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).
Coronas Make Me Wild, Jul 15, Gillespie R
“Horse fell 30 yards in front of starting gates from acute hind leg ataxia. Lumbar trauma. Unable to stand. On-track euthanasia.” Coronas was four years old.
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old filly, Aug 21, Retama S
“Signs of acute colic. Referral to surgery [but] not an option for trainer/owner. Died from illness, not euthanized.” Again, she was just two and hadn’t even been named yet.
Kas Hes Revenant, Sep 8, Lone Star R
“Fell, unable to stand – pelvic fracture, MCIII fracture – euthanized on track.” The chart, by the way, merely said, “lost rider.” Kas was three years old.
Pepito Quick Dash, Sep 29, Lone Star S
“Severe colic. Broke out of stall. Surgery and medical treatment declined by trainer. Euthanized.” Pepito was two years old and had been raced two weeks prior.
Jlc Big Joe, Oct 12, Lone Star R
“Hit rail resulting in severe damage to left stifle joint: lacerations, bone fragments. Shipped to hospital. [Euthanized].” Jlc was two years old, and this was his second race.
One Fabulous Seis, Nov 3, Lone Star R
“Fought in gate. Head trauma with acute nasal hemorrhage. Died on track after removal from gates.” The report also noted that prior to dying, One Fabulous Seis had been on bleeder lists three times (in Louisiana and New Mexico). She was four years old.
Runaway the Eagle, Nov 4, Lone Star R
“Compound fracture. Vanned off. Euthanized.” Runaway was five years old.
Railway Cafe, Nov 24, Lone Star R
“Carpal fracture. Severe instability of both joints. On-track euthanasia.” Railway was just two years old, but this was already her 7th race.
Jazzy Lassie, Dec 30, Sam Houston T
“Comminuted, compound fracture. On-track euthanasia.” Jazzy was five years old.
Teresa, that’s a great question! You bring up a great point about actually doing a study on the psychology (and sociology) of the people who are involved in owning and “training” horses for racing.
It would be very interesting for the government to do a 5-year study on the psychology of racehorse owners and racehorse “trainers”!!!! It would be a great thing because that’s what it takes for government to do something about something they already know the answers to but they have to do a five-year study, a government-funded study, to prove the point and make a plan to change something, whatever it is.
If the government did a 5-year study employing educated psychologists, psychiatrists and sociologists all with a Ph. D. Degree, it would show the public at large and many politicians what kind of a criminal enterprise they are funding with government subsidies, State-backed Bond Loans and tax breaks, and why this industry needs to be terminated from all government funding/ Corporate Welfare.
If anyone wants the government to provide financial aid to keep “wide-open spaces” without breeding horses to provide more four-legged gambling objects to the racing industry, that should be an option.
From what I’ve read, it appears to me that the idea of not subsidizing horse racing is automatically connected with not being able to keep “wide-open spaces” which basically means the horse breeding farms (other than dairy farms and possibly hay fields and such).
The horse breeding farms, hypothetically speaking, could be given some type of government funding to provide sanctuary to those horses that are considered “unwanted” but only if they stopped all breeding operations. If they stopped producing more babies to be abused, crippled, maimed and killed by the brutality of horse racing and provided a safe place and proper care for horses instead, it would be reasonable to subsidize that as long as the tendency to commit fraud was seriously considered and laws against fraudulently exploiting the whole concept were well-written and enforcement was active.
All of them. You have to be a sadist to stay in the racing industry.
All of it is beyond sickening, but I, too, wondered who in the world would watch a horse die from colic (or anything for that matter) and not euthanize? Colic that kills is excruciating pain, with horses throwing themselves around the stall in agony and panic. I can’t even imagine…..Has anyone ever done a study to see how many race horse owners and trainers are sociopaths?
This abuse of horses comes from morally depraved owners, morally depraved trainers, morally depraved racing commissioners, morally depraved veterinarians. All of these people are guilty of egregious cruelty to horses. This is an outrage!
These sadistic morons should be arrested for Animal Cruelty! Refusing treatment to a horse suffering from colic, refusing euthanasia and letting the horse die in excruciating pain from colic… This is unacceptable to let these people get away with this hideous cruelty and it’s all of it, not just the colic.