Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on some of that state’s kills last year (previous installments here).
Maverick Rose, Jan 20, Golden Gate T (euth Jan 26)
“Lame [day after training]. Jan 23, horse ruptured an abscess in right hock. Jan 25, horse ruptured [another] abscess in right hock. Dropped RH fetlock. Rotation and sinking of LH distal phalanx. Jan 26, euthanasia.” Maverick was three years old.
Blonde Bombshell, May 31, Santa Anita R
“Horse sustained RF catastrophic leg injury during race: [multiple] complete, displaced, comminuted fractures; multiple [I counted at least 8] torn ligaments and tendons; joint capsule completely torn.” Also: “osteochondral disease [both front limbs].” And listed as an “incidental finding”: “deep stomach ulcers.” Blonde was five years old.
Sam Spade, Jun 7, Golden Gate S
“Horse had diarrhea starting Jun 6. Died Jun 7 [there was no mention of euthanasia, so this could have been one of those ‘found dead’].” Final diagnosis: “severe necrotizing and hemorrhagic colitis/typhlitis.” Then this: “Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were detected in the liver, which could have played a role in the intestinal disease observed in this case.” Sam was just two years old. That poor, poor boy.
J D’s Rude Boy, Jun 7, Golden Gate R
“Horse suffered catastrophic injury to RF fetlock: [multiple] complete, displaced, comminuted fractures; multiple torn ligaments and tendons; joint capsule completely torn.” J D’s was four years old.
Where It’s At, Jun 30, Pleasanton T
“Open [through the skin] cannon fracture – multiple fragments, separation of sesamoids; multiple torn ligaments and tendons; joint capsule completely torn; multiple lacerations.” Then this, same leg: “severe osteochondral disease.” Where It’s At was but three years old.
I didn’t see Bob Baffert on television appearing to “choke up” but I think he might have practiced some fake tears before being on TV just to put on a show for certain individuals. He was banned from racing at Churchill Downs for a certain length of time and longer than expected. Just thinking about how he couldn’t get a “free pass” to lie, cheat, and steal AND kill horses at Churchill Downs after the MEDINA SPIRIT fiasco might have made it a little easier for him to induce a faking of feelings.
He has killed over 70 horses so he has to be the poster child for cheating, killing horses and not looking back.
From what I understand, he had to stop lying long enough to admit that he did do something wrong in order for him to be allowed back at Churchill Downs as a participant.
Joe you’re spot on!
Like when Havnameltdown broke down he just shook his head, said “aw dammit”, and turned and walked away. Then he couldn’t recall the horse’s name later when he was interviewed!
I think, had one of my horses ever broken down, (which none, thank you God, ever did!!) I would have puked and passed out!
When you constantly have two year old horses dying of hemorrhagic ulcers and also having horrific leg fractures, doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that something is very wrong here.
Well, I certainly do believe that Bob Baffert was genuinely choked up and visibly upset at the death of Medina Spirit. He was undoubtedly thinking of all the money $$$ he would NOT be making with his prized wage-earner no longer with us.
Concern for the loss of the life and long suffering of a beloved horse? Uh……really, not so much.
Not him.
-Joe
Anyone who believes the lies of this industry is a fool. If people had any idea of how much they were being taken in by this morally depraved gambling and horse mutilating industry, they would not support it and they would be embarrassed for being such an idiot to believe the lies.
Pimps, pimping beautiful horses.
It is obvious these horses suffered enormously and these are the ones we know about!
Maverick Rose was trained when she had to be showing symptoms of the terrible condition she was in a few days later. And, Sam Spade was poisoned with non steroidal drugs. Hard to believe he had diarrhea for one day and died the next considering the terrible condition of his intestines. That was one very ill 2yr. old. Further, why was he being dosed to death with anti inflammatory drugs at 2 yrs of age!? Also, a horse with “severe osteocondral disease” should not have been near a racetrack.
Racing enables the worst of animal cruelty and hides behind the ridiculous hoopla of hats and mint juleps, not to mention Baffert choking up on national TV about the death of Medina Spirit when he actually caused his death as well as the deaths of so many others…