Through a FOIA request to the PA Dept. of Agriculture, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks thus far this year. As always, the response came with this: “PDA has withheld records related to necropsy reports as they are exempt from disclosure by law.” So, detail is lacking (I have supplemented with chart notes where possible).
River City Rocker, Jan 2, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”
Celtic Treasure, Jan 3, Parx R – “injured, vanned off, euthanized”
Scoop Dawg, Jan 4, Parx S – “illness, euthanized”
Intercept, Jan 8, Penn T – “sudden death” (10 years old)
The Method, Jan 10, Penn R – “sudden death” (50th race)
Gentle Seas, Jan 14, Penn T – “injured, euthanized”
Pretty Gar, Jan 23, Parx S – “illness, euthanized” (two years old, being trained for debut)
Positive Force, Jan 30, Penn S – “illness, euthanized”
One Wild Woman, Feb 1, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”
Hit Me I’m Lucky, Feb 5, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”
Klaatubarada Nikto, Feb 12, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”
Press My Bets, Feb 19, Parx R – “pulled up, vanned off, euthanized”
Madurai, Feb 23, Penn T – “injured, euthanized”
Burano, Mar 6, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”
So Softly, Mar 11, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”
Ellie Warrior, Mar 11, Penn T – “injured, euthanized”
Belt Parkway, Mar 15, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”
Who’s Better, Mar 17, Meadows S – “illness, euthanized”
Wahine Meanie, Mar 19, Penn T – “injured, euthanized”
Jet Set Juliet, May 1, Parx S – “illness, euthanized”
Black Smoke, May 3, Penn T – “injured, euthanized”
Shatter Me, May 3, Penn T – “injured, died”
Kaeko, May 7, Parx S – “illness, euthanized”
Map of Life, May 14, Parx R – “suffered leg injury, vanned off, euthanized”
Evolutionary, May 18, Parx R – “fell while suffering catastrophic injury, euthanized”
Bath and Tennis, May 27, Presque Isle R – “sudden death [after the wire]” (65th race)
Susie’s a Doozy, May 29, Penn T – “injured, euthanized”
Codys Knapsack, May 31, Harrah’s R – “injured, euthanized”
Cool in Blue, Jun 4, Presque Isle R – “pulled up, vanned off, euthanized”
Texas Tangie, Jun 7, Penn T – “injured, euthanized”
Battleshoe Hart, Jun 8, Meadows R – “injured, euthanized”
El Policia, Jun 25, Penn R – “went bad, pulled up, euthanized”
Noch Ten, Jun 29, Meadows R – “sudden death”
Kidman Kerry, Jul 2, Parx T – “sudden death” (four years old)
The details are are not disclosed because it is against “the law” to expose obscene animal cruelty in Pennsylvania. It would be interesting to explore the history of this law.
Everyone involved in writing that law, the politicians who passed it and the governor who signed it are guilty of covering up outrageous animal cruelty and protecting the perpetrators.
Shameful!
The fact that the gruesome details of the fatal injuries that were inflicted on horses by sadistic and barbaric people are “withheld by law” in Pennsylvania horse racing indicates that the law was written to protect animal abusers from as much scrutiny as possible.
If you’re barbaric and you know it, withhold the gruesome details of your horse-abusing, horse-killing cowardly ways from the public.
#HorseracingIsAnimalCruelty