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!
Horseracing Wrongs 
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!