Last week on U.S. flat tracks (racing only):
Princess Toishma “injured herself [yes, she injured herself]” at Parx
Heroic Officer “returned lame, vanned off” at Parx
Dunroad “vanned off” at Belterra
Dr. Approval “vanned off” at Mountaineer
Dinna Fash “injured during the saddling process” at Parx
Can the Queen “bled” at Laurel
Best Be Goin “vanned off” at Remington
Mo Mosa “bled, vanned off” at Churchill
Empty Nestr “vanned off” at Delaware
Choose Joy “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Silverly Enough “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Rouson “went wrong, vanned off” at Churchill
Kyosha “vanned off” at Laurel
Great Power “vanned off” at Los Alamitos
King of New York “vanned off” at Mountaineer
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.)
Horse Racing is Animal Cruelty! This is a given. The variable is how many horses will be injured and killed every day and every week. How many horses will be reported killed? How many horses that are INJURED but not euthanized will be sold at auction to a killbuyer or directly to a killbuyer? How many people involved in horseracing will even care if they know about the INJURED horses? It’s a paycheck for a lot of people. It’s a disgrace! There are so many other ways to earn a paycheck that are not detrimental to animals. Horseracing and Pari-Mutuel wagering are vices, not virtuous at all.
It is a disgrace to allow horses to be injured and killed. Let us end horseracing!