The California Horse Racing Board has confirmed that 5-year-old Highly Rated – who was originally reported as “went wrong, pulled up, vanned off” at Golden Gate on January 18th (7th race) – was in fact euthanized for “multiple open fractures” in her right foreleg. In just her last year alone, Highly Rated was bought and sold five times, enduring six – yes, six – different trainers: Jerry Hollendorfer, Michael Machowsky, John Martin, Vann Belvoir, William Morey, and, finally, Gary Greiner.
Also at Golden Gate, 17 days after a December 30th training incident in which she “went over the rail” and sustained “severe lacerations” to her shoulder and chest, 3-year-old Under Study Career was “found dead in [her] stall.” This is horseracing.
Highly Rated and Under Study Career deserved so much more than the life they were living.
“In just her last year alone, Highly Rated was bought and sold five times, enduring six – yes, six – different trainers: Jerry Hollendorfer, Michael Machowsky, John Martin, Vann Belvoir, William Morey, and, finally, Gary Greiner.”
This makes me throw up.