Look, I get it, the weather is gorgeous and we’re human beings, so naturally we look for outdoor things to do. In NYS, for so many, for so long, the centerpiece of summer fun has been world-renowned Saratoga Race Course – “the oldest,” so they say, “sporting venue in the nation.” What better way, the thinking goes, to spend a lazy August afternoon than to watch those beautiful, majestic animals doing what they love – run. Well, today, racing fans of NY and beyond, I present an inconvenient truth.

If you attend Saratoga this summer, if you bet on Saratoga races from afar, or even if you just watch the racing on tv, your support will make possible the abuse, maiming, and killing of those aforementioned beautiful animals. Indeed, it’s the only thing that can. Follows is a list of the horses killed on those hallowed grounds since 2009 (the first year of state disclosure). Remember, as always, that these are just the ones who were reported. Not reflected here are those euthanized off-site, nor the hundreds (probably thousands) more who raced at Saratoga and eventually were bled-out and butchered – slaughtered, that is – once the industry was done with them.

Saratoga’s 198 dead horses, 7/1/09-7/3/22 (an average of over 15 per summer):

yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, stall – “found with fractured femur”
Aqueous, training – “fractured sesamoid”
Alexandros, racing – “fractured both RF sesamoids”
It’s My Day, racing – “flipped, fractured skull, died”
Wishful Star, stall – “inoperable colic”
Finallymadeit, training – “fractured cannon”
Executive Fleet, stall – “severe laminitis”
Possessive, racing – “fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Todo K, racing – “[fractured] pastern”
Von Steuben, stall – “severe laminitis”
Swift Water, stall – “severe colic”
Boyhood Dream, racing – “fractured humerus”
Giant Legacy, training – “fractured tibia”
Gold Vendetta, racing – “fractured knee”
Thatcatismine, training – “cardiovascular collapse, died”
Fire the Bullet, stall – “colic”
Austintatious, training – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Rani Baba, racing – “comminuted slab fracture”
Kastraki, training – “fractured cannon”
Hathors Legacy, stall – “laminitis [both] front feet”
No Ones Shadow, stall – “fractured pelvis, died from internal hemorrhage”
Bold Victory, training – “fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Timber Reserve, racing – “fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Jazzy Johann, training – “pulled up lame, fractured sesamoid”
Seis de Mayo, racing – “fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Forest Whip, racing – “fell, fractured neck, died”
Daylasoul, stall – “got loose, struck by tractor trailer”
Red Rhythm, racing – “fractured cannon”
Rockettes Escapade, racing – “fractured cannon”
Shopportunity, training – “fractured cannon”
Jackson N Humboldt, racing – “fractured knee”
Doing Great, racing – “collapsed and died”
Not Now Ashley, training – “fractured both LF sesamoids”
Eric’sformalreturn, training – “fractured knee”
Boston and Maine, training – “fractured leg”
Burnin’ Ash, training – “ruptured sesamoid”
Bogal, training – “fell, fractured skull”
Shanbongus, training – “collapsed and died”
Autumn Riches, racing – “fractured knee”
Plattsburgh, racing – “fractured shoulder”
Twice the Price, racing – “fractured cannon”
Julia’s Hero, training – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Regal Citizen, racing – “[multiple fractures], euthanized on track”
Sugar and Smoke, training – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
One Note Samba, racing – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Pete’s Parley, racing – “fell, fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Molly Mingun, training – “fractured humerus, euthanized on track”
Bluember, racing – “fell, fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Live for Today, racing – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
The Shade, training – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Lovely Saratoga, training – “[multiple fractures]”
Black Rhino, training – “fractured knee”
Charmed Hour, racing – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Heading to Toga, racing – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Sarava’s Dancer, racing – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Kris Royal, racing – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Ricochet Court, training – “fell, [broke] both front legs”
Ocean Breeze, training – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Saginaw, racing – “fractured leg”
For Riches, training – “fractured shoulder, euthanized on track”
Lucky for You, training – “fractured leg”
Lifeguard On Duty, training – “fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Double Gold, training – “fell over rail, trauma to spine”
Father Johns Pride, racing – “ambulanced off, euthanized in necropsy area”
Lavender Road, racing – “collapsed, fractured vertebrae”
Sir William Bruce, racing – “collapsed after unsaddling and died”
Regretless, racing – “collapsed and died on track”
M B and Tee, racing – “collapsed after finish, died on track”
Kamarius, training – “fractured leg”
Ludicrous, racing – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Elena Strikes, training – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Makari, racing – “fell, died on track”
Divine Guidance, racing – “fractured leg”
Tale of the Spa, training – “fractured leg”
You Gotta Believe, training – “impaled stifle on rail”
Jay Bird, training – “sudden death – pulmonary hemorrhage”
Zzaj, training – “fractured tibia, euthanized on track”
Defined, training – “fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Jackson N Leonard, training – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Kathy’s Reward, training – “fractured cannon, euthanized on track”
Innovation Economy, racing – “fractured leg”
On a Snowy Evening, racing – “fractured sesamoid”
Big Looie, training – “fractured both LF sesamoids”
