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).
Tarzan in the Wagon, Sep 14, Los Alamitos R
“Fell in race, unable to rise: complete, catastrophic fractures of the L5 and L6 vertebrae; compression of the spinal cord.” The L6 was “split into several (>5) fragments,” and the intervertebral disc was “completely torn.” Tarzan was two years old. Two years old.
Midnight Huckabee, Oct 5, Los Alamitos R
“Fell and fractured neck.” Also: “complete transection of the spinal cord.” Also, in both front legs: multiple (4-5 in each) “catastrophic fractures,” “multiple torn ligaments,” “complete rupture of joint capsule.” Again, that’s both front limbs. But I’m not done. Also noted: “metacarpal disease” both front limbs (the other two were not examined) and – as an “incidental finding” – stomach ulcers. Midnight also was but two years old.
Justa Dasha Favorite, Oct 11, Los Alamitos S
“Found dead in stall [with] abrasions on head and extensive hemorrhages in turbinates and nasal passages.” Cause: “gastric rupture, 19m long.” Yes, Justa was two years old.
Thank you for your hard work to put an end to this vile “sport”!
Thank you for sharing, Ramona.
Forty years ago, I worked briefly as a vet assistant on the track. After witnessing the horrific cruelty and abuse done to those horses, I knew that was not the kind of “veterinary” work I wanted to do; and, after just 8 months at the track, I walked off the job and never went back. Now, at the age of 65, after suffering years of excruciating pain from end-stage osteo-arthritis in my hip, I endured a total hip replacement surgery. To know that 2-year-old horses are routinely euthanized for the same reason in their knees and fetlocks is an abomination. Ban horseracing now and forever.
When is it going to be ENOUGH death!!!!!
These three 2-year-olds should not even have been ridden hard let alone be forced to gallop carrying the weight of whip-wielding riders.
These three 2-year-olds should not have been locked up in stalls 23 hours a day.
These three 2-year-olds should not have been forced to gallop at TOP SPEED.
These three 2-year-olds are prime examples of what is wrong with horseracing.
These three 2-year-olds were put through hell by their human connections.
These three 2-year-olds were born into a kind of hell that a lot of us can’t even imagine.
These three 2-year-olds are prime examples of how the liars who call themselves horsemen DO NOT put the health and well-being of the horses first.
These three 2-year-olds are victims of dishonest people who put their greedy desires first by doing the fundamentally wrong things to young colts and fillies who need at least FOUR MORE YEARS to finish growing to maturity.
The human connections of these three 2-year-olds should be charged with Animal Cruelty!
How extremely sad that these so young horses will never have full & complete lives living in a natural herd environment. This gamboling business can`t fail any to quickly for us. Bet on people, cars, casino games if you have to gamble at all & leave the horses out of it.