Golden Gate strikes again. Yesterday, Ailish’s Buttercup became the second horse to be killed there in three days. This, coming hard on the heels of announcing a reopen date. Good times. Ailish’s Buttercup was five and had been put to the whip 34 times.
But wait, there’s more. Same day, Santa Anita: Tailback, also training. He was four and had been put to the whip twice. Saturday, Los Alamitos: Rowboat Romeo, also while training. He was two and being prepped for his debut.
Three tracks over three days: four kills (and now 41 dead on the year). Reform, California Horseracing style.
Voice your outrage: Link this post. Cite data from this website. Tell them horseracing is animal cruelty; horseracing must end.
Governor Newsom
Senator Feinstein
Senator Harris
California state legislators
Beyond Belief , They can’t stop killing.
Those poor babies used and abused and murdered, horse racing is so outdated and must be stopped
Here we go again: HORSE RACING IS HORSE KILLING!!!!! HORSERACING OBVIOUSLY MEANS THEY HAVE TO BE “TRAINED” SO horse training for horseracing is all in the same industry responsible for brutally abusing horses to death. Protecting HORSES Against Cruelty and TORTURE should be enforced now!!!!!!!! De-fund this torture and killing by abuse!!!!! BAN horseracing for once and for all!!!! All three of these horses were not even adults yet! Horses are not matured until 6 (SIX) years old!!!
So terribly sad!
These criminals are at it once again. Business as usual, California! Right??!! Shame on the racing industry and shame on the ball-less governor for continuing to allow this to happen. You are all a disgrace to humanity!
the covid -19 of the equine world–and humans are the virus. sickening and stoppable with the correct change in barbaric mindsets
Dear God please someone do something about this….Enough…just stop. STOP killing innocent animals who are just doing their level best, only to be discarded or killed when they are done anyway. This is not a sport, a blood sport maybe but this is not a sport that should be supported. These horses are too young, drugged up and disposed or killed by this industry.
Why should a horse die for human entertainment,stop the insanity!!!!!!
this is the covid-19 of equines.humans are the virus this can be cured by a a shift in cultural mindset–money and greed is the basis of this horrible practice … a trait inherent in our species–some more than others
All the talk and reporting about horse racing cruelty amounts to nothing.Talk is cheap and worthless.We the people have to work at the grassroots level.In California we have the ballot initiatives Let’s get to work.
By all means, let the governor and elected representatives know how you feel, Jim:
Governor Newsom
Senator Feinstein
Senator Harris
California state legislators
And, as usual, the L.A. Times immediately runs a story of only Tailback’s death. Why? Because he died at the now-infamous Santa Anita Death Track, of course. Not a peep about the killing machine that is Los Alamitos just a few miles to the south. Not a word about Los Al’s non-stop breakdowns since they’ve continued running horses (literally) into the ground while nearly all other tracks have been forced to stop. No mention of Los Al’s stupid “mixed” horse races that allow desperate and greedy TB owners to run them against QHs until they shatter their legs, as happened Saturday with Tap the Wire.
But one word about Los Al’s non-stop bloodbath (or Golden Gates’, for that matter) from John Cherwa and the L.A. Times? Nope.
It’s all about the SADT’s carnage. The piles of dead horses generated by these “lesser” tracks just aren’t newsworthy, it seems.
As much as we might mourn COVID human deaths, its diversion of Congress’ attention to the Washington Post editorial cry for the end of horse racing is also tragic. You finally had the public’s attention. Now, it may require a couple deaths during the Kentucky Derby to remind the cretins in Congress and to bring tears to the coiffured Kentucky socialites eyes. I still wonder, what powerful political forces allow any horse racing to continue during these infectious times? Who’s putting money into the decision-makers pockets?
VILE.
What ever happened to Senate Bill-469?
Remember this?
https://www.latimes.com/sports/more/la-sp-gavin-newsom-chrb-california-horse-racing-20190624-story.html
Bill 469 was passed on June 24, 2019 and over 50? racehorses have died since then.
