Belatedly, the NYS Gaming Commission has disclosed the death (“injury to left back leg”) of Always Rock N Roll in the 10th at Buffalo a week ago today. He was seven years old. For NY, this is the 6th harness kill already this year – an extraordinary number.
Harness racing may not kill as many Standardbred horses at trotting and pacing as racing horses at a gallop kills Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, but dead is dead. Abusive routine barbarism kills horses. Some people may think it’s okay, but they are wrong!