In anticipation of NYRA’s annual Saratoga-was-a-rousing-success recap, I offer this reminder of what “success” in the racing world costs.
Saratoga’s dead athletes, 2015 (an incomplete list, no doubt, for surely there are others we will never know about):
You Gotta Believe, May 1, training – “impaled R stifle on rail, euthanized”
Jay Bird, May 5, training – “collapsed and died (pulmonary hemorrhage) on the training track”
Zzaj, May 21, training – “tibial fx while breezing, euthanized on track”
Defined, June 30, training – “fx RF sesamoids, euthanized”
Jackson N Leonard, August 1, training – “fractured LF sesamoids breezing, ambulanced off, euthanized”
Kathy’s Reward, August 1, training – “fractured LF cannon bone while breezing, euthanized on track”
Innovation Economy, August 1, racing – “fractured RF leg, euthanized”
On a Snowy Evening, August 14, racing – “fx LF sesamoid, sedated, splinted, ambulanced off, euthanized”
Big Looie, August 16, training – “fx both LF sesamoids, euthanized”
Darling Bridezilla, August 25, “non-racing” – “died due to cardiac incident – investigation continues”
Divine Fortune, August 27, racing – “fell over last jump, ambulanced off, fx L humerus, euthanized”
Country Muse, August 30, training – “fx both RF sesamoids on training track, euthanized”
So.very.tragic. Any one of these lovely innocent horses, I would have given a lovely home to. They would not have been subjected to the stress of being separated from their moms, who would not, if applicable, had their babies yanked from them and sent to another mare who had her poor baby yanked from HER to nurse the first baby, would not have been subjected to the rigor of training long before their bones have even had a chance to reach their optimum growth and strength, would not have deprived them of hours of pasture and freedom to be a horse….and would not have let them lose their lives for a stupid $2 bet. Rest in peace, dear souls. You did not deserve the fate you were handed.
And this is why the track should be closed. It is no more that a way for the owners to get rich at the horses’ expense. SAD that humans let this happen but cringe and riot when a criminal attacks an office and then gets shot because, well, the criminal DESERVED IT!