In the Equibase notes for the 4th race at Golden Gate November 19, 3-year-old Gem of a Gal was a “pulled up, vanned off.” In truth, the young filly never made it onto the ambulance alive. The CHRB reports that Gem “expired on the track” that day. Dead.
In addition:
The Stewards Minutes for Los Alamitos, week end November 22 report “one equine death due to racing injuries.” Name withheld. And including the disclosure in its most recent minutes, Del Mar’s Fall ledger looks like this:
Oct 19-Oct 26: 1 dead
Nov 2-Nov 8: 5 dead
Nov 9-Nov 16: 2 dead
Nov 16-Nov 22: 1 dead
That’s 9 horses who either died on Del Mar grounds or while being prepped off-site for upcoming Del Mar races.
And finally, on the harness end, this from Cal Expo:
DRIVER LUKE PLANO, WHO DROVE “KABLOOIE” IN THE SECOND RACE ON APRIL 4, 2015 AND HAVING APPEARED AT A FORMAL HEARING ON NOVEMBER 12, 2015…IS HEREBY FINED $300 FOR VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA HORSE RACING BOARD RULE #1734 “WHIPPING” CAUSING VISIBLE INJURY (WHIP WELT).
“Causing visible injury.”
This is not the first time Mr. Plano has been “reprimanded” for abusing horses:
http://horseracingwrongs.com/2015/03/20/hoosier-park-where-abusers-are-allowed-to-keep-abusing/
GEM OF A GAL – another baby horse SACRIFICED. And “name withheld” of another.
This is horseracing, folks!
LUKE PLANO unashamedly inflicts cruelty by whipping horses again and again and again, resulting in these horses’ flesh being so badly beaten with a whip that blood runs from the wounds and the welts. As if this isn’t repulsive enough! The worst thing about this situation is that he is only given paltry fines (no deterrent) and the CHRB is obviously condoning this unacceptable cruelty.
If the CALIFORNIA HORSE RACING BOARD had any regard for the welfare of its much “loved” horses they would not allow this to happen in the first place. If they were serious, they would ban LUKE PLANO for life.
Oh, and the injury was “visible”. It can take up to 6 hours for welts to appear and many a horse has been whipped mercilessly without the injury being “visible”. We all know that the horse suffers pain and a degree of tissue damage when he is whipped, even if welt marks are not visible.