Through a FOIA request to the Maryland Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks last year (this is part 3; part 1 here; part 2 here).
Buckin’ Simple, Aug 11, Laurel T
“Compound [through skin], comminuted [many pieces] fracture of LF pastern with extensive skin, tendon, and soft tissue damage. Euthanized on the track.” Buckin was two years old and being prepped for her first race. The destruction…
Mia Cadanchi, Aug 25, Laurel T
“Pulled up lame. Started showing signs of distress [back in stall]. Pelvic fracture – three large pieces – massive hemorrhage. Euthanized.” Also: “early degenerative joint disease [all four fetlocks].” Mia, below, was three years old and being prepped for her first race.
Gingersraceday, Sep 7, Laurel R (euth Sep 23)
“As she cooled down, she started limping. Next day, x-rays revealed comminuted fracture. Multiple incidences of swelling and lameness [ensued]. Euthanasia due to bilateral [both front limbs] degenerative joint disease of the carpus with a chronic slab fracture in right carpus.” Then this: “The filly was reported to have significant problems in both carpi. She raced Aug 2 and reportedly had right carpus swelling the next day. She raced again Aug 16 and did not cool out soundly, and this time did not respond to oral medication. Her carpus was injected Aug 22 [and she was] raced again Sep 7.” Then this: “The trainer attempted to find other connections for long-term care and possible breeding, but this did not pan out.” Criminal. Gingers, below, was but three years old.
Into the Sauce, Sep 13, Laurel T
“Gelding collapsed and died on the backside after training – cranial hematoma and intracranial hemorrhage extending into the guttural pouches and sinuses.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Into the Sauce, below, was four years old.
Night Cap, Sep 14, Laurel T
“Comminuted [multiple pieces] fracture. Euthanized due to the severities of her injuries.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Night Cap, below, was six years old.
Poggibonsi, Sep 20, Laurel R
“Mare was pulled up lame and vanned off. Radiographs revealed multiple displaced fractures. Euthanized due to poor prognosis.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four fetlocks].” Poggibonsi, below, was five years old.
Leo, Sep 27, Laurel S
“Used to pony that morning and was noted to be sweating profusely on the track. Extremely painful despite all treatment and was thrashing around in the stall. Went down and could not rise. Presumed fracture of back or pelvis. Euthanized.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Leo, below, was seven years old.
Singalong, Oct 10, Laurel R
“Stayed at the back of field and around 3/8 pole jockey Hindt started asking her to pick up the pace, but she wasn’t responding. Around 7-furlong, she started wobbling…and collapsed. Dr. Daniel quickly arrived, but unfortunately she was already dead.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Singalong, below, was five years old.
Ganado, Oct 18, Laurel R
“[Multiple] fractures, multiple fragments palpable, joint collapsing. Euthanized on course.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Ganado, below, was four years old.
Itty Bit of Luck, Nov 8, Laurel T (euth Nov 9)
“Lame after [training], ankle and pastern filled and swollen. Radiographs confirmed fracture. Euthanized.” Itty, below, was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
Calle de Oro, Nov 17, Laurel R
“Colt broke down in the 4th race: [multiple] fractures; fetlock was dislocated dorsally and stuck in this position. Euthanized on the track.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Calle, below, was two years old.
Overwish, Nov 22, Laurel T
“Broke down near 1-mile pole and fell: open [through the skin], comminuted [multiple pieces] cannon fracture. Euthanized on the track.” Overwish, below, was three years old.
Inevtabl Conection, Nov 27, Laurel T
“Horse broke down near the 1/8 pole: open, comminuted MCIII fracture – numerous fragments; ligament completely ruptured. Euthanized on the track.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Inevtabl, below, was five years old.
Joya Del Sur, Dec 14, Laurel R
“Complete tear of flexor tendon. Euthanized on backside due to the severity of her injuries.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Joya, below, was six years old.
Horrible! RIP
Thank you, Fred and Joan, for sharing your experience about learning to shoe horses. I believe your idea of using wood for learning to drive horseshoe nails into the hooves of live horses without making as many mistakes is a good one.
Knowing the difference between the live tissue and the part of the hoof that doesn’t hurt the horse when a horseshoe nail is driven through it is absolutely essential. I know live horses will jerk away when the farrier hits the quick.
I’m not 100% sure about this but what I think is if you are driving a nail into a dead horse hoof, you could hit that part of the horse’s hoof known as the quick and not really know it for sure since dead horses obviously can’t feel pain anymore.
As grisly as these photos are I`m glad that they are posted for others to see the reality of this business. After learning to shoe horses in the early 1980`s using cadaver hoofs / legs that I later found out were from our local track I was shocked!! The hoofs/ legs were provided so we could learn how to properly drive nails without harming a live horse. I personally think we could have just maybe used new growth roundish cut to shape wood instead. Trees have growth rings & we could have gained a feel for driving nails of different manufacturers that way.
What’s it going to take to end this barbaric sport? Yesterday at revered Keeneland, Bindi fell down at the last race.She is supposed to be ok. Just now Luis Saez was in a spill. This in addition to the nightmare Grand National overseas. Two horses fell after the grueling abuse. The one who the jockey was punished for keeping the horse going under duress has passed away today after collapsing at the end. Sad sad sad and civilized countries condoning this abuse.
Maryland gives us a glimpse into the carnage of horses killed by the racing industry in states that don’t like to reveal very much such as California, for example, where they claim to have “safe” racing and refuse to disclose details of their continual violations of Animal Welfare laws.
I can’t imagine raising horses just for the purpose of putting them through this horrible abuse and horror to the point of these ghastly physical injuries and death. In the 1950s and early 1960s, it was somewhat profitable for some people to raise Shetland ponies. However, they were not exploited brutally for something that would kill them. That wasn’t the point as it in the racing industry.
Brutally forcing yearling and two-year-old Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses to run carrying the weight of a rider with a whip is the point in this industry of racing and Pari-mutuel gambling.