The 6th race at Saratoga, just a little while ago:
“Take Me To Church got struck by [The Big Torpedo] and fell into the rail, losing the rider in the process, ran off the opposite way and was subsequently transported off the course by equine ambulance. The Big Torpedo dug in under a drive, coming under a left handed crop inside the eighth pole, and suffered a catastrophic injury to the left front, falling heavily inwards and colliding with Take Me To Church, knocking that foe into the rail, then was euthanized on track.”
I’d show the replay, but this is what the cowards at NYRA have posted on their website:
The Big Torpedo was three years old, and this was his 8th time under the whip. Will update on Take Me To Church if information becomes available. As a postscript, this was tagged on to the end of the boxscore, proving (yet again) where their priorities lie: “There was a Stewards’ Inquiry into the stretch run focusing on the incident inside the eighth pole before the result stood and the race was declared official.”
This incident has me heart broken. The Big torpedo was such a beautiful horse. Beautiful coat and colors. Beautiful demeanor.
It appears that they justify it by saying they add so many millions (or maybe billions) of dollars to the economy and jobs. Whether there is an ounce of truth in this claim is another matter. The New York Racing Association went to what I think of as great lengths to create an economic impact statement. That was to make it look like it would be such a great thing for New York State to let them have a State-backed Bond Loan of $455 Million, that it will be so great for the economy and that they will pay it back, and, for whatever reason, that load of baloney worked on some of the legislators and Governor Hochul. Economic impact is evidently what gets the higher priority in politics rather than the protection of horses.
The reason the state doesn’t take legal action against horse racing is because the citizens of New York do not do their moral responsibilities and hold politicians accountable for their indifference toward safeguarding the laws and statutes of existing laws.
The use of lip chains & tongue ties would be considered cruelty under those acts! We always disliked use of lip chains & tongue ties as well as the use of ring bits when we were working at the track. Many times when we handled the horses we refused their use on horses that we held for bathing or grooming.
That was a good question we have always wondered about. Sad that the replays are not subject to FOIA.
It really was. But one of the points is, if they are going to put racing on, why hide the whole reality of it? Why whitewash it? What are they afraid of? As they say, “it’s part of the game”. They keep touting that they are so transparent, but in reality, they are so very far from it. Maybe seeing that “part of the game” again will keep just a few more people from going and supporting it.
Anybody who is familiar with the Anti-Cruelty laws of NYS understands that Horseracing is actually an illegal activity that should be banned in New York State:
NYSAg. & Mkts Law – section 350 – cruelty is ANY ACT, omission or neglect whereby any unjustifiable physical pain suffering or death is caused or permitted. Section 353 – Any person who furthers any act of cruelty OR any act TENDING to Produce Cruelty is guilty of a misdemeanor. Nearly every horse who comes off a racetrack has either been killed or injured in some way. How does New York State justify this?
Unfortunately not.
Is the replay subject to the FOIA?
no one wants to see a replay, thats pretty ugly and upsetting, horrible loss ,
Cowards exactly! This sounds more like a demolition derby rather than horses racing! If this industry was fully transparent it would show all replays.
All those Saratoga fans should be feeling pretty sick right now. They thought they’d seen the worst of it last year with Mel and NY Thunder…
Instead, they ought to realize that the Spa is just gearing up for its carnagefest this year. (In horse racing, it can always get worse — and usually does.)