In the 6th at Santa Anita yesterday, Spectacular Music was said (by Equibase) to have “[taken] a bad step”; eventually he was “vanned off.” Today, we learn (LA Times) that the 3-year-old was euthanized for a pelvis fracture.
Spectacular Music is victim 30 in the current meet. But, I remind, nothing unusual there: On average, Santa Anita notches 50 dead horses annually. 50. In other words, and despite trainer Doug O’Neill’s claim in the Paulick Report last week (prior to the two most recent kills, that is) – “we’ve turned the corner…good, safe racing is here [to] stay” – there are surely more to come.
Psychedelicat, killed racing at Santa Anita Dec 30, 2018
Tank Team, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 4, 2019
Unusual Angel, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 4, 2019
Secret Street, killed training at Santa Anita Jan 8, 2019
Derby Treasure, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 11, 2019
Noise Mandate, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 18, 2019
Amboseli, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 20, 2019
Like Really Smart, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 21, 2019
Last Promise Kept, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 21, 2019
Dancing Harbor, killed training at Santa Anita Jan 23, 2019
Spitfire, killed training at Santa Anita Jan 25, 2019
Kid Cantina, killed racing at Santa Anita Feb 2, 2019
Comegowithme, killed racing at Santa Anita Feb 3, 2019
Jager Time, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 17, 2019
Unusual Rider, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 18, 2019
Hot American, killed racing at Santa Anita Feb 22, 2019
Battle of Midway, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 23, 2019
Just Forget It, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 23, 2019
Charmer John, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 24, 2019
Eskenforadrink, killed racing at Santa Anita Mar 2, 2019
Lets Light the Way, killed training at Santa Anita Mar 5, 2019
Princess Lili B, killed training at Santa Anita Mar 14, 2019
Arms Runner, killed racing at Santa Anita Mar 31, 2019
Commander Coil, killed training at Santa Anita May 17, 2019
Spectacular Music, killed racing at Santa Anita May 19, 2019
unidentified, Jan 14-Jan 20, died off-track at Santa Anita
unidentified, Jan 21-Jan 27, died off-track at Santa Anita
unidentified, Feb 25-Mar 3, died off-track at Santa Anita
unidentified, Feb 25-Mar 3, died off-track at Santa Anita
unidentified, Apr 1-Apr 7, died off-track at Santa Anita
One of Santa Anita’s 2018 victims (Boom Boom Bango)…
OMG are you looking at this photos – Jesus H Christ how god damn long is this f*cking race track going to stay operational. You are slaughtering these horses daily – what in the hell is the matter with all of you. What a horrible disgrace and what pain you are inflicting on these poor animals. I wish to hell you would all just drop dead you bunch of ignorant bastards. You should all be banned from ever ever owning any kind of animal. This race track needs to be history and the sooner the better – these are out and out tragic deaths being caused by you owners, trainers, jockeys. What a disgusting bunch of assholes.
I can’t believe this is still happening!! Thought they resurfaced the track? Or are they allowing horses that have obvious problems, that shouldn’t be on the track to begin with??
It not just about this track, if you look around, track deaths are an everyday event across the country. It’s the violence of the sport, not a certain race track.
I was an industry insider and staunch supporter of horse racing for years.
I can tell you with 100% certainty that no changes will ever change this business model: billions in sales and wagering profits made off the bones, backs, and lives of racehorses.
Exploiting, maiming, dumping and dying on a massive scale throughout this country.
Even 1 death should be enough to shut it down.
It’s a viper pit full of poisonous people they label as “trainers”.
These “trainers” commit acts of animal abuse and/or dying every single day.
They’ve had the power to do this, to manipulate the public for years, to maintain the total lack of transparency while collecting billions in taxpayers/casino money.
People – wake-up – it’s NOT a sport.
It’s legitimized animal cruelty that should be punishable under the law in a neutral court system on the way to shutting it down.
I completely support the position of Patrick and all supporters of this blog: shut these hell holes down.
Track needs to be banned by the owners or nothing will be done!
