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).
Ransom Call, Sep 22, Santa Anita T
“Complete, displaced, comminuted fracture of the MT2; complete, displaced, comminuted fracture of the MT3; complete, displaced, comminuted fracture of the MT4.” That’s three, and one was also open – through the skin. Then this: “The complete catastrophic fractures of all right metatarsal bones resulted in complete loss of support of the right hindlimb. Most likely, the injury was associated with stress remodeling.” As to that “remodeling,” there was also this: “History: bilateral tibia fractures 2023, started working [again] Aug 2024.” He broke both tibias in 2023, back at it the following August – multiple shattered bones, dead the next month. Criminal. Ransom was four years old.
Cry Me a Runner, Sep 29, Fresno R
“Catastrophic fetlock failure.” What does that entail? “[Multiple] open [again, that’s through the skin], displaced fractures; multiple [I counted six] torn ligaments; complete tear of capsule.” Also: “osteochondral disease [both front limbs].” Cry was five years old.
Kavorka, Oct 20, Los Alamitos T
“Complete, displaced, severely comminuted (at least 10 fragments) fracture of the first phalanx; complete, displaced fragmentation of the second phalanx; complete tear of joint capsule.” Also: “osteochondral disease [both hind limbs].” Kavorka was three years old.
Vicky, $$ hungry business is an apt description. We have seen so many things just to talk unknowing owners & prospective buyers out of their $$!
I used to innocently watch horse racing when I was young and followed healthy horses like Kelso. I never was aware of all the cruelty brought on by this $ hungry industry. I eventually found out and was horrified at the abuse and eventual disposal to a slaughter house of horses that were no longer profitable.A very close friend worked as a groom at Aqueduct years ago, she told me of the blatant corruption and abuse she witnessed. …this post shows that nothing has changed!!
The members of the California Horse Racing Board are just as guilty of multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Code as the owners, trainers and track and private veterinarians are. They don’t enforce the California Codes and Regulations, Section 1902.5; Animal Welfare.
They are all a sickening bunch of corrupt goons that willfully abuse horses this way and flagrantly disregard the law; they appear to enjoy making horses suffer horrendously unimaginable and agonizing pain.
I don’t understand why the regulatory veterinarians would not step up and tell these bloodthirsty sadistic people they can’t race this young colt with his history of injuries. And for these @##h9/3# to use the term “stress remodeling” on top of everything else that is wrong with this picture is over-the-top despicable.
I would like to see Mike Tyson visit Santa Anita and do some ” stress remodeling ” to the faces of this poor horses connections. This was blatant animal abuse and must be punished. I thought I was beyond shock about what this industry was capable of. Sadly, I was wrong.
“These people” (i.e., owners, trainers, vets) ought to be given equal recognition with the horses they put on these lists of racehorses ‘ deaths; shine a light on those cockroaches and watch them scatter.
This is so painful to read!
These people need to undergo some “stress remodeling” to their bodies.