I have been able to confirm two kills at Oaklawn in its recently-concluded spring meet: Bellamys Roan, Apr 26 (the chart said, “went wrong late”); Fearless Kristie, May 1 (the chart said, “went wrong, fell”). Bellamys was six; Fearless had just turned five.
RIP
Sadly, I’m not surprised at Fearless Kristie. Her fall was horrific.
I am glad that you were able to confirm these, Patrick. I know the racing commissions can be secretive with their reports and uncooperative at times.
Horseracing is Animal Cruelty.
Subjecting and forcing yearlings and two-year-olds to gallop carrying the weight of a rider with a whip and very possibly an absolutely illegal electric shocking device is completely wrong!
Knowingly causing young horses repetitive stress and “stress remodeling” to their bodies is cruel and sadistic. This ongoing daily routine mistreatment should be banned.
If Gary Stevens had been banned for twenty years for buzzing Thoroughbred race horses with an illegal electric shocking device and if they had also banned the trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, for twenty years for knowingly being involved in such horrendous cruelty, I don’t think they would be calling him “a rock star” in the headlines.