This is what passed for entertainment yesterday at Canterbury Park in Minnesota:
In the 2nd, Rockin the Fence was “injured after the wire” – “vanned off.”
In the 9th, Benny’s Glory was “pulled up in distress” (after winning) – “vanned off.”
In the 10th, Sporting Holiday “hit a fallen rival” – DNF. The “rival”? Incisive, who “stumbled badly and fell” – “vanned off.”
One afternoon: three horses ambulanced off the track; as you read this, there’s a good chance that at least one is already dead. This is horseracing.
How does one walk away from an afternoon like that but then keep going back?!? I despise it all, but when I read that one horse HITS another – just picture that…a running, 1000-pound animal crashing into another 1,000-pound animal – it makes me cringe. I looked up those two unfortunate racehorses and see that Sporting Holiday is a 7 y/o gelding that was away from the track for nearly a year and a half. Midwest Thoroughbreds claimed him in November of 2013 for 16K…he finished 10th of 11 that race. His next race was April 2015, 8th place – for sale for 10K. Then May, 5th place, price tag of $6250. And now in this race where he “HIT A FALLEN RIVAL”, Midwest Thoroughbreds and Dallas Keen were trying to unload him for 4K. Great folks. Such is horse racing.
Yep, Midwest and Mr. Dallas Keen are definitely trying to “unload” a poor performer, Joy. Surprising? Heck no because in spite of all the babbling, it really is all about the money and animal exploitation.
I was at Canterbury last night. I love horse racing, but seeing these fallen horses deeply saddened me. I’ve been to dozens of races there and usually will stay for every race. I didnt realize how much they push these horses. I was under the assumtion the state had rules to help prevent these things. But after seeing these yesterday, more needs to be done to protect the horses. I dont recall ever seeing the horse abulance before, but three times in ten races was terrible.
Thanks for writing, David. Please know that horses are dying every day on American tracks; I estimate 2,000 annually. And that’s just track-related – racing/training – kills. Many more are brutally slaughtered when their racing “careers” are over. Please take the time to navigate my site. The truth is there for all to see.