Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following information regarding racehorses killed at California tracks in 2019. Due to the volume, I will be posting incrementally; in the interest of ease and efficiency, here is the entire FOIA document. (While Psychedelicat’s necropsy is in the document, he does not appear below because he was killed in 2018.)
Tank Team, Jan 4, Santa Anita R – “fracture, [multiple] ruptures”
(pages 106-110)
Unusual Angel, Jan 4, Santa Anita R – “fracture, [multiple] ruptures”
(pages 111-115)
Secret Street, Jan 8, Santa Anita T – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
(pages 95-99)
Derby Treasure, Jan 11, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
(pages 32-36)
Noise Mandate, Jan 18, Santa Anita R – “fracture, [multiple] ruptures”
(pages 79-82)
Amboseli, Jan 20, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] fractures – multiple fragments missing”
(pages 1-4)
Like Really Smart, Jan 21, Santa Anita R – “fracture, [multiple] ruptures”
(pages 74-78)
Last Promise Kept, Jan 21, Santa Anita R – “fractures with multiple fragments missing”
(pages 63-66)
Dancing Harbor, Jan 23, Santa Anita T – “[multiple] fractures, rupture”
(pages 27-31)
Spitfire, Jan 25, Santa Anita T – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
(pages 100-105)
Kid Cantina, Feb 2, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
(pages 57-62)
Comegowithme, Feb 3, Santa Anita R (euthanized Feb 6) – “fracture, severe rupture”
(pages 22-26)
Jager Time, Feb 17, Santa Anita T – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
(pages 47-51)
Unusual Rider, Feb 18, Santa Anita T – “horse was wobbly, collapsed – sudden death”
(pages 116-118)
Hot American, Feb 22, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
(pages 41-46)
Battle of Midway, Feb 23, Santa Anita T – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
(pages 10-16)
Just Forget It, Feb 23, Santa Anita T – “MCIII bone completely perforated the skin”
(pages 52-56)
Charmer John, Feb 25, Santa Anita T – “fractures, complete rupture of flexor tendon”
(pages 17-21)
Eskenforadrink, Mar 2, Santa Anita R – “fracture, ligament failure”
(pages 37-40)
Lets Light the Way, Mar 5, Santa Anita T – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
(pages 67-73)
Princess Lili B, Mar 14, Santa Anita T – “bones completely perforated skin [both f legs]”
(pages 83-89)
Arms Runner, Mar 31, Santa Anita R – “MCIII completely perforated the skin”
(pages 5-9)
Horseracing is absolute cruelty and torture of racehorses. If they truly loved their horses, they would not be subjecting any horse to the brutal abuse of forcing them to run fast while carrying over 100 pounds of weight on their backs in an attempt to get the baby horse to run at the highest possible SPEED INDEX. The human demons involved in horseracing are allegedly going to “come back stronger than ever” (at some point) which was announced by “name?” a spokesman at CHURCHILL DOWNS. I didn’t catch his name but he has that attitude and demeanor of a die-hard horse killer from way back that thinks the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 is not going to stop them from racing horses. Horseracing is obviously the equivalent of horse killing by cruelty and torture; extreme abuse.
I’m sorry thank you for this. This is so upsetting.
Thank you, Patrick. I remember Princess Lili B’s death like it was yesterday. The so-called “cluster” had just gotten the attention of the SoCal news media, and the national news had just picked up the story as well. Hence, there were TV news crews at the track during morning training hours, with no green screen readily available when she broke both front legs. A local reporter captured the horror of what racing folks see regularly: a mortally wounded racehorse “standing” on two significantly-shortened stumps of what had been her forelegs. The reporter included the footage in her package, with warnings to viewers of the disturbing nature of what they were about to see. It absolutely drove home the unspeakable horrors of horse racing to an audience of already-anxious animal lovers. They (we) saw what ‘Santa Anita Horse Deaths’ were all about.
I believe this was a major turning point in this war against horse racing.
Wasn’t this the incident when media was interviewing Mr. Bob Baffert and they could not deny the horror? Kelly..I read all the names on this list this morning. She is one that stands out in my mind. Trying to stand up with all her effort.
