The latest evidence of incompetence and/or malfeasance at the NYS Gaming Commission (Hoosier Shooter still hasn’t been officially classified as a fatality; more here). David Jacobson’s La Aguililla was reported by Equibase as being injured and “vanned off” at Saratoga Aug 25. Curiously (or not), for a week or more the 7-year-old did not even appear on the Commission’s “Incidents/Injuries” list. It wasn’t until an HW volunteer messaged the Commission that La was added, but only as a “vanned off.” But now – just now, three weeks after the race – she has been changed to dead. Which of course raises the question, how many more have they not told us about?
La Aguililla’s breakdown, by the way, occurred one day before the Travers. Given that the New York Racing Association was already under intense heat for the carnage at that point in the Saratoga meet, and given that two more would be killed – in a very public way – on Travers Day itself, is it that hard to conceive of a coverup here? Not for me. Officially, Saratoga, the self-styled “oldest sporting venue in the nation,” has 17 kills on its ledger – and they’re still training/housing horses there.
Kaon, May 26 – “yet-to-be-raced horse euthanized”
Ami’s Curlin, Jun 10 – “laminitis in all four feet, euthanized”
Frigid Lady, Jul 15 – “broke RF leg, euthanized”
Winter Son, Jul 20 – “injured, vanned off, euthanized”
Blame It On Mary, Jul 23 – “injured, vanned off, euthanized”
Lawful, Aug 2 – “suffered injury, euthanized”
Sopran Basilea, Aug 3 – “injured on gallop-out, euthanized on course”
Maple Leaf Mel, Aug 5 – “fell, euthanized on track”
Closed Caption, Aug 6 – “pulled up, vanned off, euthanized”
Ever Summer, Aug 6 – “fell, euthanized on course”
Wisecraken, Aug 16 – “suffered injury, vanned off, euthanized”
Art Collector, Aug 17 – “laminitis, all four feet”
Burning Bright, Aug 23 – “suffered fatal cardiac event”
La Aguililla, Aug 25 – “injured, vanned off, euthanized”
Nobel, Aug 26 – “suffered catastrophic injury…euthanized on the course”
New York Thunder, Aug 26 – “suffered catastrophic injury, fell, euthanized on track”
Shutters, Aug 29 – “found down, died before vet could arrive” (trained five days prior)
It sounds like they were attempting to avoid more negative publicity for their all-important KAZILLION DOLLAR horse race that attracts more attention.
It’s all about the money and to hell with the horses once they have outlived their usefulness. That’s how it is in this egregiously cruel industry.
Stop the subsidies!
Stop the corporate welfare!
Stop the billion-dollar-bankrolling-to-horseracing-in-New-York-State!
I agree with Wanda Diamond. The funding of this racket must stop. It is time to end this cruel industry. They do not care about the poor horses.
There’s an article in the paulick report about how horse racing is basically starting to come to an end. Most of the comments on Facebook are that it should. Even pro-racing folks are admitting they are walking away. The momentum is growing. Turf paradise is done! I never thought this may happen in my lifetime, but now I am not so sure!
It seems like things will also change more and sooner with the passing of certain people who have been in racing for many years of their lives. There was an 82-year-old trainer who recently passed away. Then another person in horseracing passed away. I anticipate that things will change noticeably when, eventually, the owners of Santa Anita Park and Los Alamitos racecourse pass away. They’re definitely not young anymore.