Official chart notes from U.S. Thoroughbred and QuarterHorse races last week. (guide: “broke down,” “collapsed after wire” – racing-speak for dead; “vanned off” – left course via equine ambulance; many, if not most, of these horses will resurface on my year-end FOIA kill-reports; “bled,” “returned bleeding from the nostrils” – usually indicates pulmonary hemorrhage, a situation that, yes, occasionally results in death)
Prime Number “pulled up and was put down” at Presque Isle
Capit “vanned off” at SunRay
Frazier Double “fell…and was euthanized” at Evangeline
Uncovered Eagle “vanned off” at Delta
Noisy “vanned off” at Evangeline
Pacific Ridge “returned bleeding” at Pimlico
Colonel Crawford “was euthanized” at Pimlico
Jessahfastdash “bled, vanned off” at Delta
Sebastian Cape “vanned off” at Lone Star
Raegen Harper “vanned off” at Prairie
Hot Blooded Senator “lame, van off” at Remington
Great Minds “bled” at Churchill
A Bag of Money “vanned off” at Churchill
Half Grey “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Three Star Stone “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Dreaming of Jo Jo “broke down” at Gulfstream
Cotton Colors “went wrong, vanned off” at Gulfstream
Carbaugh “vanned off” at Prairie
Fast Munny “fell” at Santa Anita – subsequently confirmed dead
Shadow Rock “went wrong, vanned off” at Gulfstream
Private Bellamy “vanned off” at Gulfstream
The Ranch “went wrong, vanned off” at Lone Star
Colonial Kendra “went wrong, vanned off” at Lone Star
Cal’s Legend “vanned off” at Mountaineer
A Hot Senator Girl “bled” at Remington
(source: Equibase)
And the racing industry thinks it’s okay to continue when a significant number of its horses are breaking down and dying or suffering career ending injuries day after day after day!
UTTERLY SHAMEFUL
Sickening..vile..MONSTERS…
I try to write something..but the words escape me because I have so my contempt in my heart towards these owners/trainers. I cannot express enough how it saddens me. I’ve rescued two OTTB’s so far and I wish I could save more.
I understand, aws – I would venture to say, all of us do. Thank you so much for rescuing your two OTTB’s! – I have rescued racehorses, too, and I still have days when I’m in tears just looking at them, thinking about what they endured.
Thank you!!
I so admire people who rescue these physically/mentally/spiritually broken racehorses that the horse racing industry dumps – thank-you.
I know from experience, that it takes a tremendous amount of patience, horse knowledge, vet care, and finances to not only rescue, but to continue caring for these racehorses who can have an average lifespan of 25 years.
That said, I can never understand WHY rescues, who see these dumped racehorses first hand, who don’t receive one dime from this multi-billion dollar industry STILL defends the industry, and refuses to call them out.
I also speak to some of these people, on social media, who think that reform is possible – it’s not, and neither is forever homes for all the dumped racehorses that this industry requires to fill races.
There is only one solution for these racehorses, and that’s to shut this industry down.
The over breeding, due to Breeders awards etc, the horrific offshoots of this industry, the mandatory operating procedures required to keep these racehorses going including beating/whipping, doping, and/or dying will always occur as long as this business exists.
I would suggest to all you “reformers” to refocus on shutting this industry down, the hell holes called racetracks, instead of continuing to be delusional that effective change can take place.
It can’t nor will it as long as there are million dollar wagering profits to be made.