Last week on U.S. flat tracks (racing only):
Tf Thrilling Runaway “vanned off” at Louisiana
Doctor D J “vanned off” at Tampa Bay
Adrianna’s Rocket “vanned off” at Tampa Bay
Eagle Keeper “vanned off” at Tampa Bay
Suzanne’s Sugar “fell, DNF” at Charles Town
Our Electra Guitar “fell, DNF” at Charles Town
Manifest Destiny “bled” at Aqueduct
Patrick’s Lass “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Stealth Fighter “vanned off” at Oaklawn
Ronas Ryon Hearts “fell, DNF” at Sunland
Supah Sista “vanned off” at Turf
Cruzin Tatum “bled” at Turfway
Sigiloso “vanned off” at Gulfstream
High Oak “fell, DNF” at Gulfstream
Akhnas “vanned off” at Sam Houston
MI. Tallawah “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Keepsakekitten “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Ameerah B “vanned off” at Gulfstream
Crying for More “pulled up lame, vanned off” at Laurel
Ed Gatty “vanned off” at Los Alamitos
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.)
Florida injured nine horses last week according to the list and that is almost half of the twenty horses listed above. I’m hoping that billboard in Tampa, Florida showing the dark side of horseracing will cause a lot of people to think twice about the horseracing industry. Horses are beautiful, yes. Horses being killed by racing is ugly and everyone should know that it happens multiple times a week.
Yep! They’re on quite the roll in the Sunshine State; Florida ADMITTED eight van-offs and a DNF/hobble-off in the charts. But, with essentially no racing commission or other (non-)governing body overseeing all their carnage, I think it’s pretty safe to assume they injured and maimed (and killed) a hell of a lot more. It’s why the Stronachs love their butcher shop known as Gulfstream Park so much: full fields, close to handy-dandy Puerto Rico for dumping any survivors, and no accountability nor transparency for their mass equicide.
High Oak and Galt both went down. Multiple sources are saying both came out of the fall unscathed(?????)
Thank you, Nancy. Unscathed could be a code word for “dead, but we’re not telling anyone” as you know. Talk about “integrity” in this vile and vomit-worthy industry.
Wanda, or waiting for that what 72 hour leeway between accident and euthanized. (Unscathed my word but the meaning the same) It’s a miracle High Oak made it. Stuck in traffic during the race right before the fall. Also you may have heard about the barn fire at Wesley Ward barn. Three didn’t make it out.
I read the headline but I didn’t read the article. It makes me sick every time I hear about a barn fire.
Decades ago, there was a certain man that was said to have burned horses (not necessarily racehorses) by the barn full on purpose to collect the insurance money. Of course, nobody can say that is what happens in every case. It will take time to get the whole story, but it may not ever be made public knowledge. Or, a barn fire might remain an unsolved mystery.
It’s such a hideous way for any living being to die or even live through.
The fire dept said it was lightening.
Oh, for those wondering about the latest from the Florida racing press and its publication of “outcomes”/updates on horses injured while racing:
Looks like that quick burst of transparency is over. Mike Welsch of the Daily Racing Form couldn’t be persuaded this time to follow-up with even the vaguest inquiry about GP’s latest Three Van-Off Victims Day:(
I read somewhere that in Ocala, the barbaric Steeplechase is coming to town.
Looks like one just happened. Non-sanctioned, and not a lot of publicity, apparently — meaning they probably hosted at least a couple horse deaths, as usual. Anyway, the regular announcer for Turf Pairo’Deaths called it.