From the most recent Los Alamitos Stewards Minutes:
“UNTIMELY PASSING [Friday, June 24] The mood around this venue was rather somber over the course of the last few days as news of the death of the champion Quarter Horse Moonist came to light. The horse contracted colic on Tuesday, was rushed to a local veterinary clinic, but could not be saved.”
Allow me to explain that “somber mood” pervading the “venue.” The 5-year-old Moonist was a multiple graded-stakes winner; he had 24 first-place finishes in 34 “career” starts, including 7 of his last 8 – the most recent coming just nine days before “contracting colic.” Ranked 1st in wins in 2015, 20th in earnings. All told, almost a million dollars over his three-year run. And that is why the Racing people are sad – and why the stewards went out of their way to note it (in fact, in three years of reviewing their minutes, I’ve never seen a write-up like this).
By the way, while Moonist will not show up on our KIA, 2016 list (reserved for racing/training deaths only), we maintain – unequivocally – that he is no less a casualty of this vile business than a horse who snaps his leg off heading for the wire. Truth is, “colic” is but another industry ruse. Racing killed this young horse.
And Patrick, their sadness? – just “rather somber” and for only a “few days”. Moonist is just one of countless dead race horses…another baby has already been put in his stall, I’m sure.
RIP Moonist.
So sorry for you Moonist.
What people need to know is that colic is often a result of extreme pain.
The root cause of that pain can be many different things, but in a racehorse, it’s more than likely physical pain beyond bearing, and the horse gives way.
In Nehro’s case it was probably the ongoing daily pain of half of his hoof hanging off that was super glued so he could continue to fill races, the wagering windows, and placate the wallets or egos of the Zayat family and the trainer who needs to impress with statistics, in this case, Steve Assmussen.
Equine vets will say that there are no reputable studies that can link the cause of colic, but they also know that pain is the main factor.
Of course food colic is trapped gas that causes excruciating pain in the gut, but in this case it was probably the ongoing cruelty, and abuse inflicted upon this horse in order to perform.
Anybody who supports and/or participates in horse racing are delusional bottom sucking scum bags that send horses to a cruelty ring, that can often result in death.
Nobody, not one of you, can justify this ongoing abuse by saying the usual excuses.
I’ve heard them all.
Tell your stupid excuses to the racehorses dying in the dirt for this despicable industry.