A reminder, on Preakness Day: Some of the horses killed on (racing or training) Maryland tracks last year.
Goldbar
“The horse collapsed but was able to stand again. The horse collapsed a second time [and had a] seizure. Membranes then turned dark red. Blood poured from the nose following euthanasia. Suspected thorax trauma.” Goldbar was three years old.
Bullout
“Just past the wire, the jockey noticed something was wrong and pulled up the horse. Jockey dismounted and observed that the horse’s RF foot was turned in the wrong direction – comminuted fracture, euthanized on track.” Bullout was two years old.
Celtic Cousen
“The jockey heard a pop and pulled the horse up: fractures of both P1 and P2 – P1 fracture consisted of five large parts and multiple smaller fragments; euthanized on the track.”
Dr. Daniel (commission vet): “There was quite a degree of joint disease for such a young horse.” In fact, Celtic had DJD in all four fetlocks – at the age of three.
Auspicious Lad
“While the horse was galloping, [he] suddenly collapsed and died on the track.” No definitive cause was given here, but Auspicious (below) suffered “trauma to his head and neck,” which, they say, may have contributed to his death. He was three years old.
Utterly Courageous
“The horse broke down at the top of the stretch: comminuted, displaced fracture. After several weeks of treatment in her stall, it was decided to euthanize.”
Dr. Daniel: “It would seem that her treatment was spotty with several missed days of treatment for pain. Ultimately, [she] developed laminitis in [opposite foot].” Utterly Courageous was four years old.
Lady Macho
“The horse fell to the track and [another horse] collided with [her]: shattered pastern, multiple lacerations, profuse arterial bleeding, euthanized on the track.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [three limbs].” Lady was six years old.
Forth
“Approaching the 1/4 pole, the horse collapsed to the dirt: compound, comminuted, displaced fracture of cannon – euthanized on the track.” Forth (below) was four years old.
Hello Jamrock
“Horse was very fractious in the gate and hit her hind end; developed an infection/cellulitis in RH; subsequently developed laminitis in LH – euthanized.” Also: “previous surgery on both knees in Mar 2022.” Hello Jamrock was three years old.
Notion Street
“Jockey noticed something was not right and pulled up the horse: [multiple] fractures.” Also: “The right eye and lip are missing from rat predation while awaiting necropsy.” Notion Street was three years old.
We Call Him Clyde
“Jockey noticed something was wrong and pulled up: comminuted [many pieces] pastern fracture.” Also: “severe, bleeding stomach ulcer; post-mortem rat predation on the face.”
Pathologist: “The stomach ulcer with bleeding was severe, and I suspect it affected his performance….” We Call Him Clyde was three years old.
Witty Banter
“Around the 3/4 pole the rider heard a loud pop: multiple fractures.” Also: “degenerative joint disease in all four fetlocks.” Witty Banter had turned seven that very day.
Golden Pegasus
“After passing the 3/8 pole, the horse broke down: multiple fractures, tremendous soft-tissue damage, euthanized on the track.” Also: “The degenerative joint disease that is present in the fetlock joints is common in a racehorse this age.” What was his age? Four.
Jockey William Humphrey: “I heard a loud crack and the horse broke down.”
Bigmancan
“Around 1/2-mile pole, jockey noticed something was wrong and started to pull him up: comminuted, displaced fracture.”
Dr. Daniel: “Bigmancan had chronic degenerative joint disease with moderate decreased range of motion…. He was slightly choppy in jog portion of pre-race exam, which was normal for him.” Chronic DJD, decreased range of motion, “slightly choppy in jog” – and yet they allowed him to race anyway. Bigmancan was five years old.
Havnameltdown
“The horse was injured at 3/8 pole and then ran loose: open, disarticulated fetlock; comminuted sesamoid fracture; severe tendon damage.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs] – severe [in leg that broke]; large nematodes scattered throughout the intestine, approximating up to 20 worms total; stomach ulcers.”
Dr. Daniel: “Havnameltdown tragically broke down and ran loose, which most likely worsened the injury….” Havnameltdown (below) was three years old.
Brigid of Kildare
“Ran through the inside rail and became trapped. Shipped to New Bolton for treatment. Once there, it was determined she had blood in her abdomen and thorax as well as a diaphragmatic hernia. Euthanized.” Brigid was two years old.
Cloudy Night
“[Fell after wire]: complete, displaced intraarticular fracture; abundant muscle hemorrhage; damage to joint capsule.”
Dr. Daniel: “After reviewing the race several times, it appears that…the radius and ulna fractured on impact. [It was] necessary to euthanize the filly on the racetrack.”
Cloudy, below, was two years old.
Foxy Curl
“Started limping on her LF [after training] – condyle fracture. Sent for surgical repair that day. During surgery, a sesamoid fracture was also discovered. Due to the severity of her injuries, [she] was euthanized during surgery.” Foxy was two years old.
Malibu Rumble
“Horse suffered a catastrophic injury galloping: [multiple] fractures, [one] comminuted into five fragments; extensive hemorrhage in the surrounding soft tissues; [multiple] torn tendons. Fracture is open [through the skin].” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs]; stomach contains multiple areas of ulceration.”
Dr. Daniel: “[Malibu Rumble] broke down in the turn and was recumbent. The fact that this was an open fracture made the euthanasia on the track necessary.”
And this comment in the necropsy: “Degenerative joint disease is common in racing horses; however, his seemed more severe for a three-year-old.” Three.
Geothermal
“Horse appeared to take a bad step about 75 yards from the gate. Jockey had a very difficult time pulling the horse up. Upon approaching the scene, the RF fetlock was severely dropped – displaced fracture with multiple fragments, significant soft-tissue damage. Euthanized on the track.” Also: “lining of stomach contains multiple areas of ulceration; degenerative joint disease, cartilage erosion [all four limbs].”
Dr Daniel: “The combination of the disarticulation of the fetlock joint, a comminuted, compound condylar fracture, massive soft-tissue damage with torn tendons and ligaments, and small fractures of the sesamoids resulted in euthanasia on the racetrack.” Geothermal was three years old.
Lucky Double Don
“Broke down near 1/2-mile pole: complete, displaced fracture of humerus – two large pieces; tremendous amount of soft-tissue damage. Euthanized on the track.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].”
Jockey: “When I started to slow down to pull him up, I heard the snap.” Lucky, below, was two years old.
Mr Wirth
“The colt was galloping…and then broke down: complete, comminuted (in three pieces), displaced humerus fracture; extensive hemorrhage in the surrounding soft tissues. Euthanized on the track.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].”
From the necropsy: “Degenerative joint disease is common in racehorses this age.” What age? Mr Wirth was three years old.
Chalk Hill
“The horse fell near the 1/2 pole: RF fetlock joint open with severe dislocation of the joint and displacement of the sesamoids. Euthanized on the track.” Chalk was four years old.
No living creature should be subjected to this cruelty and lack of basic medical needs. It does not say much for the connections who don’t spend a few dollars for dewormers and medications. Better known as TLC.
Sickening!