The Kentucky Derby, the world’s most famous horse race, is tomorrow. Tens of thousands will attend, millions will watch, and a boatload of cash will be wagered on the action. But here’s the thing, none of that happens in a vacuum. Even if you only tune in or bet once a year, you help make the rest of it possible. And what, exactly, is the rest of it? Follows is the carnage at Kentucky racetracks in 2024. Remember, this is but one state, in one year. (Horseracing, of course, is so much more than death. Here’s an overview.)
Glossary
open fracture: bone broke through the skin
comminuted fracture: bone shattered into multiple pieces
displaced fracture: bone snapped out of place
degloving: skin torn from underlying muscle or bone
epistaxis/pulmonary hemorrhage: bled out from lungs
Sassy But Smart, Jan 3, Turfway T
“Horse was jogging out after galloping, became unstable, collapsed, and died: exercise-associated sudden death.” The necropsy also noted that Sassy, six, suffered from “chronic exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.”
Neolithic Nation, Jan 4, Turfway R
“Horse was trailing the field, began easing, and collapsed. On examination, the horse had severe epistaxis, frank blood in the trachea, muddy mucus membranes, and a weakening corneal response. The horse then became agonal and was euthanized.” Then (like above) this: “This horse has evidence of previous bouts of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.” Neolithic was three years old.
I’m Free, Jan 5, Churchill T
“Horse was breezing and [suffered] an open, comminuted fracture and [multiple] torn ligaments.” I’m Free was two years old.
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Jan 13, HighPointe Training Center S
“External protrusion of small intestine during castration.” Two years old.
Dove At Dawn, Jan 30, Turfway T
“Horse was breezing when it suffered a catastrophic injury to LH limb: open, comminuted condylar fracture with multiple missing fragments; additional fractures of the sesamoid and phalanx; deep digital flexor frayed; tearing of the suspensory ligament, with small bone fragments embedded.” Also: previous fracture/surgery/screw in a different leg. Dove was just two years old.
Izzit Midnight, Feb 2, Keeneland T
“[Horse] was breezing when it abruptly pulled up lame: comminuted fracture; tearing of the superficial and deep digital flexors; rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament; tearing of the suspensory ligament, collateral ligaments of the fetlock, and the straight, oblique, and cruciate sesamoidian ligaments.” Izzit was two years old.
Dreamers Luck, Feb 20, Churchill T
“Horse was breezing when it sustained a complete, comminuted fracture to LH limb. After loading on ambulance, horse became recumbent and was euthanized.” Dreamers, also, was just two years old.
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Feb 22, Turfway T
“Horse was galloping and stumbled. Rider pulled the horse up and horse was non-weight bearing: complete, displaced fracture of the humerus.” Again, just two years old.
Million Dollar Sky, Mar 2, Triple Diamonds Training Center T
“After galloping about a half mile, horse pulled up with catastrophic injury: open, disarticulated fracture of the metacarpal and accompanying fractures of the sesamoid; deep and superficial flexor tendons torn; suspensory ligament, lateral collateral ligament, and straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments torn; medial collateral ligament and intersesamoidian ligaments ruptured.” Then this: “severe artifactual changes to the bones, in addition to embedded track material, complicates detailed examination of the fracture sites.” Million Dollar Sky was three years old and being prepped for her first race.
Trailing Monster, Mar 11, Keeneland T (euth Mar 13)
“Approaching the 1/4 pole, gelding became lame: completely displaced fracture of the humerus, marked tearing of associated muscles.” Trailing was three years old.
Remunzel, Mar 22, Keeneland T
“[Horse] was breezing and pulled up lame: complete, displaced, severely comminuted biarticular fracture of the first phalanx.” Remunzel was two years old.
Wild Thinker, Mar 22, Keeneland T
“Fell to the track, unable to rise: complete, displaced fracture of the humerus with marked tearing of the surrounding muscles.” Wild was four years old.
