Through a “Public Information Act” request, I have confirmed the following 38 kills on Maryland tracks in 2014. (Note: The Commission documents did not include any of what the industry refers to as “non-racing” deaths – colic, “barn accidents,” etc. Surely, though, there were several of those, too.)
4-year-old Trick the Queen, January 18, Laurel 5
chart said “broke down”
2-year-old Love Is Enough, January 31, Laurel, training
3-year-old Victory Unveiled, February 1, Laurel, training
5-year-old One to a Royal, February 1, Laurel, training
2-year-old Salt Block, February 6, Laurel 4
chart said “broke down”
3-year-old Marie B, February 20, Laurel, training
5-year-old Giant Indian, February 26, Laurel 7
chart said “broke down”
4-year-old Tropical Treasure, March 5, Laurel, training
6-year-old Bravo Romeo, March 7, Laurel 2
chart said “pulled up lame, vanned off”
4-year-old Spookorific, March 9, Laurel, training
6-year-old Cooper River, March 14, Laurel 3 (euthanized March 29)
chart said “rank, lost rider, fell”
3-year-old Pure Afleet, March 19, Laurel 1 (euthanized March 24)
chart said “pulled up lame, vanned off”
4-year-old Diva On Demand, March 22, Laurel 4
chart said “broke down”
6-year-old No Shenanigans, April 4, Pimlico 5
chart said “broke down”
6-year-old Hudson Ridge, April 6, Pimlico 9
chart said “broke down”
6-year-old Mass Destruction, April 11, Pimlico 4
chart said “pulled up lame, vanned off”
2-year-old Think Money, April 29, Pimlico, training
6-year-old Mad Magic, May 9, Pimlico 1
chart said “broke down”
3-year-old Handsome Harley, May 16, Pimlico 6 (euthanized May 24)
chart said finished fine
4-year-old Der Boss, June 1, Pimlico 2
chart said “broke down”
3-year-old Jump Two, September 5, Laurel, training
5-year-old Boastful Dancer, September 11, Laurel 9
chart said “pulled up lame”
3-year-old Charliesirishpride, September 20, Laurel 2
chart said “collapsed in upper stretch”
4-year-old Tenleytown, October 2, Laurel 7
chart said “pulled up lame, vanned off”
3-year-old Angel of Mercy, October 11, Laurel 8
chart said “pulled up lame, vanned off”
5-year-old Cactus City Road, October 13, Laurel 2
chart said “broke down”
6-year-old Magnificent Moon, October 23, Laurel 4 (euthanized November 14)
chart said “returned lame, vanned off”
3-year-old Springs R Loaded, November 1, Laurel, training
Standardbred Donttellporkies N, November 4, Rosecroft
2-year-old Seeyouinthecountry, November 11, Laurel, training
4-year-old Midnight Music, November 14, Laurel 6
chart said “broke down”
2-year-old Tip It On Back, November 19, Laurel 4
chart said “broke down”
3-year-old Boca Babe, December 4, Laurel 2
chart said “broke down”
4-year-old Born to Sail, December 17, Laurel 3
chart said “pulled up lame, vanned off”
4-year-old Very Potent, December 20, Laurel, training
2-year-old Mo Bagels, December 26, Laurel 8
chart said “broke down”
6-year-old Silent Appeal, December 27, Laurel 4
chart said “pulled up, collapsed”
3-year-old Bonnet Carre, December 27, Laurel 9 (euthanized December 29)
chart said “pulled up lame, vanned off”
That we know of ! The business is an absolute disaster for the horse.
Last night in Australia there was a documentary on the whipping of racehorses on our ABC TV highly regarded CATALYST program. The evidence is indisputable – scientific evidence found, that despite the horse’s skin being covered with hair, it is more sensitive than humans’ skin. A highly qualified female veterinary scientist from the Department of Primary Industries has recently discovered it and this was revealed on the program. The conclusion is that the horses experience pain when whipped. Yes, we all knew that but proving it to the racing industry with indisputable scientific evidence has taken us years of hard work. Anecdotal evidence and photos of welt marks on racehorses was ignored, they wanted scientific evidence. I once wrote to the Australian Racing Board asking them if they had any scientific evidence. The response came via a tv interview when the then CEO was interviewed and he mentioned that they had some studies that said yes it does hurt the horse and some studies that said no it doesn’t hurt the horse. The RSPCA sent out a petition last night to ban whips in horseracing.
https://www.facebook.com/ABCCatalyst
I hope so much that you can watch this program – just click on the picture of the horses racing on the right and that will take you to the transcript, etc. Click on the footage box and the program will commence. If you are able to watch this link, please spread it around. Professor Paul McGreevy of Sydney University has been working tirelessly for these long suffering flogged horses.
