They’re back training at Santa Anita – and the killing continues. Monday morning, the LA Times reports, Zeke broke – pelvic fracture – “while working on the training track” and was eventually euthanized. I say eventually because Zeke was not put down till 11:00 that night, which raises the question: Was Zeke’s suffering extended because Santa Anita (The Stronach Group, California Racing) is desperately trying to avoid the harsh coverage of yet another dead horse? Seems a reasonable query to me. Zeke was four and had been put to the whip 14 times, most recently at Del Mar last month.
Speaking of Del Mar, while all the talk from the industry was the “unprecedented” safe racing there this summer – completely ignoring, that is, the six horses who did lose their lives either training or back in the stalls – this horse, Zeke, was raced twice at Del Mar in August. As many of these breakdowns show preexisting injury or compromise at the breakdown site – which speaks to the constant grinding racehorses are forced to endure – is it possible Zeke was “pre-injured” racing at Del Mar before breaking down at Santa Anita? You bet. And that is why I’m not at all interested in drawing “safety” comparisons among the various tracks (states), or, for that matter, the trainers (Jerry Hollendorfer and Bob Baffert are no better or worse than the average trainer). This is one big vile industry. A kill at one is a kill for all.
Santa Anita’s 36 dead racehorses thus far this year:
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
Henry, dead at Santa Anita January 14, 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
Ponchito, dead at Santa Anita January 22, 2019
Dancing Harbor, killed training at Santa Anita Jan 23, 2019
Spitfire, killed training at Santa Anita Jan 25, 2019
Mongolian Hunter, dead at Santa Anita January 28, 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
Cooney, dead at Santa Anita March 4, 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
Rolling Shadow, dead at Santa Anita April 4, 2019
Commander Coil, killed training at Santa Anita May 17, 2019
Spectacular Music, killed racing at Santa Anita May 19, 2019
Kochees, killed racing at Santa Anita May 25, 2019
Current Times, dead at Santa Anita May 27, 2019
Derby River, killed training at Santa Anita June 5, 2019
Formal Dude, killed racing at Santa Anita June 8, 2019
Truffalino, killed racing at Santa Anita June 9, 2019
American Currency, killed training at Santa Anita June 22, 2019
Zeke, killed training at Santa Anita September 16, 2019
The legs of Boom Boom Bango, who was killed at Santa Anita in March 2018
ALL FOR WHAT??? MONEY! THIS HAS GOT TO STOP . . . PERIOD. SHUT THEM DOWN FOR GOOD
Money is God on this planet, unfortunately, to the small minds that don’t understand higher ethics. It is the sole reason for trophy hunters to get away with wiping out species, it is the motivator behind most animals abuse and it is certainly the reason for this horrific abuse in horse racing. It is obvious that the people involved care about nothing else. Looking at the disturbing photo of the legs of poor Boom Boom bango, it is apparent that death is the only release these pitiful animals will ever get. (Someone should blow up any photos of these injuries and hold them up at every race track protest.)
Reblogged this on Armory of the Revolution.
All the problem with this insane situation goes right to the HORSES OWNERS.
They need to stop killing their horses , they have to stop this senseless killings . The owners of the racing horses are to blame .
Just STOP.
One of the saddest conversations I had was with a coworker who is an avid horse racing fan. I told her about the atrocities and the sheer number of deaths both on and after the track. Her response? “I know, but……..”
That is what we’re fighting against. Not so much ignorance, but apathy. It is just easier for people to get what enjoyment they can and not think about the reality. Acknowledging the truth gives them a moral obligation to change, and for so many that is just too much to ask.
I love all animals and to read this is very upsetting must be more strict rules and more investigations into this so this can be stopped.
Rules won’t change anything.
Will there be a presence at the PA Derby this weekend and if so what time.
This 4 year old gelding had 14 starts for $71,360 and had won/placed in 7 of those starts which is regarded as being onto a fairly good thing in racing when averaging $5,000 a start. Likely the connections would’ve been hoping that ZEKE could be fixed up to continue on. A few horses have come back to racing after a minor pelvic fracture but mostly these pelvic fractures are serious and the horse is promptly euthanased. This injury was sustained in the morning and ZEKE was not killed until 11pm that night. Highly likely it was a fracture that could not be fixed – it was a serious fracture. Hate to think of the suffering of ZEKE whilst people are discussing what to do with him. Another death statistic for Santa Anita and no doubt more to come before the year is out.
The lives of these horses were worth more than a race. Close down the tracks so their lives are not in vain.
I can’t look at the pictures of the foals anymore,because I know the vast majority of them will have a gruesome death.It just isn’t fair,do not breed unless you can guarantee these beautiful,precious,innocent GODLY souls,a proper,safe,secure life.
Are these killings “deliberate” ? are they killing the horses just to kill them… and state of CA has not taken the horses away from there, get them out of there and get a batco and tear the place down.. to the ground… demolish and tear it down… to see these horses killed like this for human greed and entertainment and possibly deliberate. I am sure they let Zeke wait the 11 hours — the cowards were afraid of the back lash once again and again and again… what kind of scum is running this horse track… and the jockey’s as well.. the spectators are just as scummy and all about them !!!
Good god! Stop killing these horses!
This is a blood thirsty ‘sport’ and you are all to blame for ending innocent lives. Who do you think you are??? Go get REAL jobs and quit killing innocent horses.
Bottom line to quote my sister TOO YOUNG, TOO HARD, TOO FAST! That is the problem. It is not the dirt at the track, it is pushing young horses. Why isn’t it brought up, in addition to the actual deaths at the track, that only 6% make it to race. What about the others??? They are sold to butchers and the lucky ones go to a rescue with a portion never rideable again because they are BROKEN DOWN. The story is behind the track. Follow the money…
My question is: “How much money was paid out by an INSURANCE COMPANY to the owners of these DEAD RACEHORSES ?”
SHUT DOWN HORSE-RACING — The following is what HORSE-RACING is about for most of the Horses : grueling work — grueling work — grueling work — THEN, kill – kill — kill — THEN, death — death — death — WHO benefits? — WHO lives & dies a miserable, torturous existence? — it MUST STOP — FOREVER.