The Daily Racing Form is reporting that A. P. Kid was euthanized “after suffering an irreparable fracture when taking a funny step” training at Saratoga Friday. The DRF reported this one because, and only because, the “very promising,” Todd Pletcher-trained A. P. was the $165K “runaway winner” of a stakes race at Saratoga three weeks ago. Meanwhile, they (and the rest of the racing press) conspicuously ignore the hundreds of other, more-pedestrian kills each year. A. P. was three years old.
In other news, at Ruidoso Friday, no fewer than six horses were injured during races and subsequently “vanned off” the track: B Aj, Bp Catching Cowgirls, Her Majessty, One Famous Moonlight, Rolexxe, Famous Lady Train (the last two coming in the same race). Notably, all six turned two this year – i.e., equine babies. Almost assuredly, one or more are dead as I write (we won’t know for sure till the FOIA).
The senseless destruction of these animals for sport and human selfishness has to end.
Instead of being honest about the cause of the fatal injury to A. P. Kid, Todd Pletcher says A. P. Kid took a funny step while changing leads. That sounds like Todd Pletcher is about as clueless as a fence post. It also makes him sound like a die-hard horse abusing thug that has no scruples and no regard for actual horsemanship. Sacrificing a horse’s life to the ‘almighty dollar’ is more important to him than being ethical and honest and more important than operating under the principles of true horsemanship.
Thank goodness for the FOIA laws! Have noticed that the FOIA laws are used in many areas worldwide to garner info on the truth of racing operations. Have been reading a newsletter called The Black Horse is Dying written by an Irish author who worked for many years worked within the racing industry. Very informative of what goes on as regards operations. The racing industry is a “Crooked, Crummy, Gamboling Game ” no matter where or what part of the world it is operated. So sad for these young horses! They will never know of living like horses are meant to, in herds with natural environment.
“Funny step”? Really?
Beautiful AP Kid, I just watched him win a stakes race a few weeks ago. This is so incredibly sad. What’s even sadder is that both his sire and grandsire were retired due to injuries as very young horses.
Racing’s MO. Chew them up, spit them out, or kill them off.
Injured badly enough to be vanned off the racetrack at the tender age of two years most likely means that their lives will be cut short in one way or another if they are not already dead.
What a ‘sport’ horseracing is; forcing underdeveloped colts and fillies at less than one-third of the age of maturity to gallop under whip and rider (and illegal electric shocking device) and then when their bodies breakdown, these people just get rid of them by euthanizing them, abandoning them, or selling them to the kill buyer/meat man. Sickening!!!