Through a FOIA request to the Kentucky Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks thus far this year (this is part 2, part 1 here). Please note that practically every horse below died with stomach ulceration.
Sassy But Smart, Jan 3, Turfway T
“Horse was jogging out after galloping, became unstable, collapsed, and died: exercise-associated sudden death.” Then this: “chronic exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.” Sassy was six years old.
Neolithic Nation, Jan 4, Turfway R
“Horse was trailing the field, began easing, and collapsed. On examination, the horse had severe epistaxis, frank blood in the trachea, muddy mucus membranes, and a weakening corneal response. The horse then became agonal and was euthanized.” Then (like above) this: “This horse has evidence of previous bouts of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.” Neolithic was three years old.
Million Dollar Sky, Mar 2, Triple Diamonds Training Center T
“After galloping about a half mile, horse pulled up with catastrophic injury: open, disarticulated fracture of the metacarpal and accompanying fractures of the sesamoid; deep and superficial flexor tendons torn; suspensory ligament, lateral collateral ligament, and straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments torn; medial collateral ligament and intersesamoidian ligaments ruptured.” Then this: “severe artifactual changes to the bones, in addition to embedded track material, complicates detailed examination of the fracture sites.” Million Dollar Sky was three years old and being prepped for her first race.
Trailing Monster, Mar 11, Keeneland T (euth Mar 13)
“Approaching the 1/4 pole, gelding became lame: completely displaced fracture of the humerus, marked tearing of associated muscles.” Trailing was three years old.
Remunzel, Mar 22, Keeneland T
“[Horse] was breezing and pulled up lame: complete, displaced, severely comminuted biarticular fracture of the first phalanx.” Remunzel was two years old.
Wild Thinker, Mar 22, Keeneland T
“Fell to the track, unable to rise: complete, displaced fracture of the humerus with marked tearing of the surrounding muscles.” Wild was four years old.
Overindulgence, Apr 1, Churchill T
“Horse collapsed, became agonal, and died: complete, displaced fracture of the fifth lumbar vertebra; marked hemorrhage within the surrounding muscle; lifting of the epaxial muscles from the spine.” Overindulgence was three years old.
Mr Chubbs, Apr 13, HighPointe Training Center T (euth Apr 16)
“Horse was doing a slow canter when it suffered a catastrophic injury: complete, displaced, comminuted fracture of the humerus with compression of the fractured bone into the marrow cavity; muscles surrounding humerus extensively torn.” Mr Chubbs was three years old and being prepped for his first race.
The Reds, May 12, Churchill R (euth May 13)
“Pulled up with severe injury to LF fetlock: [multiple] complete ligament ruptures with subluxation of the joint.” The Reds was five years old.
Yes Day, May 23, Churchill S
“Horse kicked through metal partition in trailer: coffin bone fracture; severe degloving; severed nerves, vein, and artery.” Yes Day was four years old.
Theroanrunner, Jun 9, Keeneland T
“Filly was breezing when she sustained an injury to her RF fetlock: [multiple] comminuted fractures; fetlock open and disarticulated; tearing of the deep and superficial digital flexor tendons, the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory, the medial and lateral collateral ligaments of the fetlock, and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments; rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament.” Thero was four years old.
Stars Vengeance, Jun 14, Triple Diamonds Training Center S
“Stiff gait, neck extended, nystagmus, euthanized. A cause of this filly’s neurologic signs could not be determined.” Stars was two years old and being prepped for her first race.
On the date of August 8, 2024, Blood Horse magazine featured a Letter to the Editor from correspondent Andre Gonzalez. Mr. Gonzalez’s letter is featured as “Racing’s Renaissance.”
Impressive letter at avoiding the realities of what is wrong with Horse Racing and focuses on how much the industry has improved. Mr. Gonzalez vaunts profusely on how safe this year’s Triple Crown season was conducted: “every horse who ran on those days all went back to their barns.” He postulates how improvements in safety for horses includes wearable technology, Stridesafe and Arioneo, diagnostic imagery options, and bless his dear heart he didn’t forget to mention aftercare – 86 facilities with nearly 16,000 horses getting safe landing places since 2012???? That is a pretty mediocre number considering that the industry sends roughly 18,000 yearlings to auction annually.
Mr. Gonzalez does not address how many thoroughbreds go to the slaughterhouses via the pipeline into Canada which is evidently not a concern for his mind to ponder! However, he does highlight the inclusivity of women in the sport! Regrettably, he chooses to ignore how many women are subjected to sexual coercion and black-listings if they refuse to cooperate.
To his credit, he does mention the working and living conditions of backstretch workers, but does not address the farm workers who are dependent on charity groups for donations of clothing and foodstuffs such as Kraft Dinners!
So I am hopeful that these comments of mine will inspire a visit to Blood Horse edition (August 8, 2024) from activists who truly do care about the health and welfare of race horses and, for the convenience of those who prefer to voice their sentiments, the phone number to Blood Horse Editorial Staff is: Frank Angst, 1-800-582-5604
I have done some preliminary research on an idea that might raise public reaction and put some serious sweat on the brows of all those who support the doping and drugging of race horses. Airplane leaflet drops over the parking lots of Churchill Downs and other tracks who have the deplorable history of allowing lame horses to be sent to their deaths.
It is not illegal to do airdrops of leaflets….50,000 or less leaflets are not that costly (a couple of hundred bucks) depending on the business that is selected for this purpose. Perhaps a civilian pilot might volunteer to fly over Churchill Downs parking lots and air drop the death reports of horses that died such horrific and agonal deaths or would do the flight at minimal cost?
Surely with all the supporters of Horse Racing Wrongs this project can be used in conjunction with other justice activities that are currently being used. It is pretty hard to ignore air dropped leaflets as the curiosity factor would entice people to at least read or take the leaflet home with them to reflect on the brutalities horses endure 24/7, 365 days of the year!
We have to fight back against those in the industry that say the death count has dropped, etc. due to new safety regulations when the stats are obviously proving the public relations experts at the Downs as liars putrid in lips and heart.
Heinous cruelty to horses — this is what they call the Sport of Kings. There is nothing humane about this depraved mistreatment of horses.