Darling Bridezilla, stall – “sudden death due to cardiac incident”
Divine Fortune, racing – “fell over last jump – fractured humerus”
Country Muse, training – “fractured both RF sesamoids”
Totally Discreet, stall – “laminitis both front feet”
Hadeed Fi Hadeed, training – “fractured leg”
Squire Creek, training – “fell, fractured ulna, euthanized on track”
Stradivari, training – “fractured leg”
Zamjara, racing – “fractured leg”
Rootformejustin, racing – “pulled up, ambulanced off, euthanized”
Indian Nobility, racing – “ruptured ligaments”
Domestic Warrior, racing – “fractured sesamoids, euthanized on track”
Lebowski, stall – “found dead”
Jonrah, training – “fractured cannon, euthanized on track”
Midnight Visitor, racing – “fell suffering head trauma”
Wheels Up Now, training – “fractured sesamoids”
Recepta, training – “fractured pelvis”
Prince Corredor, training – “collapsed and died after breezing”
Elusive Neko, training – “fractured cannon”
Bob Le Beau, racing – “fractured cannon”
Ring of Truth, racing – “humeral fracture, euthanized on track”
Desert Trial, training – “collapsed and died”
Its Only Fair, training – “collapsed and died after breezing”
Core Competency, training – “fractured leg”
Lakalas, training – “collapsed and died”
Queen B, training – “fractured leg”
Wanztbwicked, training – “suspensory rupture”
Angels Seven, racing – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Howard Beach, training – “fractured leg”
Positive Waves, training – “[multiple fractures]”
Brooklyn Major, racing – “collapsed after wire and died”
Marshall Plan, training – “fractured condylar”
Fall Colors, racing – “died on track from trauma sustained in fall”
Munjaz, racing – “fractured leg”
Lakeside Sunset, training – “fractured leg”
Unbroken Chain, racing – “fractured leg, euthanized on track”
Duquesne Whistle, stall – “colic”
Sweetneida, racing – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Meteoroid, racing – “[multiple fractures], euthanized on track”
Sayonara Rose, racing – “fractured sesamoids, euthanized on track”
Travelin Soldier, training – “fractured leg”
That Mr. P, stall – “acute colic”
Aggie’s Honor, training – “fractured cannon”
Somekindasexy, training – “fractured both RF sesamoids”
Roberta Brooks, training – “fractured cannon”
Run Rate, training – “injury to knee”
Presumptuous, training – “sustained [multiple] fractures”
Heartspoke, racing – “horse collapsed on track”
Macho Citizen, racing – “fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Frosty Gal, stall – “sustained [multiple] injuries”
Master Manipulator, stall – “collapsed and died”
Biz Boss, training – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Indifference, training – “injured, vanned off, euthanized”
Bowie, racing – “horse injured, euthanized on track”
Ready for Rye, stall – “colic”
Royal Blessing, stall – “found dead – ileal rupture”
Business Expense, training – “[multiple] fractures”
Hard Study, training – “fractured [both] RF sesamoids”
Forbade, training – “condylar fracture”
St. Barts, training – “collapsed – pulmonary hemorrhage”
Golden Julia, training – “pelvic injury, acute blood loss”
Investment Analyst, training – “sustained leg injury necessitating euthanasia”
Gattino Marrone, training – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Fight Night, racing – “fell heavily after the wire, euthanized on track”
Total Fidelity, training – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Overlord, stall – “colonic rupture”
Verravanni, stall – “pleuropneumonia”
Misspent Youth, training – “cardiovascular collapse”
Umetuka, training – “injured, vanned off, euthanized”
Divine Miss Grey, racing – “complications [after] surgery”
Sundae On Sunday, racing – “collapsed, euthanized on track”
Go Big Or Go Home, racing – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Sister Beauty, training – “inoperable fracture”
Borough Boy, racing – “fell heavily, euthanized on track”
So Surprising, training – “fractured [both] LF sesamoids”
Noble Spirit, training – “sustained injury, subsequently euthanized”
Cloud, training – “sustained leg injury breezing”
Apollon, training – “cardiovascular collapse”
Shiny Copper Penny, stall – “experienced sudden death”
Brag On Me, training – “tibia fracture”
Lady C, racing – “vanned off with left hind injury, euthanized”
First Appeal, racing – “euthanized [for] severe injuries”
Own the Outcome, training – “condylar fracture”
Pot of Hunny, racing – “fell heavily, euthanized on track”
Perfection, racing – “suffered a catastrophic injury”
Highly Uncertain, stall – “colic”
Obsidian Flow, training – “[multiple] fractures”
Zunith Moon, training – “fractured leg”
Siena’s Ticket, stall – “severe laminitis”
Samborella, racing – “took bad steps”
Giuseppe the Great, stall – “severe laminitis”
Chief Commander, training – “lame after breeze – pelvis”
Mr Jaggers, training – “injury to RF leg”
Shirelle, training – “collapsed and died after breezing”
Unrighteous, training – “collapsed and died”
Fancy Twirl, stall – “laminitis in all four feet”
Hedda, training – “euthanized on the track”
Mister Bobby, training – “collapsed and died”
Trucking Baron, stall – “chronic laminitis”
Strong Moment, racing – “catastrophic injury, euthanized on course”
Pleasure Luck, racing – “took a bad step”
Fattoria, training – “pelvic injury necessitating euthanasia”
Fiya, training – “injury to RH leg”
Butter Lou, racing – “injured after wire, vanned to barn, euthanized”
Fifth Avenue Red, training – “pulled up, vanned off, euthanized”
Volpaia, training – “fell over rail, multiple injuries”
Olympico, training – “RH condylar injury”
Wasn’t Me, training – “possible heart attack”
America’s Joy, training – “broke neck in fall”
Tivoli Twirl, stall – “euthanized due to severe health complications”
Cirona, training – “pulled up lame, suspected pelvic”
Madrone, stall – “neurologic disorder, euthanized due to poor prognosis”
On the Dean’s List, stall – “anaphylactic reaction”
Range War, training – “injured while breezing”
Supernova, stall – “apparent peritonitis”
Vindatude, training – “collapsed and expired”