The following horses were casualties on American racetracks last week:
“Broke Down” (read: dead); “Collapsed and Died”; “Humanely Euthanized”
The Red Baron, Parx
Commander Seul, Delta
Souper Social, Charles Town
Getting Acquainted, Los Alamitos
Redneck Lazy, Mahoning
Lady Now, Los Alamitos
Dreaming of Andy A, Tampa Bay
“Vanned Off” (carted away by ambulance, better-than-even chance dead)
Northern Choice, Turf
Riveting Rosie, Zia
Oh Suzanna, Hawthorne
Mine Forever, Hawthorne
Zip’s Moondance, Hawthorne
Storm Dancing, Zia
Brick House Road, Hawthorne
Jack’s Comprise, Tampa Bay
Little Love, Aqueduct (subsequently confirmed dead)
Sacred Success, Aqueduct
Real Tuff Stuff, Charles Town
Dakota’s Diamond, Charles Town
Schuylercountyline, Hawthorne
Illybilly Boy, Los Alamitos
Gangstress of Love, Parx
RC Devil, Sunland
No City Limits, Los Alamitos
“Bled”; “Returned Bleeding From Nostrils”
Joking, Aqueduct
(source: Equibase)
LITTLE LOVE (foaling date March 8, 2012)
This horse, who appears to have been the hot favourite, came home 9th/9 by 28 ¾ lengths, was vanned off and then euthanased having suffered a broken leg. I wonder at what stage of the race he suffered this catastrophic injury. So much for transparency and disclosure.
According to equibase.com, it was the first time he was up for Claiming ($25,000).
This 3 year old colt had already earned $40,732 for his previous 3 starts. He won his last start on March 15, 2015 and then had nine (9) months off which is an incredibly long time given he’d been racing very successfully. It tells me that this young colt highly likely had suffered an injury/adverse health condition. He had 2 workouts in November – 6th and 16th – the last about one month prior to his final race. Except for the 2 workouts in the last 60 days, I do not know what sort of training regime he was having but he was high risk coming back into high speed exercise after such a lengthy lay-off. It is puzzling that he was up for Claiming when he was averaging over $10,000 per start. Why would you part with what appeared to be a valuable young racehorse and a colt at that with the prospect of earning lucrative dollars in the breeding barn?
Just 4 race starts and now he’s dead – poor little boy!