A reminder: Some of the horses killed at U.S. tracks last year. The (ugly) descriptions come directly from state racing commissions. Please share this list far and wide.
Raagheb, Jan 14
“multiple leg fractures, multiple skull fractures, ligament tear, severe hemorrhage”
Fanci Lindor, Jan 14
“trauma [from collision]”
Tamarando’s Mine, Jan 17
“[multiple] fractures [both front limbs]” (again, both front limbs)
Adorable Brittany, Jan 17
“[multiple] open, comminuted fractures; [multiple] ruptures; torn tendon; full fetlock dislocation; soft tissue hemorrhage throughout limb”
Beat the Odds, Jan 22
“[broke] both front cannons” (two years old – again, both front cannons)
Circus Ride, Jan 27
“became fractious, reared, hit head on gate – brain trauma, [died]”
Charging Nellie, Jan 29
“sudden death” (two years old)
Kodiak King, Feb 16
“scapula fractured into four pieces”
Battletown, Feb 17
“fractured neck”
Harbour Town, Feb 17
“fractured neck”
Burning Blaze, Feb 19
“sudden collapse and death: copious amounts of frank blood and serosanguineous fluid drained from the nostrils and mouth, extensive muscle hemorrhages”
Elegant Son, Feb 20
“apparent broken neck”
Tf Thrilling Runaway, Mar 1
“pulmonary hemorrhage, died”
Distinguished, Mar 11
“complete, comminuted neck fracture”
Black Drop, Mar 11
“horse collapsed [after race], died within few minutes”
Herecomesangelina, Mar 14
“collapsed and died” (two years old)
Jersey Jim, Mar 22
“fractured cannon; due to open wound contaminated with dirt, cannon [in] multiple pieces, and intractable pain, euthanasia was recommended”
Chestnut, Mar 22
“flipped, fractured skull, blood from ears”
Guided Missile, Mar 22
“collapsed dead past wire”
Declared Best Card, Mar 24
“[multiple] vertebral fractures”
Upfront And Gone, Mar 26
“sudden death: pulmonary hemorrhage”
Ma Moos Warrior, Mar 28 (euthanized Mar 30)
“multiple displaced pelvic fractures” (he was made to suffer for two days)
All American Candy, Apr 6
“fell: traumatic blunt-force injury to head/neck”
Rum Chaser, Apr 6
“horse collapsed and died around the 3/8 pole”
Never Not Dancing, Apr 11
“apparent broken neck”
Shez Ivory Hot, Apr 14
“found dead in morning” (two years old)
Bucket Betty, Apr 15
“found deceased” (two years old)
Sense of Music, Apr 23
“bled [from] both nostrils, died”
Beaver Creek, Apr 27
“collapsed after finish, sudden death”
Bellybutton Icon, Apr 28
“horse fell: [multiple] severely comminuted scapula fractures; severe complete metacarpus fracture – area of degloving with missing skin; large amount of hemorrhage and muscle tearing; acute intracranial hemorrhage; multiple lacerations; dirt and crusted blood on the face; fly eggs on the neck” (two years old)
Dtl Hot Wired, Apr 28
“found dead, appeared to have been in severe distress before death” (three years old)
Bp Heroofthedynasty, Apr 30
“found dead, abrasions around eye/head from rolling”
Wakanda, May 2
“found deceased in its stall”
Tyler’s Admiral, May 3
“flipped, recumbent, blood from skull fracture”
Autism’s Ribbon, May 4
“horse fell: open, comminuted cannon fracture with multiple fragments penetrating skin – one measuring 3.5cmx2.5cm sticking through”
Antagonist, May 4
“slowed dramatically, dropped over dead”
Poppy’s Two Step, May 4
“sudden death post-race”
No More Miracles, May 18
“collapsed and expired after a.m. workout”
Kenny Hustle, May 20
“suffered sudden death” (three years old)
Relentlessly, May 24
“horse became ataxic, fell over, died”
Daddy Frank, May 25
“collided with rail, could not stand after multiple attempts, [euthanized]”
President Elect, May 28
“ran May 28; found dead in stall next morning”
Jba Movin Thedynasty, Jun 5
“heart attack” (six years old)
Whiskey Allround, Jun 10
“collapsed at start, paralysis, euthanized”
Miss Yum Yum, Jun 11
“fractured skull”
Band Camp Boy, Jun 11
“lost LH hoof, euthanized” (two years old)
My Money Is Good, Jun 14
“complete, displaced, severely comminuted, open [through skin] fracture of the cannon bone” (two years old)
Frontal Assault, Jun 17
