Through a FOIA request to the Washington Horse Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following track-related kills at Emerald Downs in 2015:
3-year-old Mac’shouseofhearts, February 15, Emerald, training
“humerus fracture” (being prepped for first race)
6-year-old Mr. Top Kat, May 17, Emerald 8
“sesamoid fracture”
9-year-old Konowoc Pass, May 28, Emerald, training
“carpus fracture” (last raced January 2010)
4-year-old Sir Riley, June 27, Emerald 2
“sesamoid fracture”
5-year-old Berts Carchy, July 12, Emerald 2
“cartilaginous erosions”
4-year-old Decatur Princess, July 18, Emerald 8
“sesamoid fracture”
4-year-old Echo Zulu, July 19, Emerald 8
“metacarpal fracture”
5-year-old Mach Truck, August 2, Emerald, training
“fibula/tibula fracture” (being prepped for first race)
4-year-old Judo, August 14, Emerald 5 (euthanized August 20)
“carpus fracture”
3-year-old Mary’s Mercedes, September 5, Emerald 9 (euthanized September 18)
“carpus fracture”
2-year-old Lookin for Luck, September 6, Emerald 6
“metacarpal fracture”
2-year-old Sugar Bou Peep, September 12, Emerald 2
“carpus fracture”
2-year-old Bold Talkin Victor, September 14, Emerald, training
“metacarpal fracture” (being prepped for first race)
3-year-old Red Ridge, September 25, Emerald 5
“metacarpal fracture”
4-year-old Coolington, September 26, Emerald 11 (euthanized September 27)
“metacarpal fracture”
In addition, five horses died on track grounds from what the industry calls “non-racing” causes. While this may be technically true, morally – and that’s all that really matters – they are no less casualties of this sordid business than the ones above.
8-year-old Miss Madavor, April 26
“sick – died in barn” (last raced February 9)
8-year-old Koala Beach, May 23
“sick – died in barn” (last raced May 9)
3-year-old Bigbadvoodookitty, July 1
“sick – died in barn” (last raced June 26)
8-year-old Gold Boom, July 31
“sick – died in barn” (last raced June 19)
3-year-old It’s Spidey Sense, August 12
“sick – died in barn” (last raced July 18 – DNF)
So what are you doing Patrick , “the Year in review ” ?
Wow, Ms. Curtis-Olivas! You really don’t know what Patrick is doing on HIS blog? He is listing the horses that have died in the dirt at Emerald Downs. I’m certain a movie was named after you…Dumb and Dumber.
Thank you, Patrick, for informing the public of the killings carried out by the racing industry. Every one of these horses was worthy of a decent life away from the exploitations of racing. Despite the protests from those who support this sick and sordid industry, we, who truly care, will remember them.
“Died in the barn,” could mean just about anything. One of the most stupid things that I saw on the track was by a top trainer who placed a radio within reach of one of his top stake horses. Horses are bored when they are in a stall. They look for anything to keep them busy just like orcas at SeaWorld who eat the paint on the walls of the pools. Anyways, the horse started playing with the wire of the radio, electrocuted itself, and died right there in the stall. How this happened I have no clue, but the trainer picked up a fat check since the horse was worth the last stake race it ran. The check was rumored to be around $100,000. It was also rumored that the horse injured itself in the last race, and would have probably been a non-performer, a non-profitable horse now. It was all so coincidental.
Dying in their stall saves a trip to the kill auction it seems. They are not even safe in the stall.
Somebody please stop this horrific cruelty circus.
Key word “rumored” . Also just curious how the trainer picked up the rumored insurance check .
About 6 months after this occurrence the Trainer was killed by one of his own horses. The trainer, while feeding, got a full force kick to the chest, severing his aorta, and he died on the way to the hospital so the investigation was immediately stopped. Nothing ever came of it.
Fifteen horses dead in the dirt and the word “fracture” is mentioned over and over and over. Where is the disconnect for those that still support this sick industry? Earlier this year, I asked a racing supporter if she supported dog racing and she indignantly replied that she did not. I asked her the difference between dog racing and horse racing besides the obvious (different animals) and she couldn’t answer. She is the definition of a hypocrite that talks out of both sides of her mouth.
Agreed. Another thing, when an owner like Barbara Banke has her million dollar filly ROCK FALL snap both front legs, and dies in the dirt at Keeneland she goes out and buys another filly for millions just weeks later. Do some people ever learn? Talk about disconnect.
In the book “Saving Baby,” by Joanne Nomille she had the sense to get out once she experienced one of her horses dying on the track.
Thankfully, not one of my racehorses died in my care, but I saw what was going on. I left.
Not only fractures, but bleeding from nostrils, heart attacks, running over the rail. How much more can anybody take?
These poor racehorses.