Through a FOIA request to the Delaware Department of Agriculture, I have confirmed the following kills on that state’s tracks in 2018.
Paradise Lost, May 15, Harrington R
“suffered an accident related injury – fracture of the right front leg – while racing at Harrington Raceway and was humanely euthanized”
Mr. Euro, June 18, Delaware R
“was humanely destroyed after suffering a catastrophic injury – left-front medial and lateral midbody sesamoid fracture, complete rupture of the superficial and deep flexor tendon, torn suspensory branches, and an open wound – in the 5th race”
Baccarat Dream, June 20, Delaware T
“sustained an injury – fractured left acetabulum tuber coxae – during training and was humanely euthanized”
Noregretsfornow, June 30, Delaware R
“sustained a catastrophic injury – comminuted condylar fracture – during the 2nd race and was humanely euthanized”
Unbridled Gift, July 4, Delaware R (euthanized July 13)
“sustained a left-front medical comminuted basal sesamoid fracture [and] med suspensory branch trauma”
My Giant, July 25, Delaware R
“suffered what appeared to be cardiac arrhythmia near the finish line…removed with dignity [italics added] to the holding area”
Gallo de Oro, July 26, Delaware R
“suffered a catastrophic injury during the running of the 6th race; the ill-fated [italics added] horse sustained a right front fracture of its medial sesamoid”
Parapente, July 30, Delaware R
“pulled up during her race…determined to have a right front lateral condyle fracture and humanely euthanized at the hospital”
Mairis, August 1, Delaware R
“sustained a left front fracture of the femur or pelvis involve quadriceps insertion”
Off Road, August 25, Delaware R
“suffered a catastrophic injury necessitating it being humanely destroyed; right front biaxial sesamoid fractures among other injuries”
Coverallyourbases, August 27, Delaware R
“suffered an injury – compound, comminuted fracture of left hind 3rd metatarsal – during the running of the 8th race and was humanely destroyed”
You Know Too, September 24, Delaware R (euthanized October 1)
“humanely destroyed after suffering a catastrophic injury – comminuted sesamoid fractures of the left front”
Puturseatbelton, September 26, Delaware T
“suffered a training injury – compound, comminuted left lateral condyle fracture, comminuted left front medial sesamoid fracture – and was humanely destroyed”
In addition, these still-very-much-active racehorses died on track grounds from what the industry craftily calls “non-racing” causes. Technically true, perhaps, but morally they are no less casualties of this vile business than the ones above.
Formal Summation, May 15, Delaware
“was examined and determined to be terminally lame…humanely euthanized; postmortem report indicated complete cartilage erosion of both front metacarpal III’s medial condyles, right front medial sesamoid base eroded” (five years old)
Rebel Rithms, July 13, Delaware
“suffered a catastrophic injury while grazing outside its barn, apparently flipping and landing on its neck…report indicated a broken neck”
Flight Crew, September 8, Delaware
“was examined and determined to be terminally lame…euthanized; synovial fluid – cloudy bloody-middle carpal joint, multiple chips” (five years old)
American Diplomat, October 18, Delaware
“diagnosed with right hind cellulitis and foundering and sinking of left hind P3…humanely destroyed” (two years old, raced once)