“horse had history of sporadic epistaxis and would occasionally bleed in stall; on Jun 17, horse bled profusely – blood all over – was agonizing in shock…euthanized”
Bahamian Girl, Jun 23
“heatstroke, fractured pelvis”
Chiquito Baby, Jun 26
“fell: open, complete, comminuted, displaced fracture – bone through skin; [multiple] torn ligaments and tendons, [one] ruptured; extensive soft tissue hemorrhage; severe necrosis/sclerosis at fracture site”
Cash Icon, Jun 27
“blunt-force trauma: compound fracture, exposed bone fragments; hemorrhage; extensive soft-tissue tearing”
Outlaw, Jun 27
“[multiple] fractures, tendon sheath fully torn, [multiple] ligaments ruptured or frayed, 10cm-deep puncture wound near the jugular oozing blood”
Dream Fever, Jun 27
“horse became distressed post-race, went down, deteriorated, died”
Commending, Jul 2
“[multiple] spinal fractures” (two years old)
Vindatude, Jul 3
“collapsed and expired” (three years old)
Horns For Three, Jul 7
“horse slowed down, proceeded to fall to the track, dead on arrival”
Alfred Hanover, Jul 11
“horse got loose after race, ran erratically, and took off to the pond; personnel ran to assist, but the horse was under water with the bike – drowned”
Playalinda, Jul 16
“[multiple] open, severely comminuted fractures – both hind limbs; large, gaping laceration extending from fetlock to diaphysis, exposure of bone fragments; ruptured and torn ligaments and tendons; environmental debris – dirt, grass – contaminated the fracture site” (again, that’s two shattered legs)
Anna’s Candy, Jul 17
“horse flipped: comminuted, displaced skull fractures with brainstem compression”
Swanky, Jul 18
“left carpus has fractured bone protruding from the limb and is completely separated and lacking ligamentous or tendon attachments; P1, 2 and 3 remain attached to the protruding metacarpal bone by a thin strand of skin”
Fox Valley Adele, Jul 22
“sudden death: rupture of pulmonary artery, severe hemorrhage” (two years old)
Sweet Tiramisu, Jul 24
“flipped, hind legs and tail paralyzed, euthanized”
Our Buddy, Jul 27
“multiple comminuted skull fractures, extensive hemorrhage” (two years old)
Rylees Rose, Aug 3
“[likely] gastric rupture, rectal tissue extruding from anus” (three years old)
Rbdocsbestbet, Aug 6
“collapsed: pulmonary hemorrhage” (three years old)
Eyesa Got Easyer, Aug 6
“fractured/dislocated both front fetlocks” (again, both front fetlocks)
Mort, Aug 9
“horse was working, collapsed at 1/16 pole, bled out”
Ready Edge, Aug 10
“superficial digital flexor tendon ruptured, deep digital flexor tendon shredded, medial proximal sesamoid shattered into four pieces”
Romped, Aug 11
“horse fell: compound fractures of [both front legs] just below the knees”
Roster Bo James, Aug 15
“collapsed: pulmonary hemorrhage”
Rockymountain Brew, Aug 15
“sudden death at finish line” (three years old)
Road to Meath, Aug 19
“severe hemorrhage in head, eye, subgingival, laryngeal folds, tracheal wall”
Fillybuster, Aug 25
“horse [bled out] due to fracture compromising the vasculature of hind legs”
Strawfly Eagle, Aug 30
“high-speed trauma: open, displaced fractures [of] left carpus and right fetlock; complete rupture of suspensory ligament; all intra- and peri-articular supporting structures severed” (again, two broken legs; three years old)
Lil Alma, Aug 30
“collapsed, got back up and ran 1/8 mile on three legs – tibia fractured into several pieces, surrounding musculature severely shredded, multiple hemorrhages throughout” (two years old, very first race)
Jesst You Watch, Aug 31
“found dead” (two years old)
Snowtrick, Sep 2
“shattered both RF sesamoids”
Beast Market, Sep 3
“collapsed – unable to be revived” (two years old)
Classic Escape, Sep 4
“[in gate]: severe, extensive injury to the base of the tail and immediately adjacent area (perineum and anus) characterized by tearing of the subcutis from the underlying fascia and musculature; connective tissue and skeletal muscle severely stretched, separated, frayed, and torn with formation of a large cavity between the tissues that was filled with a large amount of blood and necrotic tissue debris”
High Speed Chase, Sep 7
