The following horses were casualties on American tracks last week. This list, however, includes only raceday victims, for while I’d prefer a more complete reckoning, the training carnage, with but two exceptions (NY, Cal), is almost entirely covered up.
Reported as died, euthanized, or “broke down” – racing-speak for dead:
Boy’s Brother Bob, Mahoning
Volage, Turf
One Step Higher, Delta
Go See Too, Sunland
Reported as “vanned off” – left via ambulance, a better-than-even chance of dead:
Solomon’s Sun, Fair Grounds
Paches Dark Runner, Sunland
Short Ride, Turf
Visionary Leader, Turf
Dark and Deep, Turf
Pinpoint Pal, Tampa Bay
Castle Black, Tampa Bay
Red Vixen, Charles Town
Miss Ellany, Santa Anita
Indian Scribbles, Golden Gate
Trusted Choice, Laurel
Think Again, Los Alamitos
Amber Phantom, Tampa Bay
Eight Stitches, Turf
Argentine Tango, Charles Town
Bah Zinga, Hialeah
Showing Pride, Los Alamitos
She Be Bunny, Penn
Warrens Venedalucy, Sunland
Highly Rated, Golden Gate
Ratso Rizzo, Gulfstream
Real Enuff, Sunland
Brooks Gift, Tampa Bay
Fancita Mae, Turfway
Other:
You Take the Cake, Aqueduct, “fell heavily after the finish” (later confirmed dead)
Grand Amor Diamond, Charles Town, fell, DNF
Jazz Track, Charles Town, fell, DNF
Kate Royale, Sam Houston, “stumbled badly,” DNF
Pick a Puck, Delta, “returned bleeding”
Battleship Gray, Laurel, “stumbl[ed] badly,” DNF
A horse is such a beautiful animal. Horseracing is such an ugly industry. Complete opposites bound together….it shouldn’t be.
Joy, couldn’t agree with you more…..I’d like to take the whip to some of the jockeys, trainers, and owners instead of them being used on the horses.