Through a FOIA request to the Oregon Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks in 2024.
Sue Generous, May 15, Grants Pass T
“Was working when [she] fell – fractured elbow.” Sue was four years old.
Dodropin, Jun 30, Grants Pass R
“Comminuted fracture of left forelimb.” Dodropin was seven years old.
Lil Bit of Heaven, Jul 12, Crooked River R
“Fractured shoulder during race – severe, acute, comminuted.” This was the 3-year-old’s second race in as many days – yes, he had been raced the day prior. What’s more, it was his third race in just a bit over a week. Criminal. The scumbags responsible: owner Juanita Santillan, trainer Diego Guerrero, and, of course, the so-called racing officials of Oregon.
Putdaddyinacaddy, Sep 16, Grants Pass R
“Sudden death – aneurism.” Putdaddy was four years old.
Grammy Winner, Oct 7, Grants Pass R
“Horse appeared to trip and roll forward – broke LF leg.” Grammy was three years old.
From reading this blog, I found out that the same person who owns the racetrack in Grants Pass, Oregon also owns Dutch Bros Coffee.
There are two Dutch Bros Coffee drive-thru shops in Lewiston, Idaho and one Dutch Bros Coffee drive-thru shop in Clarkston, Washington. I thought off and on about trying Dutch Bros Coffee but for whatever reason I never did. After finding out that the same person who owns the drive-thru coffee shops in Idaho and Washington also owns the racetrack in Oregon, I immediately lost all desire to try the Dutch Bros Coffee.
Wanda, like Fred and Joan your assessments of the racing industry inspire reaction that should increase the knowledge of the public, but we have a generation of people who are not motivated to do any kind of improvement for democracy, justice, or charity unless they are paid for their efforts. The dedicated volunteers wind up getting discouraged, burnt out, and usually quit the field of battle. And, that is what the track operators are depending upon.
However, those who love horses will not stop fighting. And, truthfully, I used to admire the folks of the backstretch, but no more. The families of famed trainers, riders, starters, etc. have chosen to let horses die rather than admit that the industry is not the Sport of Kings it is in reality war against race horses….the ones who operate the track can’t reintroduce the gladiator sports of the Roman Empire, but they could and did duplicate the blood and gore of killing for thrills by substituting horses as victims.
Horses are not commodities to be a living product that receives no compassion, respect, or affection. When horses win a million dollars or more and the owners sell them off to foreign interests you know the industry has no heart, no soul, no conscience and not not one scintilla of integrity. Humanity has reached new lows of wickedness when horses are killed every day of the week and it is considered normal for thoroughbreds to die so billionaire track operators can increase their overflowing bank accounts.
It’s as if horses are magically not being killed by the brutality of being forced to be racehorses anymore at the HISA tracks. Information is being suppressed or hidden or possibly destroyed to cover up their heinous mistreatment of horses that ends in death for the horses. This all serves as a reminder that horse racing is NOT safe and is being conducted by very, very dishonest people.
Wee Sherry, it has been in a process of collapsing for a long time. In the year of 1986, the number of Thoroughbreds foaled and registered in North America (United States and Canada) in 1986 was over 50,000. There were fewer Thoroughbreds foaled and registered in 1987. Every year since then the total number of new foals born and registered in North America continued to decline. The population of Jockey Club registered Thoroughbreds continues to decline.
The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has been designated as a “private” organization. There is a certain significance to this being a “private” organization and that is they are not required to disclose the names of the horses that are killed by racing at those racetracks paying serious amounts of money to be exempt from disclosing the names of the horses they kill at their racetracks.
How’s that for integrity???
Fred and Joan, your comments are always erudite and sometimes shocking! How did the state get away with not finger printing….the whole point of the process was to eliminate the criminal element from racing. Without traditional standards and integrities the industry is long overdue for a total collapse.
That racing a horse multiple times within the span of a few days in Oregon sounds like what Montana allowed during a race meet consisting of, as I recall, five days.
I can’t say for sure about Oregon or Montana but in California the rules of Business Conduct and Animal Welfare are just for show and not for actual enforcement. It doesn’t seem to make too much difference about Bush League, Leaky Roof or the Elite tracks. They kill horses right and left at Santa Anita too.
Oh good old Oregon, my state. King of the bush league leaky roof circuit racing! We have seen trainers ride their own horses in races as the jockey which is technically illegal. The trainer was allowed to ride the horse in the race as the Tillamook track had had an injury accident the race before where several riders were hurt. This caused a shortage of available riders for the next race! She stated that it was not as bad to ride the race as she thought it would be. I really wish the racing industry along with rodeos would disappear. Also Oregon is not part of HISA as well with that organizations minimal rules. We have attended ORC`s meetings where the members said they felt their positions would go away after a few years & would then have reg.s administered by the lottery commission. The lead ORC commissioner was from Puerto Rico & stated the he would go back to training in PR with his father if the ORC was dissolved. For such a liberal state in some regions of Oregon, racing really is not very well regulated any more! When we 1st started in 1977, one had to be finger printed before acquiring a racing license. No more as the state has said it costs to much.