This is STILL not enough for them to shut down horse racing.
This example alone, and many others, clearly shows that racing commissions are not neutral as they claim and are there to protect the suffering and dying of racehorses for wagering profits.
Everything about this business is a lie – one big lie.
My prediction?
I think that Santa Anita will surpass their horrible record this year because there will be lots of racehorses running with severe pre-existing conditions just to fill races and their wagering coffers.
I cringe to think of how many more will die.
This is not a sport.
Animal racing is so abuse and outdated. Needs to stop! Disgusting.
Please keep exposing these monsters, the racing industry needs to be held accountable for their horrible abusive practices. Unnecessary deaths reported on a weekly basis and still nothing.
Kill this “sport”, not horses!
I can’t find the words for how terrible this is. That is no way to train a horse. They need to close that place and take the animals away from anyone who does things like that
To the horse racing industry, horses, specifically these victims, are nothing more than implements with which to make money. Nothing more. The industry claims love, regard, safety concerns, etc. That’s all baloney. It’s all about money. There is no heart, soul, ethics, compassion, love. It’s just about making money, and of course the thrill of making lots of money. I’m not one who believes money is the root of all evil. Indifference and cruelty are the evils. Make money, don’t make victims. So easy. If one’s in it for the love of horses, one could run a horse sanctuary. No need to breed, train, euthanize.
Why is horse racing still legal. If there were any decent animal welfare standards, horse racing would never meet them. It’s just about making money and breeding, exploiting, abusing and killing these poor creatures.
ALL FOR THE MONEY, THE MIGHTY BUCK!!! THEN THESE THUGS SAY THE HORSES LIKE IT, GOD ARE THEY CRAZY!!! HORSES ARE GOD’s CREATIONS, A MAGNIFICENT SPECIES, THESE THUGS ARE IN IT FOR THE PROFIT, NO REGARD FOR THESE HORSES LIVES, JUST USE THEM AND ABUSE THEM FOR PROFIT. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO SHOULD BE BEHIND BARS/LOCKED UP FOR THEIR WARPED SENSE OF THRILLS!!! ALL FOR PROFIT, AMAZING WHAT PEOPLE WILL DO FOR MONEY, WHAT A DISGRACE, THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT HUMAN, MORE OF ANIMALS THEMSELVES, PERHAPS THEY SHOULD BE WHIPPED, DRIVEN TO EARLY DEATHS, AS THESE POOR HORSES. THESE THUGS ARE SICKER THAN THE SICKEST IN OUR INSTITUTIONS AND LOOK WHAT THEY GET AWAY WITH, DO YOU SEE JUSTICE HERE, I DO NOT, IF YOU DO THAN YOU ARE CRAZY AS WELL.
Abusing horses and forcing them to race or be killed is not humane–please make animal abuse a crime and enforce laws against it.
How the hell can this continue????? This MUST END!!!!!!!!!
They literally CANNOT keep these dear sweet babies alive…shut it the F down. All the sleazballs in this gambling scheme care about is lining their dirty pockets. They have not one iota concern for life.
Start outing the owners and trainers of these horses. Put the shame directly on them. Show pictures of the dead horses along side the owners/trainers’ pictures and names so the public can be as disgusted as they should be at the reality of the situation. Persons responsible for all these inhumane deaths need their names broadcast everywhere!
Call me an ignorant microbiologist but why are we “training” horses in the middle of a global pandemic? This makes these deaths all the more senseless. It’s time for Governor Newsom to step in and, at the very least, put a moratorium on racing.
When they are not dying most are dumped at kill auctions waiting for the slaughter-bound truck.
This just in from horse lovers who frequent the kill auction.
There are 11+ racehorses, former racehorses (OTTB;s) standing at the LONE STAR KILL PEN: https://www.facebook.com/LoneStarHorses2019/
The following racehorses are BEGGING for their lives and are steps away from being condemned to slaughter.
