Ferocious, owner Ramiro Restrepo announced Monday, has been euthanized for laminitis in both front limbs. The laminitis, as is almost always the case with racehorses, can be directly traced to a track injury – Ferocious suffered “a significant muscle tear” (and subsequent “intense cellulitis infection”) in a race at Gulfstream Feb 1. And, of course, the 3-year-old suffered horribly in the process, especially at the end. Restrepo in BloodHorse:
“[H]e had a really rough seven to 10 days and then the last three days have been really bad. Today was just the worst thing.”
Restrepo also vomited these gems:
In a tweet: “RIP Ferocious. Talented, gorgeous, and noble. Loved by your partners, we never got to see you fulfill your true potential.”
DRF: “He was supremely talented, an imposing physical specimen, rare individual to be around. It’s tough for the whole team, tough for everyone to digest.”
BloodHorse: “Like a prize fighter, he was getting back from one thing, he got punched with another. So it was just unbelievable.” And: “He was an Adonis of a racehorse.”
Turns out, another Restrepo horse was also recently killed at Gulfstream: Victory Avenue, says the DRF, “suffered a fatal injury” while training Mar 12. He, too, was three. Restrepo once more: “We all love horse racing, but it’s definitely been a tough go lately. The great times, like winning the Derby, were unbelievable, and you have to embrace the joy then fight through the hard times as best we can. These were two supremely talented horses whose stories ended too soon and under unfortunate circumstances.”
Vile.
Empty words, and vile actions!
Yes. They sounded sooooo emotional and upset about this poor horse. When you know that they probably were more concerned over the $$$$ loss. What a poor excuse, what a pile of S–T. So sorry Fierceness. RIP. You deserved so much better.
Horses are not prize fighters! If it had been such a “tough”go & “hard time” why don`t they just quit like we did in 2004. There are no times of joy in this “Crooked, Crummy,Gamboling game for the horses ever. The horses joy is when they`re freed & able to live in a herd at peace in pastures.
Lots Of Abuse By The Trainers At Gulfstream Park Looking Like The Old Calder Race Course
Now Closed!
It’s sickening that the owner and the racing industry press put themselves on a pedestal and act like they’re above the law of common sense (of how to treat horses according to the common knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of young and underdeveloped horses) and the laws regarding Animal Cruelty and Animal Welfare.
It’s well known that the majority of these people who exploit young horses for racing and Pari-mutuel gambling start the colts and the fillies at around 18 months of age by putting a rider on their backs and expect them to perform as though they were fully matured and developed. Six years or 72 months, at least, would be the age of maturity for the horses.
That’s 54 months too soon to be demanding that horses perform the extreme level of exertion and everything else. This is only part of the cruelties inflicted on the horses.
It’s ironic that they portray themselves as genius horsemen and at the same time they try to act like it’s such a mystery about horses getting cellulitis. Typical bullshit from the racing industry.
You really have to be a fool to fall for their mixed messages and portraying themselves as innocent while they are willfully and deliberately abusing horses and killing them.