Footnote: I just watched one of our popular tv breakfast shows and on the commentary panel was the daughter of a high profile racehorse trainer (she was filling in for one of the regulars).
I was interested if the Catalyst program last night would get a mention and it surely did! Lots of anti whipping comments by respected people. However, the trainer’s daughter when asked for her view said words along the lines “oh these horses are bred to race, they get the best food, much loved, etc. etc.” When it was put to her about the fact that horses’ skin is more sensitive than ours, she responded “Oh, they are enormous heavy animals”, avoided the question as to whether it hurt them and instead referred to one of the jockey’s comments on the program who said it doesn’t hurt the horse, stating he’s a great jockey, he knows what he’s talking about. Well no, he’s not a great jockey and is mean with the whip. Then came this – she said that there was something not right (fishy) about the independent scientific evidence! Just to let you know that the study done by Dr Glenys Noble, which contradicted Paul and his colleagues’ study, is financed by the racing industry and it was not peer reviewed. When I had a good read of the questionable racing industry’s study, amongst the people who contributed was a country circuit (similar to your claiming races) trainer who does not enjoy a good reputation when it comes to the treatment of the racehorses.
Some good news – I’ve already had a trainer phone me to say he’s had one owner after another ring him this morning very concerned after watching the Catalyst program. This is a good example of many owners watching horseracing with rose-coloured glasses oblivious to their horses being beaten with whips – many seem to be blind to it. And if the racing industry continues to authorize and condone the whipping of the horses, telling owners and the public that whipping doesn’t hurt the horse, then racing will sink like the Titanic.
Thank you, Carolyn.
https://www.facebook.com/ABCCatalyst
Ms Moss, in case you are reading this, could you please pass on the above link to the jockeys that ride your horses as well as your trainers. Others might also be interested such as your racing friends and the racing authorities.
Yes Patrick, highly likely more than several and conveniently not included. All these “broke downs” with no disclosure or transparency for the reasons for these breakdowns.
Can you show us the actual FOIA documents?
Also, NON racehorses pass awy from colic – ANY horse can be victim of that. Barn accidents DO happen in barns other than thoroughbred ones.
What, exactly, is your point?
It is a well known FACT that Colic is extremely common in racehorses. The confinement in boxes for about 23 hours a day contributes to horses coming down with colic. The stress that a racehorse experiences in its unnatural environment and the stress of the physical demands made of the racehorse also contribute to it coming down with colic. Colic is also often a direct result of diet and is often preventable. Surgery is usually not recommended because it is risky and mostly unsuccessful.
There is so much a vet can do for colic these days and there is no excuse for a horse to die from colic. So as soon as you see the symptoms that might be colic you call the vet in immediately because it is a most agonizing death for a horse. Racehorses are housed in a confined area so monitoring their health is easy, you’re under the same roof with them so there’s no excuse for not noticing that a horse is showing symptoms of colic. Failure to call a vet in in the early stages so the horse can be given the appropriate life-saving treatment, results in the horse suffering a slow excruciatingly painful death “found next morning dead in the stable”. Failure to call in a vet at all is unforgiveable.
Many a racehorse has died this way – alone with no one in attendance. When I have investigated the horse’s history, it is common to find that the horse has either not been performing well, is at the end of its career or is no longer a viable commodity.
NEHRO died of colic no doubt brought on by his life as a racehorse and the horrific mistreatment inflicted upon him. The PETA investigation revealed that –
The notorious Steve Blasi (assistant trainer to Asmussen) stated to doomed horse, NEHRO: “Quit being such an asshole. Aggravating son of a bitch.”
After NEHRO died of colic: Steve Blasi said “I have seen a lot of shit. THAT IS THE MOST VIOLENT FUCKING DEATH I HAVE EVER SEEN.”
I would imagine that Mr Zayat would’ve expected that a Vet be called in as soon as Nehro showed signs of colic. If that had’ve been done I have no doubt that Nehro would not have died of colic. Nehro was Mr Zayat’s favourite. He removed all of his horses from Asmussen.
http://horseracingwrongs.com/2014/07/30/blasis-back-and-we-shouldnt-be-surprised/
PS Steve Asmussen has been nominated for the racing industry’s Hall of Fame – WHAT A JOKE!