Frantic calls to the former racehorse “connections” including owners, trainers, racetracks where they previously ran, track-funded aftercare programs, wagering and sales companies – NONE – NOT ONE would send one dime to these poor souls who will meet a horrific fate.
The other day Oaklawn Park boasted about their 41 million dollar wagering profits ONE ONE DAY!
Yet, they refused to send ONE DIME to assist with these racehorses.
Here are the discarded gambling chips – the true faces of the horse racing business:
These are their actual racehorse names, when generating gambling profits, as checked by tattoos.
1. LAURA LUCY – 9 years old.
2. LAURA LUCY’S filly, bred by this industry and dumped along with her mother. 2 years old, ribs showing.
3. LILLY – 14 years old. Will be posting a pic of tattoo today. Very busy with so many discarded racehorses.
4. EXPLODING STAR – a $450,000 purchase at the Saratoga Select Yearling sale in 2002. Then sold for $85,000. Sales consignor Taylor Made was contacted and wouldn’t send a dime. Former trainer Michael Matz wanted nothing to do with her while she’s begging for her life. A total sweetheart I’m told. Amazing riding horse. 19 years of abuse starting on the track and throughout her life.
Aren’t the names so ironic? Exploding Star ready to board the slaughter-bound truck. Quite the star right?
5. AFTANOON TEA. Another victim of this vile business.
6. SHERRY STORM. 5 years old. Never raced.
7. HIP #55. Gorgeous gray mare. We think a huge stake mare, but mutilated tattoo. “Sweet & gentle.”
8. HIP #50 9 y.o. mare. Tattoo to be posted.
9. HIP #51. 6 year old mare. Tattoo pending.
10. LIBBY – Bred and raced in California. Just goes to show that California’s anti-slaughter policies mean nothing
11. Unknown TB.
The majority of these former racehorses bred by this industry to flip a buck for them are all suffering from lack of nutrition. In other words, not being fed enough on the brink of starvation.
Where are all the racing fans in their fancy hats sipping their mint juleps?
Where are the multi-billion dollar wagering and sales companies?
Where are the breeders, owners, trainers and NBC former jockey commentators Donna Brothers, Jerry Bailey?
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND OF COURSE.
Former jockey Gary Stevens may not be interested in helping to save a Thoroughbred race horse’s life either. It’s horrible what these racing people do to horses!!!!
Gina, what can we do to help these sweet souls?? It’s beyond heartbreaking. I noticed one will be shipped off tomorrow if they can’t find a home. What can I do?
I think the main thing that is needed is money. As long as there are rescue groups with their feet on the ground or able to do the legwork, the thing that is missing is the money to pay for the horses, the veterinary care, the transportation, the quarantine, the feed and a place for the horses to go and be cared for after being rescued out of the killbuyers’ feedlot and quarantined.
Andrea, thanks so much for asking.
You can bid on-line if you go to their FaceBook page or over the phone to save her life.
I’m not sure how much experience you have with racehorse rescue so on that note I would just like to point out that paying for their bail, to get her out of harms way, is only the beginning.
You would then have to either provide her with a home or find a home for her and this is where the real issue becomes blatantly obvious.
There has never nor will there ever be enough decent homes for the unwanted racehorse mess.
There are hundreds standing at rescue farms, either private or industry-funded, that can’t get homes.
The obscene amount of racehorses required to fill races and to flip a buck for the wagering coffers results in about 90% eventually needing some sort of home.
They are mere disposable gambling chips and they just keep on coming.
I’m not sure what your financial situation is, but buying her will be the cheapest part of the journey.
Keeping a racehorse either on your farm or boarding is very expensive.
I suppose expense is relative, but to board now, on average, is $300 – $400 every month depending on geographical location.
Depending on the boarding facility that monthly fee may not include food, and it definitely doesn’t include vet care which can run in the thousands especially because most of these racehorses are dumped by this industry without much needed vet care so by the time somebody buys them it’s in the thousands.
Boarding facilities are shutting down on almost a daily basis due to high costs and lack of labor.
That said, I’m cautiously optimistic that somebody will buy her because she is beautiful and gentle.
She’s a senior mare and my only hope is that somebody will be kind to her.
When I did active racehorse rescue I owned my own farm and that greatly reduced my costs, but one can never get paid for their countless hours of nursing them back to physical and mental health because its a labor of love.
Andrea, you can email me at gfpowell@hotmail.com.
I will probably get tons of pro-horse racing attackers, but I don’t care.
I’m in the middle of trying to save a pregnant, yes pregnant, racehorse dumped at a kill auction starving.
She is hours away from boarding the slaughter truck if she hasn’t already.
I’m so sickened by this.
UPDATE:
Horse #7 as listed above: gorgeous gray mare.
AWESOME DUDETTE is her name, but she’s now known as Hip #55 in the kill pen.
So here’s where it comes full circle Ms. Stronach, Frank Stronach and The Stronach Group.
Ms. Stronach, your father has been breeding, selling, crippling, dumping, and killing racehorse FOR YEARS under your horse racing banner “ADENA SPRINGS,” but he’s not unlike all the other breeders who do the same.
AWESOME DUDETTE’s stallion, the great ALPHABET SOUP stood at Adena Springs in Kentucky due to his popularity and his trade mark “gray” offspring.
AWESOME DUDETTE is a spitting image of her stallion ALPHABET SOUP.
She was sold at the 2 year old in training sale and subsequently made over $70,000 on the track and that was over 10 years ago so it would be much more today.
She was then, due to her “royal” breeding, turned into a broodmare machine.
2013 – 2016 forcibly and continually impregnated producing foals.
Whatever happened to her after 2016 to her now ill-fate in the kill pen we will never know.
Although your paddocks in Kentucky, Florida, and Ontario on your million dollar farms are often empty you sent one of your biggest money earners ALPHABET SOUP to Old Friends to live off of private donations unless you’ve set up a financial arrangement with Old Friends for his daily needs.
However, AWESOME DUDETTE isn’t so lucky.
There will be no grassy paddocks for this gorgeous mare unless somebody bails her out, but it’s Adena Springs that stood her stallion, offered the breeding services, and this is why she stands in a kill auction.
“Royally-bred” or not all racehorses are subject to the horrific ends that most of them meet.
Ms. Stronach, multi-millionairess, will you bail her out and bring her to your farm?
I suppose not since your too busy dealing with the broken bodies of racehorses on your tracks.
thanks for the info it’s the breeders and kill pen buyers who i would really like to see well, suffer and perish.
Gina, is it possible to connect privately?
OMG…..Animal abuse is soooo devasting.
THIS NEEDS TO STOP!!!!!!
I am shocked and extremely disappointed that you continue to exploit horses for so called “sport”. Horses are drugged to win or lose, race with injuries, beaten within an inch of their lives and are then dumped literally like trash when you consider them worthless as they cannot make you money anymore! The fact that horses are dying in each and every race-which is seen as collateral damage by people in the business is just heinous and is a disgusting attitude towards these beautiful, sentient creatures who deserve better.
Im just glad that the veil is lifting and the murky underbelly of horse racing is seen by the whole world !
Julie Deacon
Close horse racing for good! Why are you keeping this horror going?
MONEYYYYYYYYY LOTS AND LOTS OF MONEY
it’s time to join the twenty first century already and stop ancient barbaric practices of abusing animals for entertainment!! i am a horse person and i know these young horses bones are not developed nearly enough to ride them this hard and a HORSE IS DEAD WITHOUT FOUR LEGS UNDER THEM STOP KILLING FOR PROFIT YOUR STATE IS A DISGRACE TO ALLOW THIS IN 2020.
That’s absolutely disgusting murder of beautiful horses made to run for money stop it now ✋