In Jul 2022, I wrote the following on trainer Juan C. Vazquez:
Back in Nov [2021], I reported on the death of Ekhtibaar: “found DOA [inside] van at Belmont…cause of death unknown.” Ekhtibaar was being shipped from Parx. His trainer: Juan Vazquez. Less than two months later, Vazquez struck again.
On Jan 6 [2022], Vazquez shipped 4-year-old Shining Colors from Belmont to Parx. Three days later, she was euthanized for, according to a PA Commission ruling handed down yesterday, “a severe, chronic case of laminitis” – perhaps the most painful way a horse can die. The ruling went on to say (surprise) that “[Shining] should never have been shipped.” Upshot: For, in the words of PA officials, being “grossly negligent, cruel, and abusive,” Vazquez has been fined $5,000 and suspended (just in PA) till Jan 2025.” (That suspension was subsequently honored in other states.)
A couple weeks later, I followed with an update, highlighted by his attorney complaining that Vazquez was in danger of having his “life destroyed.” “This will ruin him,” the attorney said. (At that point, Vazquez had career earnings of almost $18M.) Well, apparently not.
This criminal animal abuser is back, and in Kentucky of all places, with two horses (3-year-old Kakao and 5-year-old Z Dancer) entered at “prestigious” Keeneland this Wednesday. Please, please let them hear from you.
Keeneland phone: 859-254-3412, 800-456-3412
Keeneland Contact Form
Racing Commission phone: 859-246-2040
“Integrity Hotline”: 866-993-3949
Chief State Steward Barbara Borden: barbara.borden@ky.gov
Safety Steward Beth Bungert: 859-894-5184; beth.bungert@ky.gov
Director of Racing Licensing George Haydon: 502-638-3815; george.haydon@ky.gov
Commission President and CEO Jamie Eads: 859-246-2040; Jamie.Eads@ky.gov
Equine Medical Director George Mundy: George.Mundy@ky.gov
Mr. Ianieri…
Firstly, regarding your “[not knowing about Juan’s horses] being transported & injured”, Shining Colors was not injured during transport – this was clearly reported from the authorities and here it is again – “The ruling went on to say that [Shining Colors should have never been shipped with existing laminitis] and, in the words of PA officials, [to transport her in that condition was] ‘grossly negligent, cruel, and abusive’”. Clear enough for you? – what’s clear to me is you know nothing about equines – absolutely, transporting horses comes with risks, yet it’s a way of life for racehorses and those are risks the racing-employed don’t bat an eye about for their “beloved athletes”. But to transport a horse from one track to another that is suffering with laminitis?!? That pond-scum Vazquez needs to have a hammer taken to both feet then be made to stand in a trailer for an hours-long ride. You’re ignorant about how excruciating laminitis is aren’t you, Mr. Ianieri? – I suggest you start using your brain and learning about horses, instead of swallowing the spoon-fed crap the racing-employed regurgitate for you.
You state “from what I could tell, [the horses] were all alert, looked great, and seemed very healthy” – so standing in their stalls, with hay bags hanging at eye level (and I’m willing to bet the farm you have no idea the ramifications of that – Google it), Jolly balls and poulticed limbs, they were alert & “seemed healthy” (did you give them peppermints, too?)- hmm, kinda like the marine mammals held captive for entertainment purposes at SeaWorld…they’re so happy & healthy appearing in the pools.
So it was suggested to you (and the other owner(s) of your horse) to find him a home since he suffered with EIPH and Juan didn’t want you to spend the money on him – Mr. Ianieri, spending money on our horses, including for vet bills, comes with the responsibility of having a horse – it is a horse owner’s duty to provide for their horses. Y’all love them like family, right? – so you take him home from the track, give him the forever home he needs (as opposed to finding someone else to dump him onto), and pay the vet bills and feed bills and everything else that comes with horse ownership for the next 20-30 years (let me guess, your horse was maybe three or four years old when y’all wanted him gone?).
Oh but YES, this is a racehorse we’re talking about – a “beloved equine family member” who was put at acknowledged increased risk of injury & death for connections’ wallets and egos…and we all know, racing’s MO is bred for racing, used in racing, but never provided for when used-up by racing.
First of all, I know Juan personally and was a 25% partner in a horse he trained. Juan encouraged and enjoyed my friend (who was majority owner) and I visiting his barn at any time, announcing our intentions or not.
Juan’s barn was impeccable in it’s organization and his help knew what the plan was each morning and everything was dress-right-dress. Horses, from what I could tell, were all alert, looked great and seemed very healthy. Our horse was a terrific looking horse and trained well but had a bleeding issue and after a couple of races, running second and then fifth, he admitted that the horse’s bleeding problem was not fixable and suggested we find a home for him, because he didn’t want us to spend unnecessary $$ on vet bills.
As far as the incidents concerning horses being transported and injured, I’m not sure what happened. But, I do know from experience shipping horses to and from Florida, 10 at a time, that racehorse, especially younger and rambunctious racehorses actively try to commit suicide on a daily basis (sarcasm). Just saying that horses do hurt THEMSELVES more often than gets reported.
I don’t believe that the jockeys, owners, trainers, grooms or anyone else in this business, including the veterinarians, think that the horses are happy. I think that they are very consciously aware of the suffering of these animals and they treat them as if they were tools. They stand there admiring the horse as if it was an expensive new car. They speak about the merits of the animal without regard to the suffering and they get indignant when you should point it out.
No biggie for Vasquez to have grievously neglected and abused Shining Colors – from the point of view of those in this unbelievably cruel industry. No apology, no remorse, no desire to stop the industry from continuing on.
Patrick, have you and Nicole been able to confirm that Juan C. Vazquez has been banned from racing horses at Keeneland? (Per a comment from the Facebook take action page.)
Will be making calls tomorrow. Thanks, Patrick, for letting us know. The Lexington Hearald Leader will also be on my call list.
Juan C. Vasquez is definitely cruel and inhumane to horses! Unfortunately, so are so many other trainers cruel and inhumane to horses. If he was guilty of fixing races and thereby cheating the gamblers, then the gamblers could file a lawsuit for corruption as they did in the case of Bob Baffert.
If there is any way that the publicity against Juan C. Vasquez can become more of a liability than an asset to the racetrack’s assets, that would be something.
Vazquez was in danger of having his “life destroyed” and “this will ruin him”!!!
What hyperbole!
The guy is a reprobate. It doesn’t matter how many horses he destroys and causes to suffer immeasurably because this is racing and racing doesn’t give a damn about the horses and does not answer to anyone – zero accountability !!!
I was speaking to someone recently who was a big time owner and is now waking up to the depravity of the business. He agreed racing is on the wain and its demise is more than richly deserved.
Juan Vazquez Was At Gulfstream Park With A Turf Horse At 50-1 With Rajiv Maragh Went All
The Way Around The Track & Won! We Asked Rajiv Maragh About Juice In The Horse!
Won Paid $100 Win?