Through a FOIA request to the Texas Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks last year (this is part 2; part 1 here).
Motion Picture, Jul 21, Lone Star R (euthanized Jul 22) – “[multiple] fractures”
Imthefastkind, Sep 30, Lone Star R – “flipped in gate, trauma, euthanized”
El Rey Cash, Oct 8, Lone Star R – “stumbled, skull/spine fracture, euthanized”
Kj Flying Spirit, Oct 27, Lone Star R – “fell in gate, trauma, died”
Angel Israel, Nov 9, Lone Star T – “[multiple] comminuted fractures, euthanized”
Js Mortgage Breaker, Dec 9, Lone Star R – “[multiple] fractures, euthanized”
Mercys Bling, Dec 9, Lone Star R – “fell, trauma, paralysis, euthanized”
Who knows if any of the so-called trainers used electric cattle prods to shock any of these horses to “train” them to jump out of the starting gate faster? It’s been done. Some years ago, I read about a man who used a cattle prod on a Quarter Horse to get him to jump out of the starting gate faster. In Quarter Horse races, horses are expected to be able to run one-quarter mile in 22 seconds or less, preferably less than 22 seconds. In Texas and Oklahoma, this type of abuse of horses should not be too much of a surprise to anyone even though it is horrifying! It’s unacceptable cruelty to horses!
The small shocking devices that some of the jockeys use on racehorses are attempted to be hidden in REGULATED horseracing, but once in awhile they’re caught and I read that there have been a few jockeys who were suspended for 20 years. In UNREGULATED horseracing, the jockeys wear the shocking devices on their wrists like wrist watches. The cruelty to horses in racing is a given. The variable is to what degree.
#HorseracingIsAnimalCruelty
#EndHorseracingNOW