Malibu Time, Mar 27, Turfway R (euth Mar 28)
“Patient developed acute, severe lameness in evening following race: complete, comminuted, displaced fracture; extensive soft tissue damage [that] includes tearing of the deep and superficial digital flexor tendons, rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament, and tearing of the suspensory ligament, the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory, the medial and lateral collateral ligaments, and the oblique and straight sesamoidian ligaments.” Malibu was five years old.
Overindulgence, Apr 1, Churchill T
“Horse collapsed, became agonal, and died: complete, displaced fracture of the fifth lumbar vertebra; marked hemorrhage within the surrounding muscle; lifting of the epaxial muscles from the spine.” Overindulgence was three years old.
Dram Fast, Apr 5, Keeneland T
“Mare was working when she fell: complete, comminuted, displaced fracture; tearing of muscles; large amount of hemorrhage.” Dram was six years old.
Joyflwariorprincss, Apr 5, Turfway T (euth May 7)
“Chronic septic hock from previous laceration which resulted in laminitis in all four limbs. Laminitis [included] lamina detachment, rotation, and [in one leg] prolapse through the sole.” The necropsy report went on to say: “The filly is emaciated, weighing 390 kg, with scant visceral fat stores, light muscling, marked prominence of the axial skeleton, and pressure sores over the shoulders, elbows, tuber coxa, femurs, and stifles.” Oh how this poor girl (just three) suffered.
Mr Chubbs, Apr 13, HighPointe Training Center T (euth Apr 16)
“Horse was doing a slow canter when it suffered a catastrophic injury: complete, displaced, comminuted fracture of the humerus with compression of the fractured bone into the marrow cavity; muscles surrounding humerus extensively torn.” Mr Chubbs was three years old and being prepped for his first race.
February Son, Apr 19, Keeneland R
“Horse appeared to lose its action in its hind end, collapsed, and slid through the rail. On exam, the horse was motionless, with an open, comminuted radius fracture. The horse never appeared to be conscious.” February was six years old.
Coltonator, Apr 21, Keeneland T
“Significant [damage] to [three limbs]: torn fragments of the tendon sheath visible; flexor retinaculum torn; tearing and hemorrhage within the deep digital flexor tendon; severe tearing and fraying of the superficial flexor tendon; near complete severing of the SDF.” Coltonator was eight years old.
The Reds, May 12, Churchill R (euth May 13)
“Pulled up with severe injury to LF fetlock: [multiple] complete ligament ruptures with subluxation of the joint.” The Reds was five years old.
Yes Day, May 23, Churchill S
“Coffin bone fracture; severe degloving; severed nerves, vein, and artery.” Yes Day was four years old.
Hercules, Jun 7, Churchill R
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury to RF fetlock: [multiple] comminuted fractures; tearing of the superficial and deep digital tendons, the medial and lateral collateral ligaments of the fetlock, the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory, and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments; rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament.” Hercules was six years old.
Theroanrunner, Jun 9, Keeneland T
“[Multiple] comminuted fractures; fetlock open and disarticulated; tearing of deep and superficial digital flexor tendons, medial and lateral branches of suspensory, medial and lateral collateral ligaments of fetlock, and straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” And: “rupture of intersesamoidian ligament.” Thero was four years old.
Stars Vengeance, Jun 14, Triple Diamonds Training Center S
“Stiff gait, neck extended, nystagmus, euthanized.” Stars was two years old and being prepped for her first race.
Cash Only, Jun 16, Churchill T
“Horse was galloping when the rider felt the horse go bad: markedly comminuted, biarticular fracture of the second phalanx.” Cash was three years old.
Happy New Year, Jul 19, Keeneland T
“Pulled up severely lame, became severely painful on manipulation of limb – complete, comminuted humerus fracture, multiple fragments with some depressed into the marrow cavity; extensive tearing of surrounding muscles.” Also: “grade 1 ulcer disease.” Happy was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
Ova Charged, Aug 3, Ellis R
“Horse fell on the course with [multiple] open, disarticulated, comminuted fractures of right forelimb and rupture of suspensory ligament. Left forelimb: full-thickness wound, connective tissues expanded by a large amount of hemorrhage, fetlock joint contains bloody fluid with small spicules of bone.” Ova Charged was six years old.
