Through a FOIA request to the Illinois Racing Board, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks thus far this year.
Peaceloverocknroll, Jan 18, Suburban R (euth Jan 20)
“Pulled up lame, loaded on ambulance, euthanized.” Peace was three years old.
Gone Again, Feb 3, Fairmount S
“Found down in stall – believed to have injured spine. Neurologic symptoms progressed and humane euthanasia was elected.” Also: “chronic ulcer.” Gone Again was four years old.
Marilyn Attack, Mar 14, Fairmount T
“Broke down at the end of a gallop: avulsion fracture of the left scapula, cartilage completely torn from the [bone].” Also: “severe stomach ulceration.” The report added: “Broke down during a high-risk time during the conditioning process prior to bone remodeling strengthening the skeleton to a sufficient degree.” “High-risk time”? Marilyn was two years old and being prepped for her first race.
Razor Bet, May 1, Fairmount T (euth May 5)
“Trained normally. Placed on walker to cool out. When returned to the barn, was sweating profusely, trembling, with a ‘hunched back’ appearance. Neurologic symptoms progressed over the next 4-5 days. Euthanized May 5. Symptoms consistent with injury associated with hotwalker.” Razor was three years old and being prepped for his first race.
Hightailing It, May 10, Fairmount T
“Broke down while training: [multiple] complete fractures resulting in [multiple] fragments.” Hightailing It was five years old.
Tonal Recall, May 17, Fairmount T
“Sudden death during timed work – cause not apparent.” Tonal was three years old and being prepped for his first race. Three years old – “sudden death.”
La Clasica, Jun 5, Hawthorne R
“Pulled up at 3/16 pole with unrecoverable injury – multiple acute fractures with associated hemorrhage.” Then this: “Incidentally, the stomach has ulcers and bot larvae are attached to the margo plicatus.” “Incidentally.” And: “Gastric ulcers occur frequently in horses that perform athletic activities, such as racing.” La Clasica was three years old.
Mamas Fire, Jun 14, Fairmount S
“On layoff for throat surgery; showed mild neurologic signs that progressed to being down. Euthanized.” Mamas was five years old and was last raced May 17.
Calabash Cove, Jun 30, Fairmount T
“The presumptive cause of sudden death is acute pulmonary hemorrhage, with significant drainage of blood through the trachea and out the nares.” Calabash was four.
Rose, the way I see it is that the industry had to do something to make it look like the horseracing industry would “police” itself in the use of illegal drugs on horses so, supposedly, the Federal Bureau of Investigation would not have another case similar to the Jorge Navarro doping of racehorses case and therefore cheating the Pari-mutuel gamblers. Oh, and by the way, protecting horses from being doped with crazy outlandishly illegal drugs was also a priority; not that they don’t get drugged anyway. And then, of course, wouldn’t you know it, this alleged “integrity and safety” authority would also be exempt from disclosure of racehorses killed by the industry. Now horses are magically ‘safe’… Isn’t that special!?! (Sarcasm)
RIP
Suffice to say HISA doesn’t care about the horses young or old.
What matters to HISA is the propaganda and the illusion of improved safety. The organization was created to get racing out of a tough situation. There was bad press, along with increasing awareness of the fatalities and drugging the horses.
HISA doesn’t care about yearlings and two-year-olds being abused to literal death. If they did, they would change all of the rules for racing and training. They would have to completely restructure the Kentucky Derby and all Derby races to be for seven-year-old adult horses. That would be out character for die-hard horse abusing thugs.
Bone remodeling is industry speak for racetrackers abusing the crap out of horses and breaking their bones. It doesn’t get more arrogant and morally depraved than the continued, willful, deliberate and pre-programmed abuse of horses and the human beings acting like they are above reproach.
It is obvious that these people should be charged with Animal Cruelty but the system is all wrong that lets these people get away with this egregious mistreatment of horses.