Just got in from horsey stuff and saw your reply, Nancy.
Yes, this is the one. Fox-11 Los Angeles still has the whole horrifying event on Youtube. But WARNING: the anchors’ cautionary intro isn’t sufficient to convey the sickening video that follows. I literally “watched” with my hand over the video portion through about 80-percent of the story.
Of course, racing folks see this all the time, and calmly call it “part of the game.” But I’m pretty sure this was the point at which the Santa Anita Death Track removed all non-racing members of the press from its grounds.
Can’t have the public see what REALLY happens in a horse breakdown, don’t you know.
Kelly, on my way home from Wawa this morning, I couldn’t get the image of Eight Belles out of my mind… I know you know what I mean….trying to stay upright on two snapped off front legs,so I totally get what you mean about Princess Lili B…BELIEVE ME. This bullshit of torturing animals is gonna END.
Bonnie, almost always, they try to stand and keep running for these jacks. I have seen it more times than I can count
Yes, we all know exactly what you mean, Bonnie. But I’ve noticed that racing creeps of late AREN’T PUBLICLY MOCKING people who feel as we do. They don’t openly scoff at protesters anymore, now that their dirty little secrets have been exposed to the public. Even they finally figured out that it’s not just an “animal rights extremist” position to be mortified by their carnage. They’re done.
Nancy, that was sooooooo beyond heartbreaking,what kind of a person could see that EVEN ONCE…and say,yeah, I still want this slaughter to continue. These Apologists are fucking NUTS.
Bonnie..
Like Kelly said seeing this when alot of people did not realize the ugly side did indeed open eyes.
When these horses are pumped with illegal drugs and maybe some legal drugs, and sustain catastrophic injuries causing severe shock and trauma, I can only wonder how much pain they feel and at what point in time they actually feel it. Being in shock can delay the feeling of the pain (even when not on pain-killers), so I wonder how it is for the horses. Of course, it is horrible and painful but what is the amount of time that passes until they feel the impact of the pain? This horror show of extreme abuse that kills horses by cruelty and torture can’t stop soon enough.
Kelly, guess I’m a dinosaur,I’m not on social media,nor have I ever been. Kinda glad,to be honest. Wanting to save animals, and protect them-is Never an extremist position!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yet another horrific list detailing the truth and brutality that is the real face of horse racing.
They all count, but on this list are a few multiple stake winners of over 1 million dollars and that STILL wasn’t enough for these parasites to give them a dignified retirement.
In fact, BATTLE OF MIDWAY, was put back into training after he made over 1.5 million.
Total and complete betrayal of this once beautiful horse who was forced back into training after retirement.
Truth told, these parasites detested the fact that BOM was enjoying his life out in a pasture and NOT making them any more money.
Instead, they wanted to squeeze another buck out of him and if that meant risking his life, knowing that he had serious pre-existing conditions then that was just fine.
Just one of these deaths should be enough to shut this down in California for starters.
There are no defenses, excuses or justifications to keep this freak show going.
These parasites are shameful, disgusting, and have a piece of their heart missing.
That’s assuming they have a heart.
Exactly, Gina.
“Just one of these deaths should be enough…”
Innocent animals dying for gambling, entertainment, unethical monetary profit and the nauseating big egos, especially the trainers, owners and jockeys.
The horse racing industry for decades and decades and decades and decades, has brazenly brushed aside these fabulous equines dying cruel and painful deaths.
How could any decent fellow human being accept and think it’s okay for these innocent horses, purposely bred for the horse racing industry, to be thrown out there to race knowing that a horse is likely to lose his or her life. Playing Russian roulette big time.
Death after death after death after death
And the gruesome details of these deaths are not only utterly unacceptable but sickeningly outrageous.
It never ceases to amaze me how the gruesome images of some of the horses who fell and broke down during races…pop into my mind,and I can just see it all over again in my mind..the horrific images. It’s actually like a form of PTSD…if you ask me. HR needs to be gone,no more abuse.