Catskills, Aug 3, Keeneland T (euth Aug 5)
“Horse was training when he became abruptly lame – complete pelvic fracture, tearing of surrounding muscles.” Also: “grade 2 ulcer disease.” Catskills was three years old.
Honest Delight, Aug 8, Keeneland T (euth Aug 9)
“Horse found down in stall after presenting with non-weight-bearing lameness earlier. LH: comminuted tibia fracture, large amount of hemorrhage. LF: chronic abaxial fracture of the sesamoid.” Also: “moderate to large numbers of tapeworms occupy the lumen of the cecum; stomach ulcer.” Honest was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
Timetoplaythegame, Aug 13, Red Mile R
“Driver felt horse take a bad step – [multiple] fractures, large amount of hemorrhage.” And: “stomach ulceration; lung plaques.” And: “severity score” of fetlock joints, 10/12. Timetoplaythegame was 11 years old. Quite a life, huh?
Fast Strike, Aug 15, Ellis T
“Open cannon fracture – large portion of the dorsal cortex missing; suspensory ligament extensively torn with attachments remaining to two large fragments of the palmar cortical bone.” Also: “extensive ulceration of the stomach.” Fast Strike was four years old.
Shuffle Dance, Aug 17, Churchill T
“Multiple open fractures, including a condylar fracture, biaxial sesamoid fractures, and a fracture of the first phalanx; severe soft tissue damage, with tearing of the medial digital vein, tearing of the flexor retinaculum, the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the suspensory ligament and both branches, the medial collateral ligament of the fetlock, and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” As if not enough: “The intersesamoidian ligament is ruptured.” In short, his leg was destroyed. Shuffle was four years old.
Tapitoro, Aug 18, Ellis R
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury: [multiple] comminuted fractures.” And: “Soft tissue damage is marked with tearing of the flexor retinaculum, the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the medial and lateral annular ligaments of the fetlock, the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory, and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” And: “The intersesamoidian ligament is ruptured.” Also: “extensive ulceration – grade 4 – of the stomach.” Tapitoro was three years old.
Lilms Constitution, Aug 23, Ellis T
“Horse fell, hit its head, and died: cranial trauma.” Also: “grade 3 ulcers.” Lilms was three years old.
Maxwell, Sep 2, Churchill T (euth Oct 6)
“Colt fell and was injured Sep 2. On Oct 4, diagnosis of chronic femoral fractures [with] poor prognosis for recovery. On Oct 6, down in stall, unable to rise, euthanized.” Maxwell was three years old. Oh how this poor boy suffered.
Manolo Creed, Sep 2, Keeneland S
“Colt went down and died.” Also: “focally severe gastric ulceration.” Manolo was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
Devilish, Sep 3, Keeneland T
“This horse shattered her pastern into multiple fragments [with] distal limb completely unstable below the fetlock.” Also: “grade 2 squamous ulcers.” Devilish was two years old and being prepped for her first race.
Marqueta, Sep 6, Churchill T (euth Sep 7)
“[Multiple] complete, displaced pelvic fractures; large amount of hemorrhage.” Then this: “The presence of a preexisting periosteal callus…in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure. Additionally, preexisting lesions are often bilateral, as in this case.” Marqueta was two years old and being prepped for her first race.
End State, Sep 14, Churchill T
“Horse pulled up 5/5 lame: biarticular fracture of the [RH] first phalanx with marked comminution; tearing of underlying [LF] connective tissues.” Also: “stomach ulcers.” End State was three years old and being prepped for her first race.
Wicked Las, Sep 14, Churchill T
“Went down at finish: complete, comminuted humerus fracture; tearing of muscles; large amount of hemorrhage.” And: “dozens of coalescing, bleeding stomach ulcers.” Wicked was two years old and being prepped for her first race.
