Through a FOIA request to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, I have confirmed the following kills last year at Plainridge Park, the only track left in MA. Note: The six deaths below are the most we’ve ever reported for Plainridge in a single year; and Plainridge, remember, is a harness track, where the horses are supposed to die less frequently.
Challenger, May 23, racing
“Challenger was racing when he appeared to be in distress at about the 1/2 pole, slowing down approaching the 3/4 pole, and coming to a walk before collapsing on the grass. The horse expired immediately, before the vet got to him.” Challenger was but five years old.
Stihl N, Sep 3, racing (euth Sep 4)
“[Multiple] fractures, euthanized at hospital [next day].” Stihl was eight years old.
Silent Warrior, Sep 24, racing (euth Sep 25)
“Fractured P1, euthanized at hospital [next day].”
Sidd Finch, Oct 21, racing
“Pastern fractured into multiple pieces; multiple complete rib fractures with pulmonary hemorrhage underneath.” Sidd was six years old.
Paternity Suit A, Nov 4, racing
“[Multiple] fractures, multiple pieces.” Paternity was 11 years old. Quite a life, huh?
Im Sir Blake A, Nov 11, racing
“Im Sir Blake A was racing when he broke down with obvious severe injury to left hind. He was treated with flunixin, removed from the track and euthanized.” How severe? “Long pastern was fractured into roughly 20 pieces.” And yet they transported him (out of sight) to be euthanized. Bastards. Oh, and the 9-year-old had previously endured an injury/surgery – complete with four screws – in the opposite hind leg.
Horrible! They deserved to live long, happy lives.
Sadly Wee Sherry racing in Kentucky most likely will never go away as they have tremendous tax breaks & casino subsidies as does Arkansas too. All these subsidies need to be ended & the funds used to improve education & health care for the people.We just had a young Christian family whose husband is in the military & the wife is a veterinarian who came back to Oregon because of the very poor health care in the northern area of Kentucky where the husband was stationed. He now has to drive semi-weekly to the northern part of Washington state to remain in active duty. The wife when she was a young girl used to help out with our farm & work on her grandfathers farm as well.
Stronach doesn’t rescue his own horses that he created. Though I have to say, it’s been a long time since I have seen an Adena-bred horse around here. He has really toned down the breeding. But then again, he’s in his 90s and Belinda could really care less about racing.(and good for her- it’s a huge money loser.)
The number of horses The Stronach Group will save from slaughter or other abuse and neglect after their owners decide to discard them will be in the range of from zero to zero, in my opinion, regardless of what they can afford.
It is evident that some racing publications are starting to accept the reality that the days of thoroughbred racing is in imminent danger of closing down in Florida, California, and Kentucky.
The onus and moral responsibility of racetrackers, Race Track Chaplaincy of America, politicians, and every citizen of America is to insist that states that have profited by the labor of horses be fiscally responsible for their welfare when the stable gates are closed forever.
Example: Ocala, in Marion County, Florida has the largest single equine population in the U.S. A total of 87,600 thoroughbreds, demographics have to be obtained from California and Kentucky….a process that shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain since the Jockey Club keeps such statistics as do the offices of the states that profit from racinos.
Also, any organization that advocates on behalf of the welfare of animals has a moral duty to find homes for unwanted and abused horses. Mobilization for the upcoming equine crisis has to begin immediately. A national committee has to be formed from those agencies who have the expertise to deal with crisis situations. Moreover, the Stronachs should be reminded that in the year 2024, 30,852 races were run and assuming that 6 or 7 horses ran in each race that means 215,964 horses might need new homes – how many horses will the Stronachs rescue since they have farms in Kentucky and Ontario, and the bank accounts to sustain at least a couple of hundred horses without any financial distress whatsoever.
It is so obvious that these people who exploit horses for racing and Pari-mutuel gambling have no conscience when it comes to the proper treatment of horses.
For a Standardbred racehorse to have multiple broken ribs, not to mention all of the other broken bones, indicates a possible trainwreck of an accident involving the horse and the sulky going down on the track. There have been horrific accidents shown on YouTube involving tragic accidents that occur on Standardbred racetracks. When the mechanical start wings malfunction and causes multiple horses in harness hitched to sulkies spill all over the track, it’s horrific. The information about injuries to specific horses in the video was not given.