Through a FOIA request to the Arizona Dept. of Gaming, I have confirmed the following kills at Turf Paradise last year (this is part 2; part 1 here).
Sea to Success, Oct 1, Turf S
“Horse was shipped to Turf from Minnesota Sep 25. Horse had fever of 106, became depressed, reluctant to move. Diagnosis of pleuropneumonia and acute bilateral [both front limbs] laminitis. Euthanized.” Then this: “A predisposing factor for developing pleuropneumonia includes transportation over long distances, which can lead to stress-related immunosuppression, and if horse’s head is fixed in an elevated position for prolonged periods, it can inhibit clearance of the lower airways, which allows for lower airway contamination…and subsequent infections.” Sea to Success was six years old.
Pippa Philipa, Oct 4, Turf S
“Horse reared, flipped, and hit its head: [multiple] comminuted [skull] fractures with at least 10 fragments; marked intracranial hemorrhage; right eyelid has two large areas of torn-off skin comprising approximately 70% of the eyelid; left half of the lip lacerated with 4 cm hanging off the muzzle; right incisors fractured; blood pools in the nares. Euthanized.” Imagine that scene. Pippa was three years old.
Deshambeau, Oct 7, Turf S
“Horse shipped to Arizona from Seattle last week. Developed a respiratory infection – severe pleuropneumonia. Euthanized.” And this: “Risk factors for development of bacterial pneumonia include transportation, stressful events, and viral infections. In this case, there was history of recent transportation which likely predisposed this horse to the infection.” Deshambeau was four years old.
Collecting Stars, Oct 16, Turf T
“Horse was jogging on the track when it flipped. It was being taken off the track when it flipped a second time. It died soon after that – skull fracture, brainstem damage.” Collecting was seven years old.
Norwegian Callum, Oct 21, Turf T
“Horse was working when it fell at the finish line. RF limb: comminuted fracture, muscle lacerations, hemorrhage. Euthanized.” And this: “It is probable that the longstanding LF limb carpal lesions resulted in increased weight-bearing and strain on the RF limb, which predisposed to the eventual catastrophic fracture.” Norwegian was three years old.
Decimate, Oct 24, Turf T
“Horse was working when it pulled up LF lame – [multiple] fractures, multiple fragments. Euthanized.” Then this: “Exam in Jan 2024 found severe exostoses and decreased range of motion in LF fetlock.” Decimate was five years old.
One Favorite Prize, Nov 12, Turf S
“A noise was heard from the stall and the filly was down with pale mucous membranes and agonal breathing, corneal reflex gone, no heart sounds. Sudden death. Acute cardiovascular event suspected.” One Favorite was but two years old.
De Nasty, Nov 18, Turf R
“Fractured pelvis – euthanized.” (Necropsy not available.) De Nasty was two years old.
Go Gabriella, Nov 19, Turf R
“Horse pulled up at top of stretch – [multiple] fractures, [multiple] ruptures. Euthanized.” And: “Horse was scratched for being unsound Nov 2023.” Go Gabriella was four years old.
Stakemaker, Nov 21, Turf T
“Horse pulled up lame – [multiple] fractures, [three] ruptured ligaments. Euthanized.” Then this: “chronic osteoarthrosis [both from limbs].” Stakemaker was three years old.
Michael’s Dreams, Dec 3, Turf S
“Horse shipped to Arizona from Oklahoma. It showed signs of respiratory disease upon arrival, including copious cloudy nasal discharge. Progressed to pleuropneumonia. Approximately 80% of the lung covered in thick fibrin…with adhesions to adjacent lung lobes; remaining lung mottled dark red to red. Euthanized.”
Then this: “Medical history included two episodes of respiratory illness in 2024 [Apr, Aug]. RF carpus had cortisone injection in Aug. Both front leg suspensory ligaments received cortisone injections in Oct.” And once again: “Risk factors for development of bacterial pneumonia include transportation, stressful events, and viral infections. In this case, the horse’s history of recent transportation likely predisposed it to infection.” Michael’s Dreams was just three years old. Oh how this poor girl suffered…
Heatinthecapital, Dec 5, Turf R
“Horse pulled up in the stretch – [multiple] comminuted fractures, estimated eight pieces; lacerated tendon sheath. Euthanized.” And: “[Opposite front leg]: degenerative joint disease – fetlock, carpus, coffin joint.” Heat was three years old.
Aplombado, Dec 10, Turf S
“Presented for colic Dec 9. Trainer reports horse was up and down repeatedly and thrashing around. Little to no improvement in the morning. Humane euthanasia elected.” Then this: “Incidentally, there were also multifocal small ulcers within the stomach that may be due to prolonged anorexia or NSAID administration.” Aplombado was four years old and had most recently raced Nov 30.
Legally Reddy, Dec 17, Turf R
“Compound, comminuted tibia fracture while galloping out – open wound with a fragment of bone sticking out.” Also: “chronic osteoarthrosis [both front fetlocks].” Legally was five years old. The destruction…
El Capricho, Dec 28, Turf T
“Fractured fetlock. Euthanized.” (Necropsy not available.) El Capricho was four years old.
Limited Offer, Dec 28, Turf T
“Sudden death.” (Necropsy not available.) Limited Offer was seven years old.
Deplorable people are responsible for deplorable behaviors and they result in horrific outcomes we see every day.
Millions of unfortunate horses have suffered and continue to suffer immensely because of a relatively small number of such people.
Racing is an animal abusing business, riddled with nefarious activity that is subsidized by tax payer money to prevent its demise.
There is zero accountability. Why!!?
One of the most sickening things about this industry in Arizona and everywhere else is that the horses are restricted like prisoners for 23 hours and possibly longer at a time. The horses are restricted from being allowed to move in the most basic and natural ways that horses would move if they weren’t tied up or confined for several hours a day, seven days a week, either in a stall at a racetrack or in a transport vehicle.
These horses “bred for racing” are strictly slaves to the morally depraved people who exploit horses for racing and Pari-mutuel gambling. There is nothing beautiful or sportsmanlike about mistreating horses. Horseracing is evil, depraved cruelty to horses.