Framework, Sep 24, Churchill T
“Spiral fracture.” Framework was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
Spruzzo, Oct 1, Keeneland T
“Colt broke down on track: [multiple] comminuted fractures, extensive soft tissue damage, large amount of hemorrhage.” And this: “Frequent ulceration – grade 4 disease – of the squamous mucosa of the stomach with a large ulcer that measures 10cmx4cmx.5cm.” Spruzzo was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
Rejoinder, Oct 3, Keeneland T
“Pulled up with 5/5 lameness: [multiple] comminuted fractures, large amount of hemorrhage, severe tearing of connective tissues.” Rejoinder was three years old.
Lancaster Imp, Oct 4, Keeneland T
“Sound heard by rider and others: complete, comminuted humerus fracture with associated tearing of muscles.” And: “grade 3 ulcer disease.” Lancaster was four years old and being prepped for his first race.
Steel Charger, Oct 4, Keeneland T
“Humerus fracture galloping out.” And: “The presence of a preexisting periosteal callus…in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure.” Steel was two years old and being prepped for his first race.
West Beach, Oct 4, Keeneland R
“Horse was lame while jogging off after race – [multiple] fractures.” Also: “grade 2 ulcer disease.” West Beach was two years old.
Constituent, Oct 25, Keeneland R
“Pulled up with catastrophic injury: complete, displaced, comminuted, open fracture of the humerus; tearing of surrounding muscles; connective tissues of the shoulder expanded by massive amount of hemorrhage and edema.” Also: “approximately one dozen ulcers and erosions located in the stomach.” Constituent was three years old.
King Kumbalay, Oct 26, Keeneland T
“Horse pulled up lame: biaxial sesamoid fractures; extensive soft tissue damage, including tearing of the flexor retinaculum, the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the lateral annular ligament of the fetlock, the suspensory ligament, and the lateral and medial branches of the suspensory; rupture of medial annular ligament and intersesamoidian ligament.” That’s a lot of destruction. King was six years old.
La Bukana, Oct 31, Churchill R
“Horse pulled up at finish with catastrophic injury: biaxial comminuted fractures with severe soft tissue disruption.” La Bukana was two years old.
Williston Way, Nov 2, Triple Diamonds T
“[Multiple] fractures just after wire.” And: “Soft tissue damage includes tearing of the medial digital vein, rupture of the intersesamoidian and medial annular ligaments of the fetlock, and tearing of the flexor retinaculum, the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the suspensory ligament, the lateral and medial branches of the suspensory ligament, and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” Also: “stomach ulceration.” Williston was seven years old and had already been raced 45 times.
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old filly, Nov 5, Churchill T
“Complete, comminuted fracture of the humerus; connective tissues of the shoulder expanded by massive amount of hemorrhage and edema, with tearing of the surrounding muscles.” Also: “A small number of [botfly] larvae are adhered to the gastric mucosa. The small intestine contains rare ascarid nematodes. The cecum contains several tapeworms.” Also: “The presence of a preexisting periosteal callus…in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure.” It bears repeating: this poor girl was just two years old.
Splattered, Nov 6, Churchill R
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury: slab fractures of the second, third, and fourth carpal bones; comminuted fractures of the radial, intermediate, and ulnar carpal bones; tearing of multiple ligaments.” Elsewhere on the report, the injury was described as a “crushing of the carpal bones.” Splattered was three years old and this was her first race.
Eighty West, Nov 7, Churchill R
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury to fetlock: multiple fractures within the joint, including severely comminuted P1 fracture.” Also: “severe ulceration of the squamous mucosa.” Eighty West was two years old.
Mischievous Time, Nov 7, Churchill R (euth Nov 8)
“Complete, displaced fracture.” Then this: “Palmar osteochondral disease has been recognized as a predisposing factor to condylar fractures when the lesion occurs within the fracture line, as in this case.” Osteochondral disease – Mischievous was two years old.