Beyond heartbreaking!! Almost every single one of these poor horses had MULTIPLE fractures. How in God’s name is this carnage still allowed to continue? How are these criminals still allowed to KILL every single day?? If these and all the other horrific injuries that keep happening are not reason enough to SHUT THIS EVIL INDUSTRY DOWN, I really don’t know what is!! I honestly do not believe there is another form of animal abuse more gruesome than horse racing,
These parasites have no place in this society anymore. They belong in a dungeon locked up for life. Enough is enough!!!
They breed them; they name them; they gain their trust; they “jail” them; they drug them; then after a short life filled with abuse comes the ULTIMATE BETRAYAL- a horrific death at
the track or the slaughter house.
There is absolutely NO way to justify this depravity.
Just in.
Frank and Belinda Stronach of The Stronach Group who owns Santa Anita, Golden Gate, and Luis Rey Downs applied for “special treatment” to Gov. Newsom’s office so that they could CONTINUE their killing show.
They got “special permission” from Gov. Newsom to keep training and running at least for this weekend.
They claim that racehorses need to continue training and racing or their health is in jeopardy!
No kidding.
The track is the most dangerous place for a racehorse to be since we know about all of the maiming and killing going on not to mention the dumping.
It’s incredulous, delusional, and fraudulent to state such things as we know the opposite to be true.
They claimed that it would be a racehorse and humanitarian issue because thousands of racehorses require daily care and “fit” racehorses need to run.
Aside from all this bullshit it boils down to one thing:
They simply don’t want to put these racehorses in a grassy paddock where they belong because it would cost MONEY and they wouldn’t be able to make any MONEY or generate gambling profits.
Let’s be frank here.
Of course to put some icing on the cake The Stronach Group will commit profits to the Covet-19 needs.
An absolute joke because I bet you that not ONE DIME will be given to any Covet-19 effort.
If they truly cared about this virus and the effects on our communities than they would do the right thing and SHUT THE TRACK DOWN.
This decision by The Stronach Group and also, to be fair, Louisianna has done the same thing claiming the same excuses.
This clearly shows a bunch of people who are hell bent on controlling their disposable gambling chips and putting themselves, their vile business, and all their parasites above and beyond humankind.
But they get their way
It’s beyond disgusting!!! Someone at the racetracks will get sick and if they don’t have underlying health conditions that seriously compromise their immune system and if they are young, they will be miserable for 2 weeks and live. If someone with underlying health conditions over a certain age gets the Coronavirus COVID-19, they will get sick and be miserable and die. I guess it depends on who it is that dies that will determine what, if anything, Gov. Newsom will do to stop the spread of the virus. In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little has issued an isolation order in BLAINE COUNTY because of what he calls “COMMUNITY SPREAD” in that particular county. Yesterday, there were 17 reported cases in BLAINE COUNTY and no deaths in that county. If Gov. Newsom is concerned about COMMUNITY SPREAD at all, I am guessing he will take some steps to isolate one large group from the rest of the population. In Washington state, Gov. Jay Inslee was “allegedly” going to announce a “STATEWIDE SHELTER IN PLACE” order yesterday afternoon, but, who knows why, he did NOT issue the order. One of my daughters lives in Seattle and works in health care and she and some other people she knows think that it has something to do with large companies namely BOEING that might be paying the governor to be irresponsible. She says not enough people are taking this outbreak of Coronavirus seriously enough and that Gov. Inslee is being irresponsible to not issue a shelter in place order.
Gina, I’ve seen complaints from the exploiters, whining the horses need to “get out of their stalls” for humane purposes and to keep them from injuring themselves.
Funny how that is – they’ve never sobbed about the 23-hour-per-day stall confinement before – just give them stall balls and peppermints and they’re HAPPY, right? – totally enjoying that royal treatment!
Exactly Joy, and if they really wanted them out of their stalls than they would retire them from horse racing, PAY FOR THEM to go into a grassy paddock where they belong.
For once, take responsibility for a living, breathing being when they can NO LONGER generate bets.
Of course we know that’s wishful thinking, but getting their “way” as Nancy puts it will only be short lived.
The demise of horse racing is inevitable it’s just a matter of time.
If anybody contacts the Covet-19 virus as any Stronach property SUE THEM into the ground make it a joint lawsuit against Gov. Newsom’s officer for not protecting workers.