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).
Jazzy Empress, Jun 30, Pleasanton S
“Flipped while being saddled in paddock, became agonal within minutes, and expired as veterinarian was evaluating.” The destruction: “[multiple] complete, displaced vertebra fractures; complete transection of the spinal cord; significant skull hemorrhage.” And for good measure: “multiple rib fractures; chronic stomach ulcers.” Jazzy was three years old.
Savanah Lady, Jul 23, Del Mar T
“Horse worked, collapsed on gallop out, bright red hemorrhage from both nostrils – sudden death. Cause: cardiopulmonary failure due to exercise-associated fatal pulmonary hemorrhage.” Savanah was three years old.
Handsome Red, Aug 3, Del Mar R
“[Multiple] open [through skin] fractures; both superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, several ligaments, and joint capsule completely torn.” Handsome was three years old.
Truly Magical, Aug 17, Del Mar T (euth Aug 25)
“Catastrophic fetlock failure: complete, displaced, comminuted fracture; complete tearing of several ligaments; complete tear of joint capsule.” All that, and yet they kept her alive for eight days. Also: “multiple chronic gastric ulcers.” Truly was three years old.
Arctic Fire, Aug 23, Ferndale R
“[Multiple] complete, displaced fractures; multiple ligaments torn; joint capsule completely torn.” Also: “acute subcutaneous head hemorrhage [apparently from the fall]; chronic stomach ulcers.” Arctic was six years old.
Usually a horse will run backwards when the cinch is pulled up too tight too soon. Whatever they did, they did it while saddling JAZZY EMPRESS. I suspect they were manhandling her in such a way that she was overwhelmed.
The horse flipping in the paddock is another case of incompence at every level of horse racing. This would never happen with a skilled handlers.
But im sure that according to the expert industry insider, it is unacceptable that Jazzy Empress didn’t just shake it off and race.( and the ulcers are in no way associated with universal practice of administering too much bute)
Anyone who has ever fractured a bone or torn a ligament knows the acute pain from injuries like that. Reading the accounts of these horrific injuries to poor, innocent, horses who had the misfortune to fall into the hands of greedy, soulless, individuals, makes me ill. I simply cannot believe that this is allowed to continue.
What was done to these horses is/was the consequence of inhumane treatment of horses exploited for money.
The excruciating pain and suffering caused to these horses is a violation of 1902.5 but the California Horse Racing Board doesn’t see a maiming and killing of a horse as a maiming and killing of a horse. How convenient for these people commiting and “overseeing” these horrific acts of cruelty to horses.
All of these people should be charged with Animal Cruelty and violations of the Animal Welfare laws. This horseracing and gambling is a criminal enterprise that should be shut down.