Last week on U.S. flat tracks (racing only):
Wanting “vanned off” at Indiana
Plexus “vanned off” at Indiana
Zoikes “fell, vanned off” at Indiana
Dimera “vanned off” at Arizona
Dialin Some Sass “struck a fallen rival, DNF” at Thistledown
Somewhere Up North “fell entering the turn” at Thistledown
Princess Beach “vanned off” at Indiana
Blitchton Lady “vanned off” at Parx
Irie Empress “injured [in] gate” at Parx
A Silent Player “bled” at Belmont
Perfect Tapatino “collided with foe, fell heavily” at Belmont
Breaking Stones “vanned off” at Belmont
Candy Store “vanned off” at Indiana
The Maui Diamond “fell, DNF” at Albuquerque
Catability “fell, DNF” at Albuquerque
Waylay “fell, DNF” at Albuquerque
Lincoln County Kid “fell, DNF” at Albuquerque
El Casadora “vanned off” at Churchill
Gab’s Lil Leaguer “vanned off” at Charles Town
Danjer “bled” at Albuquerque
Skyvalue “vanned off” at Churchill
This Jess Can Dash “fell, vanned off” at Prairie
While not all the “vanned” end up dead, most do, as borne out by our year-end FOIA reports. But even if death is not the ultimate result, the above are victims nonetheless, suffering painful injuries – in the case of the bleeders, pulmonary hemorrhage – so that some men may gamble, others chase pots of gold. (For any new confirmed deaths during the week, please see our running annual list.)
The day that the betting windows close will be a great day for the horses, except for the reality of the owners wanting to dump their “beloved family members” into the slaughter pipeline.