Itch’s Promise, Nov 13, Triple Diamonds T
“Complete, comminuted humerus fracture with tearing of surrounding musculature.” And: “history of neck injury as a yearling.” And: “The presence of a preexisting periosteal callus…in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure.” Itch’s was three years old and being prepped for his first race.
Poppy’s Joy, Nov 16, Turfway T
“Horse was breezing and collapsed, [then] hit rail – deceased when attending vet arrived. Exercise-associated sudden death.” Also: “gastric ulcers.” Poppy’s was three years old.
Outofnothingatall, Nov 20, Churchill T
“Horse pulled up with [multiple] comminuted fractures, luxation of fetlock, and marked ligamentous damage.” Also: “grade 3 ulcers.” Outofnothingatall was four years old.
Song of Dreams, Nov 24, Churchill T
“Markedly comminuted phalanx fracture.” Also: “stomach ulceration.” Song of Dreams was two years old and being prepped for her first race.
Levanter, Nov 26, Keeneland S
“Horse became acutely weak, fell, and died immediately – cause of death could not be determined.” Levanter was five years old.
Rodeo Zone, Dec 7, Turfway R
“Traumatic musculoskeletal injury: complete slab fractures with associated subcutaneous hemorrhage and edema.” Then this: “Gastric ulcerations are an incidental finding of little clinical significance.” Rodeo Zone was three years old.
O’Donnelly, Dec 11, Turfway R
“Horse fell at 3/16 pole with a catastrophic injury to left forelimb: open, highly comminuted fracture with many missing fragments; extensor tendons multifocally torn; suspensory ligament torn with embedded fragments of bone.” Also: “grade 3 squamous ulcers.” O’Donnelly was three years old.
Auspiciousness, Dec 21, Turfway T
“Complete, displaced, comminuted humerus fracture with muscle tearing and large amount of hemorrhage.” Also: “grade 1 ulcer disease.” Auspiciousness was two years old.
Basilio, Dec 24, Turfway T
“Complete, comminuted, open fracture of the cannon; extensive tearing of suspensory ligament and extensor tendons.” Also: “There is a healed condylar fracture with a single lag screw and a healed fracture of the medial sesamoid.” Also: “grade 3 ulceration of the stomach.” Basilio was four years old.
Kid Marvelous, Dec 27, Turfway T
“Sudden death.” Kid Marvelous was five years old.
This “sport” NEEDS to be STOPPED !
They wore the horse’s tongue down 😡
Humans are completely cruel and could care less about these animals, all they want is money.
Thank you for reporting these horrid injuries. What bothers me more ii how many race horses end up in meat pens shipped to Mecico or Canada for slaughter because they did not win. This sspect is horrifying to me.
JUSTIFY was officially DISQUALIFYIED from 2018 Santa Anita Derby win on March 30, 2024.
The long arm of the law finally caught up over five years later after the fact.
He has not been stripped of his Triple Crown status.
When I was a child in the early 1960s, I thought it was so cool for a horse to win the Triple Crown. Now that I am much older and more informed of what actually goes on inside this corrupt industry, I feel sorry for the horses.
We wish we could upvote your comment a dozen times Joe! We never bet horses. We just like teaching them to accept being ridden with as little pressure as possible. For us the most difficult to do was to walk away after finally being granted a legal license to ride horses on the track after > 25 years trying. Were natural light weight with good hands & balance. Prior to being legal we rode without a license & most times no insurance as well.
Horse racing is a unique form of gambling.
In slot machines for every dollar that goes in 97 cents comes out. There is no intel or tip that improves your odds.
Sports betting aside from the 1919 white Sox is just a decision based on public information. If there were tips and inside info it would destroy the sport.
But in horse racing there is public information and there is inside info/tips.
The racing form won’t tell you who is pushing the envelope with medication today. Ironically it is essentially the notion of systemic cheating that sucks many naive people in with the hopes that they may come across that tip or inside info and make a quick buck.
I pray to God that this horrific carnage will end. I will continue to share what I know about the horse racing industry as well. Thank you Patrick and all of you that continue to spread the TRUTH about the horrible situations that the industry puts these beautiful majestic animals through.
