The following horses were casualties on American racetracks last week:
“Broke Down” (read: dead); “Collapsed and Died”; “Humanely Euthanized”
Do It for Fun, Laurel
Jo Jo Cool, Tampa Bay
Bounty On the Run, Golden Gate
“Vanned Off” (carted away by ambulance, better-than-even chance dead)
Awesome Arceno, Charles Town
Wine Police, Zia
Riveting Rosie, Zia (after being “reluctant to load”)
Hoosier Flower, Churchill
Chide, Churchill (subsequently confirmed dead)
Serendip, Churchill
Ten Dollar Note, Del Mar
Pro Gold, Gulfstream W
Blaze Wick, Charles Town
Hooked On Track, Delta (“in distress”)
Carta Magna, Gulfstream W
High Gear, Zia
Shady Deal, Zia
Film Juror, Del Mar (subsequently confirmed dead)
All Eyez On Me, Zia
“Bled”; “Returned Bleeding From Nostrils”
Gator Heat, Zia (also vanned off)
Super Dawn, Charles Town
Princess of Pearl, Delta
(source: Equibase)
I’m posting this here in hopes of getting more eyes on this horse. I’m not in a position to take him in at this time, but perhaps one of you has a connection…. here’s my Fantasy news article about a real horse….
109th Race NETS $79 WIN FOR KENTUCKY-BRED
Bay gelding Face the Fire, who will be 11 years old on February 25, 2016, came in 7th in a field of 12 in the fourth race at Mahoning Valley Racecourse on November 30, 2015.
Face The Fire’s connections are, of course, thrilled with their gelding’s performance. “He just loves to run,” gushes owner Michelle Helms. “He doesn’t care where he ends up in the pack! Brandon [trainer, Brandon Ates], says he should be able to run 1 or 2 more times this year. If he does, Fire will break his own record of 15 races in a year!”
Helms added, “This horse has earned over $250,000 because he just won’t quit.”
Now, THAT’s horse racing, folks.
Thank you for commenting Faith and raising awareness of FACE THE FIRE’S plight. FTF has placed in about one-half of his starts so he’s been viable for the connections, so they’re keeping this gelding going with, it appears, little or no consideration for his safety, health and well-being. At 11 years of age, they choose not to give him a much deserved retirement to pasture. FTF began racing at 2 years of age and he’s been racing for over EIGHT (8) YEARS having had 109 starts, and that’s a lot of mileage in races, plus the mileage he’s clocked up in training. One hates to think of the wear and tear and damage done to his body. Dr Chris Riggs, BVSc, PhD, DEO, Dipl. ECVS, MRCVS, head of Veterinary Clinical Services at the Hong Kong Jockey Club spoke at the 2014 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress held in Birmingham, U.K. Riggs said “research has shown that horses appear to be at higher risk of injury if they have started more than 30 times and have accumulated more than 178 kilometers (110 miles) in their training and racing careers.
FTF has also also been beaten with a whip during 109 races, let’s say at least 6 times each race = 654 times, plus likely whipped in training. Apart from the tissue damage, pain and suffering, what has this abuse done to his mind? Runs as fast as he can, doing his absolute best, his body tiring and highly likely sore and he’s callously beaten with a whip. Racing is very effective in diminishing the natural spirit and trusting nature of the equine. It is no wonder that many equestrians have ended up with OTTBs with temperament problems and/or health issues, often requiring expensive veterinarian treatment for life.
Owner says “… he just won’t quit”. The truth here is that the owner and trainer won’t let him quit! The comments, as quoted, are an attempt to justify the unjustifiable.
FTF is another example of a horse being overraced, overused and overworked with no Vets/Stewards/Racing Commissions/the Jockey Club/the Humane Society, intervening to protect the welfare of the racehorse.
And he never raced again. I’m sure you were so concerned with the well being of Face The Fire that you know where he is. Would you mind sharing that information with all of us?
Carolyn, thanks for responding. The quotes from Michelle Helms are fake, of course…just an imitation of the dribble loving owners spout in real interviews.
Patrick, THANK YOU for spotlighting this gelding. I hope SOMEONE will be able to do something for him. I could provide letdown and quarantine (near Wheeling, WV), but I just cannot provide another forever home.
Faith, you have such a big heart and have done more than your fair share. I’m sure the racing folks will step up for one of their own because they constantly babble that there are so “many” good people in racing and there are so “many” aftercare programs ready and waiting to take in these horses once their revenue producing days are over. Of course, we know those are just monstrous lies but let’s give these racing advocates the benefit of the doubt and see what they come up with.
Five horses from Zia Park vanned off the track. Again, five….well, what can you say? Someone reached out to me concerning an individual who has been following Wine Police for a few years and she is worried about him, rightfully so. I contacted a very good friend of mine who is a racing official and, when I mentioned Zia, this is what he said…”Zia is a cheap track and they run them there until they breakdown”. I kid you not – that is what he said. Truly indefensible no matter how delusional you are. Just another reason why horseracing sickens me.
Incredible, Mary…someone on racing’s payroll stating – simply as a matter of fact – “they break them down there”. Matter of fact.
I’ve come to believe Patrick’s difficult and time-consuming work is being utilized by some as notification that certain horses (they deem worthy of saving) are in trouble. Good for the horses. Too bad the rescuers who choose to support the industry won’t admit it kills their “athletes” off in shocking numbers. The need to rescue will NEVER end as long as the life-sucking gambling industry exists. Wake up, people.
Well said, Joy.