The chart note for 4-year-old Lunchatthelizard at Mahoning Mar 22: “was restless in the gate…stopped and returned bleeding from the nostrils.” I don’t know, but perhaps the “restlessness” was in some way connected to the subsequent pulmonary hemorrhage.
A ruling at Buffalo Raceway, Mar 1: “Frank Mays, trainer of Thebiznes Bluechip, 2nd-place finisher of the 3rd race, is hereby suspended 15 days and fined $1,000. Post-race samples resulted in a positive finding for caffeine and theophylline.” Caffeine. But because Mays “waived the right to a formal hearing and appeal,” the suspension was reduced to seven days, and the fine to $500. That final fine, by the way, is the exact amount Chris Brown received in Kentucky for “engaging in offensive and profane language against another licensee” – plus Brown was placed on a one-year probation. Priorities.
And finally, the CHRB says that Dougs Moonshine died at Cal Expo Mar 24. No details (yet), but we do know the 3-year-old was raced at that same track three days prior.
This, every day, is horseracing.
Forcing horses to perform as racehorses, whether they are competitive or not, is very similar to domestic violence. Both domestic violence and horseracing are morally depraved. More people need to open their eyes to the abuse and reject it.
Cal -Expo sounds like typical bull ring 1/2 mile tracks here in Oregon. Short time off between races for the poor horses. We have seen horses race in Tillamook on back to back days! Others we have seen racing in SW Oregon & then later clear over on the other side of the Cascades in Prineville! Slowly but surely this industry is going away even here in the NW. We have read of a trainer who has raced at Santa Anita & at many tracks on the Northern Cal. circuit as well as the 1/2 mile bull ring tracks here in Oregon who has now quit & is going to work at a timber mill instead!