Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on the last of that state’s kills last year (the rest can be found here).
Hard Times, Dec 3, Santa Anita T (euth Dec 7)
“On Dec 3, horse developed and was treated for fever following morning training. On Dec 4, horse had signs of severe anemia. Hematoma behind diaphragm contained 20 liters of blood. Horse collapsed at hospital and was euthanized due to poor prognosis.” Turns out, there were also “multiorgan hemorrhages involving intestine, diaphragm, abdominal wall, brain, bladder, and heart,” not to mention “severe colitis.” “Poor prognosis,” indeed. Then this: “Further investigation did reveal that the horse had been low energy for days [prior to training session].” “The horse” was three years old.
Danzing Alydar, Dec 10, Golden Gate R
“While racing, this horse fell: catastrophic – complete, displaced, comminuted – right humeral fracture; extensive hemorrhage.” Also: “deep cartilage ulceration, multiple wear lines [both front limbs]; marked, chronic stomach ulcers.” Danzing was three years old.
Perhaps more people – especially those in horse racing – should follow the principles of the very first statement of the Hippocrates’ oath:
“First, do no harm”.
-Joe
Thank you for your input, Joe. This is the way I think of it: “IF you don’t put God first, then whatever you put first becomes your god.”
There are just way too many people putting money and worldly things first in their lives.
One would think in a civilized country that the gratitude would be more present. Dr. Pol the 80 year old vet from Michigan whose practice doesn’t have the fancy equipment tries everything possible to save any creature. He’s usually successful. One story,a mare lost her baby after a very trying foaling. Dr. Pol had the kindness to say to the mare he knows she’s not happy with him right now and he did all he knew to save her baby. This is the picture of what a DECENT human being and a VET should present. Those who forget the gratitude bestowed on them will undoubtedly learn the hard way eventually.
Sadly, Joe the lack of scruples & money being the god is only to true of many religious people as well. I`m a believer in a higher power who allowed me to come back from discovering the truth of racing the HARD way. There will one day be a judgement day when all the evil people inside & outside racing will have to account for those evil things they have done. I have not been a member of a church for > 54 years because of all the hypocracy & misrepresentation of religious principles by supposed religious people. They all seem to be good at making those $$ though just like the racing industry participants. Today is a celebration for me to have been granted a reborn life so as to have the truth of the cruel realities of racing related to those unknowing people . So many good horses & people have been ruined by this industry. Those horse people that are good get out & operate riding stables devoid of the competition & performance aspects of the equine business. They just want to teach people how to ride & enjoy the special creatures horses are.
There are, sadly, people in this world, and not just confined to the horse racing industry, for whom money is their be-all end-all GOD – and the altar at which they worship. To them, no form of behavior , no morals, no scruples are nearly as important as the almighty dollar.
Don’t get me wrong – I enjoy having money, and I find it a useful and valuable tool. As the saying goes “it’s better to be rich than poor.”
But I’ll add, “its better to to be ethically principled than morally reprehensible.”
Unfortunately that type of person is a rare commodity in the horse racing industry,
-Joe
I agree. I have heard horror stories from even the highest level of the show jumping and dressage worlds. Very, very, sad.
In our experience many of these so called trainers hardly can even read! The vets are strictly in it for the $$ no matter what they say. With the demise of our 1 mile track of Portland Meadows the corrupt vets are now practicing in the performance industry instead! Many have certain nick names associated with their vet work. Not just racing is corrupt! All “performance ” equine venues are equally as bad.
How do these people who act as though they have NO knowledge of animal husbandry in general, let alone a knowledge of basic equine health, get a “trainer’s” license??? What happened to the veterinarians that should have been able to see some signs that HARD TIMES was not healthy enough to be galloped???
What morally depraved and moronic people these people are!!!!!!!!!🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