Through a FOIA request to the Florida DBPR, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks in 2020 (this is part 2; part 1 here). Please note, however, that the single-page “reports” mostly came without immediate causes of death. More broadly, Florida’s recordkeeping is, along with New Mexico’s, the most slipshod in the nation. So, I’m absolutely certain that this is not a full accounting of Florida carnage – and I’m reporting well over 100 kills there for 2020.
Roddick, Aug 3, Gulfstream T
Masterday, Aug 7, Gulfstream T
Miss Flying Sun, Aug 8, Gulfstream T
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Aug 10, Gulfstream W T
Smoochin Kitten, Aug 11, Gulfstream T (3-year-old being prepped for first race)
Mapart, Aug 27, Gulfstream T (2-year-old being prepped for first race)
Concorde’s Dream, Aug 27, Gulfstream R – “stepped in a hole on the track or took a bad step”
Allurstra, Aug 28, Gulfstream R
Tempt Me, Aug 29, Gulfstream R
Channeled’s Angel, Aug 30, Gulfstream R
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Sep 16, Palm Meadows T
New Delhi, Sep 17, Gulfstream R
Greenmountainman, Sep 18, Gulfstream W S – “severe neurologic symptoms”
Citibike, Sep 19, Palm Meadows T (had 2 “DNFs,” including a “vanned off,” in 7 total races)
Metcalf, Sep 19, Palm Meadows T
Believe Indeed, Sep 20, Gulfstream T
Remaster, Sep 20, Gulfstream R
Taco, Oct 2, Palm Meadows T
Hidden Found, Oct 3, Palm Meadows T (2-year-old being prepped for first race)
Jax a Million, Oct 4, Gulfstream T
Roi Du Sucre, Oct 10, Gulfstream T (2-year-old being prepped for first race)
Fernanda, Oct 11, Gulfstream T
Trev, Oct 11, Palm Meadows T (10 years old)
Courage de Lion, Oct 16, Gulfstream W R – “displaced fracture”
Chandler’s Drama, Oct 24, Gulfstream W R – “sudden death – heart attack” (four years old)
Colossal Storm, Oct 24, Gulfstream W R (died Oct 25) – “had an impaction and passed away” (was “fractious” before start of that race)
True Champion, Oct 29, Gulfstream W R – “fracture, tear” (first race)
Luxe Diamond, Nov 6, Gulfstream T
Wason, Nov 6, Gulfstream T
Tapish, Nov 7, Gulfstream T – “manner of death: natural causes” (two years old)
Cabo Polonio, Nov 18, Gulfstream T
Shanghai Levi, Nov 21, Gulfstream T
R Sea Smoke, Nov 22, Gulfstream W R
Majestic Maiara, Nov 22, Gulfstream W R
Sold American, Dec 1, Gulfstream S – “laminitis, colitis” (finished 40 lengths back in last race, Nov 1)
Tribute Flag, Dec 2, Gulfstream R
Teachable Moment, Dec 15, Palm Meadows T
Dudes Got Game, Dec 26, Gulfstream R
Crazy Kiss, Dec 29, Tampa Bay T – “shoulder fracture” (2-year-old being prepped for first race)
I Am the Grey, Dec 30, Gulfstream R
Lil’s Kitten, Dec 30, Tampa Bay R
Little Nesso, Dec 31, Gulfstream T – “sesamoid fracture”
CONCORDE’S DREAM, August 27, 2020; Gulfstream Racing: “stepped in a hole on the track or took a bad step”…
Since when do they have “holes” on a racetrack??? What a bunch of crap!!!! They forced the horse to run beyond what the horse was capable of and deliberately and willfully caused fatal injuries to CONCORDE’S DREAM. The same with all of these poor horses!!! None of the horses deserve this insidious abuse!!!!!!
Wanda, the Gulfstream Park turf course has an awful reputation….known as the graveyard. I personally knew a 2yr old who broke down because of their turf. As far as their dirt..I cannot say.
Bonnie, there are lots of different details that could be discussed or covered under the heading of track surface and preparation of the track for racing, whether is it is dirt or turf. All in all, it is a bunch of crap!!!!!! They force the horses to run on a surface that evidently isn’t properly prepared for horses to run on. They are guilty of ABUSE of the horses to FORCE them into running at all. They are ABUSING the horses by FORCING THE HORSES TO BE CONFINED TO A STALL FOR 23 HOURS A DAY. IT IS BOTH ABUSE AND NEGLIGENCE TO FORCE HORSES to run on an uneven surface with “a hole” or “holes” in the track surface where the horses are FORCED TO RUN. I have ridden horses in places where cattle graze on the breaks of both the Snake River and the Clearwater River when I was younger. I know about dips and dives in the surface of the ground from experience!!! A racetrack should not be a place where you have to worry about your horse stepping in a hole. That is ridiculous!!!!
Love how Tampa Bay Downs claims to have gone more than SIX MONTHS without a single horse death of any kind, then decides to throw in a couple back-to-back kill days at the very, very end of the year.
Sure, Tampa. We believe you;)
“Natural causes” at two years old? Hmmm, why don’t I believe that?