Look at the Faces of These Dead Horses at Laurel Park

Through a FOIA request to the Maryland Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at Laurel Park thus far this year. (Note: We previously reported on 11 of these, but full necropsies had not been completed at the time.)

Trophy Boy, Jan 14, Laurel S
“Showed signs of illness Dec 26. Condition deteriorated and connections could not financially afford to send the colt to a clinic for more advanced care. Euthanized due to severe necrotizing pneumonia, pleuritis, pericarditis, and effusion with abscesses.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [three limbs].” Trophy, below, was but two years old – “degenerative joint disease” – and was in training for his first race.

Luv Ya Bye Bye, Jan 17, Laurel R
“Shattered sesamoid, marked trauma-induced cartilage damage.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs]; stomach ulcers.” Luv Ya, below, was five years old.

Collier’s Time, Feb 8, Laurel T
“Collapsed and died while training – cause undetermined.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs, with multiple areas of DJD in three of those limbs].” Collier’s, below, was four years old.

One Man Team, Feb 15, Laurel T
“Open [protruding through skin], comminuted [multiple pieces], biaxial [multiple bones] fractures.” One Man Team was but two years old.

Quality Weekend, Feb 20, Laurel S
“Was being treated for cellulitis in left hock since mid-December. Subsequently developed severe laminitis with rotation of the coffin bone in RH foot [plus] joint sepsis of left hock. Euthanized.” Quality, below, was five years old.

Baby Lady, Feb 23, Laurel T
“Collapsed and died while training. Cause: comminuted fracture of C3 [vertebra].” The report adds: “The jockey thought she broke her neck, but the vet at the scene stated filly was deceased when she hit the ground.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [both right fetlocks].” Baby, below, had just turned three four days prior.

Chinny Tin Tin, Mar 12, Laurel T
“Broke down near 1/4 pole – compound [through the skin] cannon fracture, euthanized on the track.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [three limbs].” Also: In response to question about prior surgeries, trainer said: “Yes, he had screws on his right ankle [different from leg that broke] two years ago.” Chinny, below, was four years old.

Camulus, Mar 23, Laurel R
“Camulus was found to have a compound, comminuted fracture of his RF fetlock with shattered sesamoids. He also suffered a large open rundown wound of his LF fetlock [and] abundant skin and soft-tissue damage. Euthanized immediately on the racetrack.” Imagine that scene. Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs, with multiple areas of DJD in three of those limbs]; stomach ulcers.” Camulus, below, was four years old.

Mr. Antonelli, Mar 23, