The Ambulance Report
Last week on U.S. flat tracks (racing only). “Vanned Off”: horse required an ambulance to get off the track; while not all the “vanned” end up dead, most do, as borne out by my FOIA reports “Bled”: typically indicates pulmonary…
November 2020
Read MoreThe Ambulance Report
NY’s “Standard That Should Be Emulated Across the Country”: 760 Kills Since 2013
On November 9, the board of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (NYTHA), a trade group “representing the interests of [NYS] owners and trainers,” issued a statement heralding its support for Mitch McConnell’s “Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act of 2020.” In…
From “Reluctant to Load” to “Vanned Off After the Race”
In addition to a “pulled up, vanned off” (Little Miss Julia) in the 7th at Penn Friday, and various other horses described as “unwilling” or “rank,” there was this for the 3-year-old filly Aamaal in the day’s final race: “AAMAAL…
Two Kills Yesterday at Aqueduct; Casualties at Several Other Tracks, Too
Let’s start with what we know for sure from yesterday. Because of NY’s (anomalous) public database, we have same-day confirmations on two – yes, two – kills at Aqueduct. In the 3rd, Stay Fond “suffered an injury, was placed to…
Sky of Hook Becomes 89th Dead Racehorse in NY This Year
This for Sky of Hook in the 6th at Aqueduct Sunday, as relayed by the Gaming Commission: “horse was vanned off after the wire, ambulanced to barn, where vet exam revealed injuries necessitating euthanasia.” Sky of Hook was three; ’twas…
For $2 Bets
Last week on U.S. flat tracks (racing only). “Vanned Off”: horse required an ambulance to get off the track; while not all the “vanned” end up dead, most do, as borne out by my FOIA reports “Bled”: typically indicates pulmonary…
A Kill at Aqueduct Today; NYRA’s 2020 Death Toll at 75
Astonishingly, the “demonstrably safer” New York Racing Association keeps killing horses. In the 1st today at Aqueduct, Mr. Tag, three, was “vanned off” and subsequently euthanized. (The Gaming Commission appended this consolation: “no apparent injury to rider.”) In this, a…
Vile: “reluctant to load, urged along, pulled up, vanned off”
The chart note for Hinton in the 2nd at Hawthorne yesterday: “a bit reluctant to load, was urged along the inside disputing the pace in the opening half, gave way racing into the far turn, was pulled up entering the…
Filly Dead of Colic at Santa Anita
The California Horse Racing Board has disclosed the death of an “unnamed filly” at Santa Anita Wednesday – cause, colic. For those who’d like to absolve the racing industry of these types of deaths, this.
Progress: Another Racetrack to Close – For Good
When its current meet ends on November 28, Scarborough Downs, a harness track in Maine, will be closing – for good. This will leave one active racetrack in Maine (Bangor Raceway) and but two in the whole of New England…
Filly Euthanized Where She Lay
The Equibase note for Moochie in the 6th this afternoon at Laurel: “MOOCHIE viedtowards the rail, gained a short lead leaving the far turn, raced in the two path battling between horses past the five sixteenths, lost her rider after…
A Kill at Ellis
This from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, 1st race at Ellis, August 28: “Market Garden was pulled up quickly shortly past the finish and required the assistance of the KHRC veterinarians who attended to the horse and loaded him into…