In a FOIA request to the Nebraska Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at Fonner Park last year.
Holy Cannoli, Feb 3, Fonner S
“Impaction colic that didn’t resolve – surgery not an option.” Holy was three years old.
I See Clearly Now, Feb 13, Fonner T
“Respiratory occlusion and lung collapse resulting in horse going into neurotic stress and seizure activity – humanely euthanized.” I See was three years old.
Zcat’s Chatain, Feb 15, Fonner S
“Arrived at Fonner [previous year] with pre-existing knee injuries. Condition worsened and became very painful, resulting in humane euthanasia.” Zcat’s was six years old.
Cyber Sneaker, Feb 16, Fonner S
“Developed severe pleurisy upon shipping to Fonner. Temps ranged 101-104. Treatment was given but passed away during the night.” Cyber was five years old.
Chicago Chrome, Feb 16, Fonner S
“Developed pleurisy en route to Fonner. Treatment was given but passed away during the night.” Chicago was five years old and had been raced nine days prior.
Hot Caviar, Feb 18, Fonner R
“Broke down in backstretch – open fracture.” Hot Caviar was four years old.
Twotwentyswift, Feb 23, Fonner T
“Broke down in morning training.” Then this: “This horse was diagnosed with lesions in both hocks as a yearling and probably had some issues in shoulder joint.” Twotwentyswift was just two years old.
Nelly Too, Mar 3, Fonner S
“Intermittent colic signs for couple of days. Found deceased in morning with blood coming from rectal area and small amount nasally.” Nelly was three years old and had last been raced Feb 25. Poor, poor girl.
Dial Uncle Joey, Mar 3, Fonner R
“Clipped heels and went down in first turn. Dead when vet arrived at scene – most likely broken neck.” Dial was three years old.
J Ps Harley Glider, Mar 3, Fonner R
“Fell over fallen rival [above]. Got up and ran loose only to run straight into the outrider’s pony horse [below] – sustained head and neck trauma.” J Ps was three years old.
You Be Gator Bait, Mar 3, Fonner R
“Sustained broken shoulder in direct collision with loose horse [above].” This was You Be’s 13th birthday.
Scotty Who, Mar 8, Fonner S
“Colic episodes on Mar 6 and Mar 7. Referred to clinic where treatment was done. Returned to Fonner, resumed symptoms, humanely euthanized.” Scotty was seven years old and had been raced 59 times, most recently Feb 18.
Long Cool, Mar 22, Fonner R
“Broke down going into the final turn – multiple fractures with complete instability.” Long Cool had just turned four.
Music in the Sky, Mar 24, Fonner S
“History of posterior issues, including lameness, tie-up problems, and abnormal gait. Multiple treatments by [multiple] vets. Horse worsened to point of incoordination in back end, knuckling over and laying down with difficulty getting up. Progressed to extreme sweating and muscle fasciculations. [After] 1-1 1/2 hours, agreement was made to humanely euthanize.” Music had just turned two. A baby.
Teresa, in answer to your question why are laws not applied to thoroughbred racing. Could it be the industry makes political contributions to get the right people installed into powerful state and federal offices? I wrote to the State Attorney General concerning Sweet Bureaucracy and never received a reply.
Sharon Kennedy
Sun, Jan 5, 4:46 PM
to lizmurill
Ms. Murrill, I have beautiful memories of New Orleans that I cherish. N.O. is a city that gives happiness to the heart and zest to the soul…the cuisine is the best in the world, her musicians were loved by all age groups, Louis Armstrong, Fats Domino, Al Hirt and the list goes on.
But, I am in distress about the imperative need to impose legal humiliation and justice on Evangeline Downs. I direct your attention to the Website: Horseracingwrongs.org. You will find a video of a tragedy that should not have happened wherein a beautiful horse suffered multiple fractures and had to be humanely euthanized. The video is entitled: “In A Word, Gruesome, dated December 16, 2024.
I attempted to report the felony abuse of Sweet Bureaucracy to the Humane Society of Louisiana, but the site was inoperative and due to the imminent approach of Christmas, I decided to wait until the holy season had been celebrated. But now there is an exigent need to bring justice to Sweet Bureaucracy. Race horses are being routinely drugged at Santa Anita, Churchill Downs, Saratoga, and the public is being defrauded of their money when animals who are suffering soreness and drug highs and lows which have resulted in 10,916 reported deaths. This figure is inaccurate because not all fatalities are reported. I come from a family that has 300 years invested in thoroughbred racing (the Fairgrounds was one of my favorites tracks). What is happening nowadays is not horse racing, but it is crime with impunity against horses and these felonies must be stopped.
It is unconscionable that unsound horses are entered and compelled to run in races where not only is the hurting horse exposed to exceptional danger, but the entire field along with the jockeys are also gambling that they won’t be killed or paralyzed by a horse that is drugged and over raced. 60 riders have had their lives demolished due to the racketeers who have destroyed the integrity of horse racing by the illegal possession and administering of drugs that are responsible for horses dying of intestinal explosions, heart attacks, and not to be forgotten is the prolonged maltreatment which results in severe mental and physical sufferings caused by drug overdoses and the horrors of withdrawal symptoms, etc. Trainers such as Bob Baffert are the scourge of the earth…gunslingers of the wild west didn’t have so many kills notched on their guns as Baffert has achieved the disgrace and infamy of killing 82 horses. It is time for the industry to be cleaned up or shut down. There can be no compromise with persons of such revolting character that they disgrace all of humanity….to allow the scum of hell to ruin horses is unacceptable–justice must be enforced and it must be swift and unwavering.
Criminals who abuse horses and defy the rules of integrity and sportsmanship must pay for their vile crimes against animals and for fixing horse racing by knowing that the majority of horses that are being raced in America are sick with drugs and unsoundness. It is a dreadful statistic that 10,916 horses have perished due to racketeers who maliciously ruin horses to control the industry with narcotics and virulent serums that cause horses to die from exploding intestines, heart attacks, breakdowns from multiple fractures and where some of the deceased horses are so in decrepit in health that they run races 92 lengths behind the field!
I appeal to you, to get rough with these monsters who do felonious abuse of horses and make Louisiana a state that will be an example to the rest of the union that Americans will enforce not only the protection of the laws enshrined in the Law Statutes of Louisiana, but are also framed in the Universal Declaration of Animals Rights.
Respectfully,
Sharon J. Kennedy
“Arrived with pre-existing knee injuries;” two horses “died in the night,” on the same night; “Diagnosed with lesions in both hocks as a yearling…;probably had issues with the shoulder. ” Probably?? They didn’t know?” “History of posterior issues…lameness…abnormal gait.” Why were these horses even at a racetrack? It seems that so many of these horses’ previous problems and injuries were ignored so that the owners could return them to the track to make a buck. I know I’ve asked this before, but how is this blatant animal abuse ignored? We have laws prohibiting animal abuse. Why are they not applied to racing?
Inhumane treatment of horses for racing and Pari-mutuel gambling should be punished, NOT rewarded.
This depraved greed and cruelty is unacceptable.
Exploiting a yearling with genetically inherited conditions that render them useless as gambling chips is one of the lowest of lows. There are universities that test for genetically inherited diseases. There is no excuse for this depraved mistreatment of horses.