“blunt-force head trauma: fractures to base of skull, large volume of hemorrhage”
Inhonorofowenjr, Sep 7
“collapsed and expired”
Swaggy G, Sep 14
“long pastern shattered [after wire]” (very first race)
Eyesa Red Boy, Sep 14
“flipped, trauma to skull”
No Code, Sep 17
“collapsed and died after breezing” (three years old)
Lifetime Delight, Sep 19
“pulmonary hemorrhage post-race”
Irish Kid, Sep 21
“compound fractures of ankle and cannon” (ankle and cannon; two years old)
Palm Reader, Sep 23
“cervical fracture, died”
Hey Hey Dancer, Sep 23
“fracture with protrusion of bone fragments, extensive soft-tissue hemorrhage, ruptured and torn ligaments; contamination of the site with foreign particulates – i.e., dirt and other organic debris” (two years old)
Imthefastkind, Sep 30
“flipped in gate, trauma, euthanized”
Legacy Slew, Sep 30
“hemorrhage from nose, died”
A. P. Mayday, Oct 8
“laminitis, pleuropneumonia” (two years old)
Town Square, Oct 13
“collision, multiple injuries, euthanized on track”
Azaria, Oct 14
“catastrophic injury, in distress, euthanized on track”
Icy Intent, Oct 15
“open fracture, multiple tears/ruptures, extensive hemorrhage” (two years old)
Officer Nick, Oct 18
“horse dropped dead: severe pulmonary hemorrhage” (three years old)
Kj Flying Spirit, Oct 27
“fell in gate, trauma, died”
Kershaw, Oct 28
“comminuted vertebral fracture with displaced fragments severely compressing and crushing the spinal cord – sudden death”
Cabernet, Nov 1
“mare collapsed while racing, made gurgling noises and had blue gums, quit breathing 30-60 seconds after falling, died soon after”
Angel’s Entry, Nov 4
“horse flipped completely over and hit his head; on [vet’s] arrival, he had nystagmus, dilated pupils, blood in ears, and pooling from nostrils”
Maybe Utah, Nov 4
“[found] dead in stall” (five years old)
Anastasia Nero, Nov 9
“horse collapsed on backstretch – bilateral epistaxis [bleeding from both nostrils], hemorrhage from right ear”
La Hermosa, Nov 11
“head/brain trauma” (two years old)
Purchase Point, Nov 18
“found deceased at 6:30 am” (three years old)
Stormy Lass, Nov 19
“collapsed and died after wire” (two years old)
Khozie’s Ghost, Dec 9
“comminuted vertebral fracture, spinal cord compressed and lacerated”
Mercys Bling, Dec 9
“fell, trauma, paralysis, euthanized”
P L Idaho, Dec 10
“sudden death: severe bilateral pulmonary hemorrhage; copious amounts of blood drained from the nostrils and mouth, soiling the muzzle, chin, and face”
First Down Icon, Dec 15
“fractured spine” (two years old)
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#EndHorseracingNOW
This list of horses fatally injured by racing is too long to read in one sitting. The carnage is overwhelming!
It’s multiple times worse to think of the injuries to each one of the over 9,000 horses killed by racing from 2014 to 2023 that have been made known to the public through the Horseracing Wrongs website and the Freedom Of Information Act requests and records.
Thank you, Patrick and Nicole, for your diligence and fortitude in reporting on just how horrible that horseracing is in reality.
We have had horses heard making gurgling sounds that we galloped in the mornings reported by the jockey riding the horse later in a race. Makes us wonder how close we came to having him fall & die in the am. This Tune Rocks was the name of the poor abused horse that had all kinds of joint injections as well as anti-bleeder med.s administered. He was only 5 when we rode him.Already a ruined horse in his carpal joints. A very large & tall kind hearted horse anyone could have rode. This list reads like a battle zone report. Will never forget you Rocky as you were kind to us & we we`re kind to you as we could be despite the laughing horse people who only thought of themselves & their own debauchery. We celebrate every time we see the redevelopment of Portland Meadows now to a Amazon warehouse distribution & administrative enter instead of the 1 mile race track it once was.
Reading these is like reading the reports of battle wounds and trauma, instead it is for fun and games and the almighty dollar.