JUSTIFY would NEVER HAVE EVER BEEN allowed to enter the races necessary to qualify for the Kentucky Derby if the cheating members of the California Horse Racing Board and the other (cheating) members of the drug testing process in the State of Arkansas would not have been “bought off” by Baffert and company. *In Arkansas, they reversed a drug violation to allow Bob Baffert and company to move forward with an allegedly clean drug test. That took up some space in the racing industry press for awhile.*
You would have to be a real NUMBSKULL to not be able to figure it out that something to the equivalent of money changing hands under the table took place for the so-called drug testing authority (PRE-HISA) to REVERSE A DIRTY DRUG TEST to being all of a sudden a *MAGICALLY CLEAN DRUG TEST* after much adieu that was published in the racing press publications.
(Too bad Mike Repole’s WHINING, bitching, pissing and moaning about having his Kentucky Derby entries of 2024 & now 2025 SCRATCHED from the starting line up of the Kentucky Derby didn’t cause a reversal last year and I don’t expect it to be reversed this year either.)
Baffert absolutely and definitely cheats but there are so many other people who ENABLE him. There is a long line of cheaters and not all of their names hit the headlines like Bob Baffert’s name hits the headlines.
The horse justify was the MOST egregious Bob SCANDAL …in a long list of evils. That horse shouldn’t have even been declared the winner of the Santa Anita derby. Sick and Disgusting BEYOND belief.
-And the alleged “king” of the ‘dopers’ is back once again.
After his three-year suspension from Churchill Downs, Bob Baffert will saddle two entries in this year’s Kentucky Derby. (Late Note: he decided to pull one of his horses, Rodriguez, a top-3 favorite due to a “bruised foot”.)
Bob Baffert is a lying, cheating, horse-doping trainer who finally got caught when his horse Medina Spirit, was later disqualified from the 2021 Derby due to a positive drug test, resulting in the afore-mentioned 3-year suspension.
After wagering on horse racing for dozens of years, at almost every major racetrack, betting thousands and thousands of dollars, professionally handicapping both on my own and with numerous syndicates almost every day on this “sport”, it was Baffert who finally convinced me to quit the game for good.
If Medina Spirit, who was rightfully disqualified, had been taken down on the day of race, my bankroll would have been tens of thousands of dollars larger – as I had the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th and 5th place finishers in the exact order.
No Medina Spirit.
In other words, without Medina Spirit, who I thought had no shot to even finish 5th, I would have had the winning win, place, exacta, trifecta and superfecta bet. Without the illegal dope, I just may have been right. Obviously the stewards agreed, since entering a horse who has been, shall we say, “juiced up” is an automatic DQ>
I am still asked by my former racetracks crones ‘Joe, Who d’ya like in the big race?”
My answer is always the same, now, “I’ve got a hot tip for you that’ll surely put you way ahead in the betting!”
When I get a return call, I tell anyone who’ll listen, do yourself a favor, and pass the race. In fact, pass the races! Give up betting on horses, because 1) you can no longer win; the cheating is even more rampant than ever before; and 2) the mistreatment of the horses, which is worse than ever, will undermine your handicapping efforts; 3) even if you couldn’t give a flying f**k about any of the horses’ well-being, you’re being taken for a fool by engaging in a crooked, dishonest gambling venture. NO Racing Form, program, “Sheets” or any other handicapping aid will tell you how much ‘dope” each horse has had prior to the race.
Personally it’s always been my opinion that it doesn’t matter WHY you quit – as long as you quit! Remember, NO bettors, no racing!
-Joe
It’s often and it shouldn’t be. It’s the horse that pays the ultimate price.
If I was going to bet on anything, I would bet that most of the people that are betting on the horses being exploited as gambling chips in the Kentucky Derby are drinking alcoholic beverages compromising their moral character and ability to discern what is right and what is wrong. It’s a day to get drunk and be a selfish slob for a lot of people, which is extremely unfortunate, especially for the horses, not to mention for other reasons.