Through a FOIA request to the New Mexico Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following deaths at New Mexico tracks in 2016.
(Notes: The Commission did not forward dates of death.
There were a handful of horses on their lists who did not in fact die, but were only injured. They, of course, are not included here.
There were many horses “vanned off,” especially at Zia, who have since disappeared from the charts. I believe most, if not all, of those horses are dead, but because they did not show up on the FOIA documents I cannot include them below.
There were zero training deaths reported for both Albuquerque and Sunray. Zero. There weren’t any submissions at all for Ruidoso and only four for Zia (all racing). Combined, these four tracks ran for roughly 12 months in 2016.
In short, not only was the Commission’s information sloppily produced – with a seemingly indifferent attitude – more to the point, it is grossly incomplete. Put another way, in my estimation, the carnage below is significantly understated.)
Marys Machine, Sunland training, “broken leg”
Lady French, Sunland training, “communited, open sesamoid fracture”
Saint X., Sunland training, “fetlock”
Crimson Night, Sunland training, “sesamoid fracture”
Proprietor, Sunland training, “head injury”
Flaco C, Sunland training, “shoulder fracture” (unraced 2-year-old)
Holland Oak Special, Sunland training, “shoulder fracture” (unraced 2-year-old)
After Its Over, Sunland training, “lateral fracture”
Spicy Jerrae, Sunland training, “sesamoid fractures”
Smoking Talent, Sunland training, “shoulder fracture” (unraced 2-year-old)
Wild Sixes Cartel, Sunland training, “fractured sesamoids, suspensory breakdown”
Childhood Dream, Sunland training, “carpus”
Southwest Winter, Sunland training, “shoulder fracture” (unraced 2-year-old)
Sneakin Kisses, Sunland training, “hoof injury” (unraced 2-year-old)
Famous Edge of Glory, January 17, Sunland 1, “carpus”
Bank Dunit, February 27, Sunland 3, “sesamoid”
Lookwhosdancinnow, March 1, Sunland 2, “both sesamoids fractured”
Roja Caliente, March 8, Sunland 8, “lame”
Ohs of Oaks, March 18, Sunland 4, “carpus acute”
Charlies Soldier, March 19, Sunland 4, “shoulder fracture”
King of Cool, March 22, Sunland 8, “sesamoid fracture”
Froth, March 25, Sunland 6, “cut legs” (second race, first was last of 10)
Pfinding Jessie, March 26, Sunland 2, “possible stroke” (three years old)
Rey Del Mar, March 29, Sunland 9, “owner believes horse fell from heart attack”
Chamiso James, April 1, Sunland 6, “sesamoid fractures/luxation”
Better Go Trixie, April 1, Sunland 7, “no apparent injury”
Silca Sheets, April 9, Sunland 5, “suspensory”
Zoom With Fame, April 15, Sunland 9, “shattered carpus”
Indy’s Rocket, April 30, Sunland 8, “sesamoid fracture, ruptured suspensory”
Unforgettable Glow, May 1, Sunland 10, “shoulder”
Skimasco, June 12, Sunray 9, “bilateral sesamoid” (10-year-old, 61st race)
Whata Wild Night, June 19, Sunray 7, “bilateral sesamoid fracture”
Turbulent Sea, June 26, Albuquerque 9, “head injury”
Loaded and Wacky, July 8, Albuquerque 3, “bilateral sesamoid”
Roll Smash Roll, July 8, Albuquerque 8, “fell dead after race”
True Heat, July 13, Albuquerque 8, “fractured ankle”
Dandy One, July 13, Albuquerque 10, “fractured ankle”
Bonita Bully, August 6, Albuquerque 5, “went down…dead when D.S. arrived”
Handsome N Dashin, August 7, Albuquerque 2, “fractured scapula”
Highly Confident, August 13, Albuquerque 3, “suspensory”
Graypromise, November 12, Zia 9, “ankle”
One More Polish, November 14, Zia 6, “ankle”
Streakin Lane, December 20, Sunland 7, “fell after race – unknown cause”
In addition, the following horses died on track grounds from what the industry calls “non-racing” causes. While this may be technically true, morally they are no less casualties of this vile business than the ones above.
Cajun Cascade, Sunland, “pneumonia” (last raced January 17, 7th of 8)
Bob Bobo (perhaps sic), Sunland, “EHV-1 positive”
Bigtime Return, Sunland, “colic” (2-year-old coming off first race)
She’s All Real Dandy (perhaps sic), Sunland, “EHV-1, paralysis”
Girls Got Skills, Sunland, “EHV-1, paralysis” (2-year-old coming off first race)
Misinformation, Sunland, “EHV-1 neurotropic” (unraced 2-year-old)
Pierre Bear, Sunland, “EHV-1 positive” (9-year-old coming off 34th race)
Bogie She’saplayer, Sunland, “EHV-1 recumbent and paralysis”
Easy Snow, Sunland, “EHV-1 positive” (unraced 2-year-old)
Too Many Chiefs, Sunland, “EHV-1 positive”
Kerri’s Black Gold, Sunland, “EHV neurotropic”
Tempered Ivory, Sunland, “EHV positive” (unraced 2-year-old)
Statingtheobvious, Sunland, “colitis” (4-year-old, last raced March 12)
Insurectionist Rebel (10-year-old pony), Sunland, “colic – death,” not euthanized
Richard Prichard, Sunray, “colic”
Skipper (8-year-old pony), Albuquerque, “colic”
There can be no justification for the killing of animals for $2 bets. End it. Now.
