Through a FOIA request to the Virginia Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks last year.
Kj Hunting, Apr 27, Shenandoah R
“[Multiple] fractures.” Kj was four years old. The destruction…
Go Poke the Bear, May 4, Great Meadow R
“Complete, severely comminuted ulna fracture; complete luxation.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [both front limbs].” Go Poke the Bear was eight years old.
See You Tuesday, May 4, Shenandoah R
“Fell down on track – open, displaced, severely comminuted fracture of MTIII; complete, comminuted fracture of phalanx.” And, of course, “degenerative joint disease.” See You Tuesday was 11 years old.
Medalla Match, Aug 11, Colonial R
“Left foreleg breakdown: [multiple] fractures; trauma to the digital flexor tendon, tendon sheath, and oblique and straight ligaments – evident by shredding, hemorrhage and significant bruising.” Medalla was six years old.
Exuma, Aug 12, Colonial R
“Fell: trauma to humerus, multiple missing pieces of [bone], shredding of the triceps.” Exuma was six years old.
Line Dance, Aug 17, Colonial T
“Returning from track, became wobbly, collapsed and died – acute cardio-respiratory failure; multiple skull fractures, which could be attributed to acute perimortem trauma.” Also: “There are hundreds of variably-sized pale yellow, flat parasites in the cecum. Large loads of this organism [tapeworm] can lead to impactions and colic, but is considered incidental in this case.” Incidental. And finally: “multiple stomach ulcers.” Line Dance was two years old and being prepped for his first race. That poor baby.
Lea Ro, Sep 4, Colonial S
“Euthanized due to a nonhealing infected right fetlock.” Also: “severe cartilage erosion, fetlock and pastern joints.” Lea was seven years old and had last been raced Jul 27.
Marie we also comment on various sites from a business point of view. If you`re short & small there`s really not many opportunities in today`s employment markets, especially if you have any disabilities with little or short term memory as we have! Everything relies on a functioning short term memory!! Keyboarding is a good example of this. It takes us 4 times longer than a normal person to accomplish what normal people can do in a few minutes. No employer will accept that. We have to SEE everything including typing of this & any other message. The equine industry, especially racing will take anyone as long as you can ride & don`t speak out against the abuses of horses & people we have witnessed. That`s another reason we no longer participate. The abuses of poor people who are unable to have employment other than as grooms or riders at the lower levels of racing which we began to speak out against caused us much difficulties. The abuse of workers & horses within the racing industry are = in our opinion. We were there! Fortunate to have several people step in & basically rescue us on that fateful day of May, 10th, 2004 , a day of enlightenment!
Marie its kind of both. We learned many good uses of equipment from our past participation in racing. Yes, it is a crooked, crummy, gamboling game especially here on the west coast from our experience with both owners , trainers & breeders. We left in fall of 2004 after we were threatened by several trainers & a vet in our state. We no longer allow any of our horses to sold for use as race horses. When we had to sell at public auctions as we did from 2000 until 2009 we had little or no control over where the horses would go or what buyers would use them for. We now market them on the internet & screen each buyer ourselves IN PERSON at our farm. This farm has a very long history starting with the founder in Montclair N.J. Too long to relate here. Yes we know of many who feel mo one should raise horses anymore. We have to show an income of an agricultural type to retain our farm property tax rates. Horses are all we know as a farming venture & the equipment needed as well as an irrigation well for a different crop would be in excess of $250,000 investment. At 69 & late 50`s, Our cousin & I are not able to switch operations. NEVER want to live in an urban area again.
And yet, you guys just recently wrote, “Agree that many people just view the big events & never come back until next year’s big event which is kinda sad considering all the work involved with a card of races on a regular basis.”, “Have watched racing overseas & its amazing!
Better horses & tracks as well better trainers.”, “If racing does not modernize we don’t think it will be around much longer except in a few states such as Kentucky & Saratoga and special small meets at fairs.”, and “We have had a horse win at Del Mar at 69/1 odds in 2010 out of a completely unknown mare & our unknown farms sire. Also had a filly place at Hollywood park before its demise. Our horses did not like Santa Anita.
Suspect it was too hot there for their
liking.” You posted those in HRN on 2/11/25. So, which is it? A “crooked crummy gamboling game” or a shame that American racing is dying a slow death because of not modernizing or attracting young people?!
We have seen too many of these grisly type of injuries! That`s one of many reasons we quit the industry in the fall of 2004. Plus seeing poor horses being raced with fetlock joints as large as melons at Oregon`s notorious 1/2 mile bull ring tracks that are not even subject to the rules of HISA. Many trainers & owners we used to ride for are now plying their trade at Turf Paradise & even, (surprising to us), Santa Anita. These owners / trainers horses were barely good enough for the NW! Their so called training skills are not up to par as well. They rely on med.s many times to have a horse race or even gallop in am. Have seen & felt it many times when galloping in am. We really wish this “Crooked, Crummy, Gamboling, Game” would disappear quicker. Eliminate ALL subsidies of all kinds at all levels & use the $$ for better health care & education for all.