While the national media is fully engaged in Santa Anita – for good reason – another of America’s crown-jewel tracks continues to kill largely under the radar. At Belmont yesterday, Kid Robin Hood, says the Gaming Commission, broke while training and was euthanized. He was but two years old – the rough equivalent of a first-grader.
Since the Gaming Commission began disclosing such things in 2009, Belmont Park has averaged 40 dead horses annually. With almost two months to go, they’re at 33. In other words, business as usual.
Doyouknowsomething, Jan 8, stall – “sustained left elbow injury in stall”
Speke, Jan 19, training – “suffered a fracture to his right shoulder”
Catpsalm, Jan 29, stall – “protozoal myeloencephalitis”
Miss Marion, Feb 3, training – “fractured cannon bone…euthanized on track”
Chronos, Feb 3, training (euthanized Feb 4) – “fractured right front leg”
For Pops, Feb 26, training – “collapsed and died” (four years old)
Queen Bode, Mar 3, training – “euthanized at hospital”
Mighty Zealous, Mar 10, stall – “severe respiratory distress…euthanized”
Miss Marilyn, Mar 23, training – “leg injury…euthanasia on the track”
Miss Mimosa, Mar 28, training – “cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Pretty Enuff, Apr 1, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
Luz Mimi, Apr 4, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
La Manche, Apr 11, training – “suffered a fracture…and was euthanized”
Noble Cause, May 11, racing – “injuries necessitating euthanasia”
Anne’s Song, May 24, racing – “ambulanced off, euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Successful Mission, Jun 9, training – “sustained fractures while breezing”
Inflection, Jun 9, racing – “euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Ro Bear, Jun 16, stall – “died in the barn from an apparent impaction colic”
With Caution, Jun 28, training – “P1 fracture…died complications from anesthesia”
Fancy Persuasion, Jun 30, racing – “cardiovascular collapse” (two years old)
yet-to-be-named, Jul 11, training – “fractured sesamoids…euthanized”
La Fuerza, Jul 27, training – “fractured humeral, ambulanced to barn, euthanized”
Royal Inheritance, Sep 6, training – “collapsed and died” (five years old)
Passporttovictory, Sep 6, racing – “bad steps”
Mo Moxie, Sep 7, training – “sustained a fracture and was euthanized on track”
Deft, Sep 12, racing – “broke front leg and was euthanized on the track”
Rhode Island, Sep 14, racing – “was vanned off…subsequently euthanized”
Coffee Crush, Sep 19, training – “cardiovascular collapse”
Have Another, Sep 20, stall – “severe laminitis”
Meet Me in L A, Sep 21, racing – “went wrong…euthanized”
E Z for You to Say, Oct 10, stall – “severe laminitis [both front] feet” (two years old)
Mo Fun, Oct 14, training – “suffered a cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Kid Robin Hood, Nov 2, training – “sustained a fracture at the 5/16 pole”
The carnage continues unabated and those who have the power to intervene do NOTHING.
Whoo-hoo. Way to go, Belmont. We thought SA was setting the bar too high, but you’re showing us all that you can create just as big a bloodbath as the Death Track. At this rate, we’ll happily return the coveted Carnival of Carnage Cup back East, where it rightly belongs. Be careful though, those Kentucky tracks are right on your heels. Better employ the Santa Anita Brain Trust folks, and adopt some of their wildly-effective “safety” measures that they’ve implemented with such success. Just a helpful hint from a big fan.
No brainer it should be obvious by now to EVERYONE it can NEVER be made safe. Would pet owners send their cats and dogs out to do something that would kill them?
Just looking at pictures of MG. He was one Gorgeous Horse. That dark rich dark color and that beautiful big male head and mane.You deserved so so much better beautiful boy
Just right now,I found and watched that like 5 seconds video of MG training at SA, don’t know when it was taken but obviously before,I think a woman named Meredith Daughtery posted it, he sure did not look good on that hind left leg,didn’t look good at all. And the camera was on that left side. The whole “thing” is just so sad,I mean a life was lost.
Reblogged this on Armory of the Revolution.
It is sickening that any horse has to endure so much mental, emotional, and physical torture and, as if that isn’t bad enough, to have “the powers that be” promote horseracing as though there were some honor, glory, or integrity involved. There honestly needs to be a book written and published called CHEATING TO WIN. It could be about how Bob Baffert had a drug violation from doping/drugging Justify some time before the Kentucky Derby and had it been enforced Justify would not have been in the Kentucky Derby. Justify would not have become a Triple Crown winner. So basically, winning means nothing to anyone who values honesty and integrity. This example could be described as the tip of the iceberg, because the whole industry is corrupt. It needs to be reported so thank you Patrick Battuello for doing what you can do to shine a bright light on the dark side of horseracing and to all who have contributed to bringing forth the facts.
Right On Wanda I also do not like how they take the foals from the Mama’s too soon and all this forced breeding. There are not enough Forever homes for these majestic innocents. But,the part that rips your heart out the most is the constant solitary confinement,that right there is the thing that makes it beyond being able to cope. They say a lot of them self mutilate from the psychological torment. How can humans be so cruel?
Tim Layden from NBS Sports has a very interesting piece on horse racing. He actually acknowledges that the same excuses being given by the racing industry are just not good enough anymore. I encourage everyone to go check it out – there’s mention of Patrick in the article (and a lot about PETA, though I don’t know why in the Hell they’re getting any credit for putting pressure on racing) and a growing awareness of the public.
Such a horrible death record for horse racing. It’s too bad that far too many people in the racing circuit can’t seem to treat these magnificent horses like the great athletes they are—greed is a terrible thing. Most of those horses are so young and never get a chance to enjoy life, so sad!