I concur with Cathy 100%…. You are monsters pure unadulterated MONSTERS ……….Karma’s a BITCH !!!
Shut this public butcher show down now.
Stop ALL public funding and casino profits to horse racing now.
Vote in politicians who will agree to stop funding to tracks so that the shut down of these hell holes can commence.
Look into the public records in California (if they haven’t hidden them) and there you will find millions in taxpayers money, tax breaks that went to The Stronach Group (previously Magna Entertainment) to operate their tracks in the state – it’s astounding what they got and get away with to this day.
They promised very specific things, binding in the contract, and little to nothing has been fulfilled.
Changes of Governors, changes of politicians (which is what they count on) and their legal promises are soon forgotten, but they still get the financial benefits of the contract.
In all of this vile mess is a living being, turned into a slave profit, to generate billions for these monsters who continue to exploit, maim, dump and kill them.
I pledge to continue being a voice for these racehorses
Here’s another problem and it’s huge! These horses that are being run into the ground are just babies! A horse isn’t mature until it’s 7 years old. 2 and 3 years olds are still growing, still developing their bone structure. It’s not just the fault of this one particular track but the entire horse racing industry is to blame. $$$ Greed $$$ is the bottom line here. It’s no longer the sport of Kings, but of shortsighted cruel humans.
Something is so wrong there. Come on, racing officials, shut it down until they come up with s plan.
Having said that, the Thoroughbred racing industry could do their part by stopping the racing of two yr olds. A horse’s bones are so immature, training and racing at such a young age sets them up for calamity..,many times, they are an accident waiting to happen.
Betty, they won’t stop racing 2 year-old’s because there is too much money involved.
These racehorses are dispensable, quickly replaced just as quickly as they are dumped or die.
The entire horse racing structure leading up to the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders Cup is all based on the performance of 2 year-old’s and they must perform to gain the money for entrance into these races.
So the bottom would fall out if they were to change – this won’t happen.
The racing commissions are laughable.
They are simply public wallpaper, a management tool used by the industry to legitimize the abuse while pretending to actually care.
This has been going on for years and nothing has really changed nor will it.
The only way to stop racehorses from being exploited, maimed, dumped and killed is to shut it down.
Who do we need to contact to stop this RIGHT NOW!
This is so messed up…
They need to be held accountable for their death abuse. In my world which is gaming an mom an dad’s world since the late 50s none of the horses have died competing. .
THEY NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS BEING FED TO THEM AS BABIES AN ALSO CHANGE HOW OLD THEY ARE WHEN THEY START… ALMOST ALL WERE STILL BABIES.. THE BREEDING HAS ALSO CHANGED … From stocky to fly by night thin, they are breeding for gray hound build.. THIS NEEDS TO STOP.. THERE SHOULDN’T BE ANY DEATHS… START FINING THE OWNERS
CloseHey Stronach group and owners of Santa Assnita shut this damn synthetic track down. The blood is on your hands God guile’s the revenge is mine .” And that also includes His horses Some one gonna blow the whistle A fat guestion to ask ? Where does Baffert keeps hundreds of his horses The west coast don’t give a ——
The so call fires at Del Mar in Dec2017 and again in November 2018 really is it act of man or God And hard rain practice on tracks.Who are you people? Shut down because your , Tou know what l can’t type this anymore it’s upsetting You purposely killing these horses to be butchered up at the slaughter house Freedom of Speech that’s my new so call horse name . You are sick people. Yeah fine the Owners they got big bucks and open the tracks and kill the horses again and get rid of those jockeys if they care and concern of the horses safety they would speak up but your not man enough greedy little leprechauns
Such beautiful animals, trusting their owners, jockeys, etc. Putting these precious souls in a tiny cubicle, no room to do anything but just stand. The owners of Santa Anita Race Track, Owners, Jockeys, etc should be placed in the same confinement. No proper medical care or concern. You should all rot in a fiery hell. The “horse races” should be totally banned throughout the world. Read how horses are “shot up” with bute, etc. prior to racing. These horses were already injured prior to racing.