In the 7th race June 1st at Thistledown, Reno Star “returned bleeding from the nostrils.” At that same track three weeks later, the Joshua Faulkner-trained mare once again “returned bleeding from the nostrils.” She has not been heard from since.
In the 7th race June 6th at Indiana Grand, Power Boots “stumbled badly” and was pulled up. At that same track three weeks later, the Larry Demeritte-trained colt finished last of six, 27 lengths back. He has not been heard from since.
In the 4th race June 7th at Penn, Devil’s Mistress “bled” and was pulled up. Four starts later at that same track, the Bruce Kravets-trained filly once again bled. She has not been heard from in almost four months.
In the 4th race June 12th at Churchill, Costly “bled and was vanned off.” Barely a month later at Mountaineer, the Kevin Fletcher-trained mare was once again a “bled/vanned-off.” She has not been heard from since.
In the 6th race June 14th at Indiana Grand, Mabee a Rose “stopped badly and was pulled up in mid stretch.” Since, she has been put to the whip six times: last, 27+ lengths back; last, 17+ lengths back; last, 11+ lengths back; (8 days later) 8th of 10, 31+ lengths back; 10th of 12, 21 lengths back; last, 24 lengths back. She has not been heard from since October. The “stopped badly” in June and ensuing four races came under Larry Dunn. The last two, Larry Dragoo.
In the 3rd race June 20th at Belterra (and two weeks after finishing last in a Thistledown race), Justlikehermother “bore out badly [and] was vanned off.” In the two races that followed, the Daniel Thompson-trained mare finished last (14+ back) and second-to-last (37+ back). She has not been heard from since September.
In the 2nd race June 20th at Fair Meadows, Acting Special was “pulled up in apparent distress after a quarter mile.” Less than a month later at that same track, trainer John Garvin threw his filly into another maiden claiming race – last of 6, 36 lengths back, “never close.” She has not been heard from since.
Why isn’t something being done to help these lovely creatures, and hold the owners, trainers accountable for their actions. They shouldn’t be allowed to treat these animals like garbage.
These seven horses disappear with no one accountable. Yet a new law was passed by Congress recently for taxation benefits for the owners of racehorses. The Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014. See link below from thehorse.com.
“The renewal of three-year tax depreciation for racehorses indicates that lawmakers understand the contributions our industry makes to job creation and the country’s overall economic health,” said Alex Waldrop, NTRA president and CEO.
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/35054/racehorse-tax-break-passes-congress?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=farm-barn&utm_campaign=01-11-2015
But there’s an Act that is missing and that is The Prevention of Cruelty to Racehorses Act. Would such an Act be considered, drafted and passed? Probably not because then the lawmakers would have to acknowledge the contributions these enslaved noble horses make. Each racehorse is just a commodity. Yes it’s always about the “economy” with the health and welfare of these defenceless animals totally ignored.