Through a FOIA request to the Kentucky Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks last year (this is the final report; previous ones here).
Su Say Sashie, Feb 28, Keeneland T
“Was galloping and became acutely lame: complete fracture of the humerus with tearing of the surrounding muscles.” Also: “stomach ulceration.” Su Say was four years old.
Wild On Ice, Apr 27, Churchill T
“Pulled up with severe injury to LH fetlock: [multiple] severe, comminuted fractures; ruptured suspensory apparatus; large amount of hemorrhage.” Also: “stomach ulceration.” Wild was three years old.
Thundering Creed, Jul 1, Churchill T
“Returning to barn after galloping a mile, horse became weak, collapsed, and died: markedly comminuted fractures of the second and third cervical vertebra with severing of the spinal cord [this probably happened as a result of the fall].” Also this: “Multiple sections of brainstem were examined, but there was too much physical damage to the cervical spinal cord for it to be evaluated histologically.” Thundering was five years old.
Spartan Army, Jul 18, Churchill T
“Horse pulled up with a catastrophic injury: [multiple] comminuted fractures with significant soft tissue disruption.” Spartan was four years old.
Tempting Choice, Aug 25, Turfway T
“Horse suffered a catastrophic injury: [multiple] fractures, rupture of the superficial digital flexor tendon, tearing of the deep digital flexor tendon, rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament, rupture of the medial and lateral collateral ligaments.” Also: “stomach ulceration.” Tempting was two years old and being prepped for her first race.
Witch of November, Sep 21, Churchill S
“Horse was treated for a fever of 102 on Sep 20. Fever worsened on Sep 21. Treated again. In the afternoon, horse worsened severely, became agonal, and died.” Witch was three years old and had last been raced Aug 28.
Tango Yankee, Oct 7, Churchill T
“Went down pulling up from breeze. LH: comminuted P1 fracture. RH: chronic fracture of first phalanx, with proliferation of rough, red, fibrous tissue.” Tango was two years old.
Usain, Oct 22, Churchill T
“Pulled up after the wire with a catastrophic injury: [multiple] fractures with marked tendinous and ligamentous disruption, including rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament, and tearing of the medial and lateral annular ligaments, the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory, and the oblique and straight sesamoidian ligaments.” Also: “stomach ulceration.” Usain was five years old.
Sew Blazin, Nov 16, Keeneland T
“Went down approaching the 1/8 pole: complete, comminuted fracture of the humerus; severe muscle tearing; large amount of hemorrhage.” Also: “stomach ulceration.” Sew was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
Tazawako, Nov 29, Turfway R
“While attempting to load in the gate, horse reared up and fell to the side while hitting her head against inner rail. The horse became lodged under the rail and began paddling, then started to convulse. Complete, displaced skull fracture, blood noted out of both nostrils. Euthanized on the track.” Also: “severe, extensive, chronic stomach ulceration.” Tazawako was but two years old.
Way too Smarte, Dec 2, Turfway R
“Horse pulled up past wire with injury to LH limb: [multiple] fractures, [one] markedly comminuted; soft tissue damage includes severe tearing of the medial collateral ligament of the fetlock, rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament, and tearing of the deep and superficial digital flexors and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” Way too Smarte was eight years old, and this was her 61st time under the whip.
These four came without full necropsies…
Trick Question, Oct 2, Keeneland T
“Ileum fracture.” Trick Question was three years old.
Sabre Dance, Dec 22, Keeneland S
“Intestinal displacement and peritonitis.” Sabre was just 20 months old. 20 months old.
Eastern Bay, Dec 28, Keeneland T
“Femoral fracture.” Eastern Bay was nine years old and had been put to the whip 61 times.
Perfect Journey, Dec 30, Churchill T
“Condylar fracture.” Perfect was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
The “It was an Act of God” defense is a lie!!!!! In the case of Bob Baffert and his “team” causing the death of MEDINA SPIRIT in a 5 Furlong workout, the “lawyer” was paid to lie by saying “It was an Act of God” instead of telling the truth. It’s ridiculous to expect Bob Baffert, or his team, to admit that UNTRACEABLE DRUGS were injected into the horse, or to admit that exploiting horses for millions of dollars is morally depraved.
The MORAL DEPRAVITY of the human beings involved in horse racing reigns above the law of what is right or good or decent.
Money is their “god”.
All government subsidies, loans, tax breaks, etc. to horse racing must be stopped.