (5th). Before losing her short, miserable life, Jacaranda Cat was sold – again – for a lousy $4,000. Trainer of record, Chad Story; seller, Joseph Brucato; buyer, Michael Barro.
Warrior’s Hero Shatters Knee at Aqueduct – Dead
As oft repeated here, it is a bad sign when a horse cannot leave the track under his own power. In fact, through conversations with industry experts and my own research, I have concluded that most (easily) of the “vanned…
Quick Money, Half Nelson Killed in Same Aqueduct Race
Two horses were killed in the same Aqueduct race (8th) yesterday afternoon: 7-year-old Quick Money, being raced for the 54th time, “clipped heels and fell heavily to the track and was immediately struck by two foes behind…tragically succumbed to neck…
Hurta Dead at Hawthorne
In the 9th at Hawthorne last night, 11-year-old (almost 12) Hurta broke down and was euthanized. If not for a pair of fallen jockeys who were transported to the hospital (which usually garners some media attention), Hurta’s final fate would…
Four Killed on American Tracks Yesterday
The following athletes were killed on American playing fields yesterday: In Aqueduct’s 5th, 4-year-old Princes On Thelake “came under urging at the five-sixteenths, broke down nearing the quarter pole falling heavily to the track and was euthanized.” This was the…
Keen Katana, Fast Bullet Dead
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…
Wild Perfection Found Dead in His Finger Lakes Stall
From May through October, 4-year-old Wild Perfection was a full and active cog in the Finger Lakes claiming machine. But then, nothing, a 5-week silence that given the who (cheap horse, bottom-feeder connections), what (running in races that pay first…
A Tale of Two Horses
Saturday night at Penn National, 7-year-old Strapping Groom (below) was reported as “broke down after the wire” and vanned off. Initially, there were conflicting reports on his status, but because this was a successful horse (multiple GS winner) breaking in…
37 Horses on Last Week’s Casualty List
Last week’s U.S. horseracing casualties. “Broke Down” – racing-speak for dead: Pull in Time, Nov 25, Turf 8 Strapping Groom, Nov 29, Penn 4 (DRF reports still alive) “Vanned Off” – horses who required an ambulance (in crudest sense of…
The Abuse of Beeline Express
This past Friday at Gulfstream West, a 3-year-old named Beeline Express was raced for the fourth time this month. Worse, this horse has been put to the whip 12 times in the last 15 weeks. In defense, the apologists will…