Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on 2020 kills (previous ones here). (The names were redacted but, paradoxically, the dead had already been identified on the Board’s public database.)
Warren, Jul 2, Los Alamitos S
“colic, distended small intestine, extensive hemorrhages”
This Is Us, Jul 3, Los Alamitos R
“open fracture, complete luxation of the fetlock joint”
Jess Bet Me, Jul 5, Los Alamitos R
“[multiple] fractures, [multiple] complete ruptures”
Lovely Lilia, Jul 11, Del Mar T
“[multiple] fractures; [multiple] severe, complete ruptures”
Alltime Favorite, Jul 11, Los Alamitos R (euthanized Jul 13)
“multiple comminuted, displaced fractures; complete rupture of [multiple] ligaments; severe, extensive cartilage loss”
Tacy, Jul 12, Los Alamitos R
“open fracture; complete rupture, [multiple] ligaments; complete rupture, tendon”
The Armenian, Jul 21, Del Mar S
“focal serosal hemorrhages [in] colon”
Snow Pack, Aug 2, Golden Gate R
“catastrophic fetlock breakdown, complete rupture of [multiple] ligaments”
Bf Field Notes, Aug 7, Los Alamitos S
“collided with rail – [multiple] comminuted spine fractures, spinal cord compression, hemorrhage within spinal canal, aortic rupture”
Secret Tonight, Aug 8, Los Alamitos R
“complete fracture of the scapula, severe hemorrhage”
Galaxy Master, Aug 13, Golden Gate S
“horse was tied to back of stall waiting to train, started shaking, collapsed and died – unknown cause” (four years old)
My Sweet Lou, Aug 23, Golden Gate R
“multiple fractures of the RF fetlock, complete rupture of [multiple] ligaments”
Irreproachable, Aug 24, Del Mar T
“[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
Adriatic Son, Aug 27, Los Alamitos S
“found dead in stall – colon rupture with hemorrhage”
GALAXY MASTER, 4-years-old, died of an unknown cause while tied to the back of the stall waiting to train. He started shaking, collapsed and died. That is the weirdest thing I’ve heard of or read so far about horses dying “under the care of racing participants” in California or anywhere. It raises more questions than it answers for me.
Sounds like drugs.
Alan, the use of drugs on GALAXY MASTER certainly crossed my mind. I still wonder just what they injected into this poor horse. Also, why was he tied to the back of the stall for any reason let alone to wait for training??? Was it to keep him standing in one spot so they could inject drugs into him? How many horses is his “trainer” in charge of that he makes a horse wait tied to the back of the stall, as if the horses aren’t confined enough already???
Any time I have called stewards about wrong doing, I’m told “it is up to the trainer”. And many times I’ve been met with outright hostility, as was the case when I asked about the horse bleeding from the mouth at Keeneland. In essence, the message was, none of your business along with how did I find out about it, and some woman yelling at me in the background…
my dressage horses are kept tied after saddled so they don’t roll and injure their backs by rolling on top of the saddle. most likely the case here.
Tying them up is for a few reasons. Like Greg said, it’s so they don’t roll, but mostly it’s also to streamline the operation when they have multiple horses going out for training in the morning. The exercise riders jump off one horse when it’s done, then right away get legged up on the next one. They tie them so the horses know it’s time to work, and they don’t have to waste time trying to catch the horse, plus the bridle is already on so you don’t have to worry about the horse dropping it’s head and tangling in the bridle, and they know the horse is ready to go when it’s tied.
And I agree with you, Alan. I would guess drugs too.
Alltime Favorite suffered from “extensive cartilage loss.” From what I have read on the internet, that such loss is caused by disease, injury, and/or repair, this horse should not have been raced, full stop. Of course all should not be raced, but this horse’s injuries prove that fact so painfully. This industry’s goal is to make money, everything else must fall in line, meaning the health and welfare of all horses, including individuals such as Alltime, who was a sure bet to suffer this torture and be killed.
Reblogged this on Armory of the Revolution.
Yes, and the killing needs to be stopped!
Look no further than the lists of dead horses to to understand the inhumanity and violence of racing.
And if one wants to look further, there are the kill pens, the horrific journeys to the slaughterhouses of Canada and Mexico for thousands upon thousands of horses year after year.
It is a brutal business inhabited by brutish people. The only way I see an end to this is if the profits evaporate.
I do not look to the politicians to do anything meaningful.
PS What an excruciating death suffered by Adriatic Son. “Found dead in stall” from a ruptured colon and hemorrhage. Colons don’t just rupture without an underlying cause. The suffering of that poor horse is unimaginable. To racing it is just another dead horse!! Who cares if he was neglected and abandoned to suffer and eventually die.
If anyone ever doubts just how greedy these wretched racing creeps are, they should take a look at Penn National right now. Heavy rain tonight, followed by dense fog on a sloppy, sealed track. YET THE RACES GO ON. Their positions and times can’t even be verified, because THEY CAN’T SEE THE HORSES.
Guess they’ll wait until a catastrophic accident kills off a couple of their “beloved athletes,” and maybe paralyzes another rider, before they call the card.
Good thinking, Penn officials!
You are so dead on right Kelly!!!! There was a Baby gelding (2) in the first race,who has NO business being on a track!!!,not even anywhere Near a track,who I’ve been tracking.He went off at 75/1,was a last out SCRATCH, this baby’s name is Mister Aranguiz, everyone please make a note. I think he’s a “walking dead”,at only two years old!!!
My god, Bonnie, good catch! His chart looks like he’s the walking dead even on a CLEAR day, with perfect track conditions. Of course, Penn Nat’l. officials will never concede a kill (or three) to the public; they’re too afraid now that the taxpayers have finally caught on to their welfare scheme.
Soooooo, it’s now more important than ever to hide your horse kills, Pennsylvania Racing Creeps!
Kelly, I’m sure being he’s from Exaggerator’s first crop there were high expectations! Curlin,Line and all. We can’t let another 2yr old DIE. No 2yr old should EVER die…Full Stop. I heard some cute stories about Exaggerator,when he was a weanling (real prankster). Let’s save him.
You are right, Bonnie, Mister Aranguiz is not able to compete. looking at his connections makes me VERY concerned for his welfare…
Rose, I thought the same thing (trainer). Is there ANYTHING we can do to save this baby??????
You are right, Bonnie, Mister Aranguiz is not able to compete. looking at his connections makes me VERY concerned for his welfare…
Bonnie, money and only money is the issue in this case, that I can tell you, no such thing as what is best for the horse.
Rose, I just forced myself to watch Mister Aranguiz’s race from last night, I couldn’t make it through. I shut it off. Rose, you can see just from watching a very little bit, this baby is in pain. This 2 yr old MUST be removed from this MONSTER. Is there anyone we could talk to?
Bonnie, I will contact someone re this situation. I will update.
Thank you Rose. We are all now Watching this situation,And have put the sleazy racing scum on notice!!!!! Thank you too Wanda,let’s hope we are in time!
I am hoping Mister Aranquiz, the 2-year-old, isn’t catastrophically injured before someone can get him out of the dangerously cruel situation that he was born into! Thanks for bringing up his name, Bonnie! Any effort made to rescue him is much appreciated, Rose!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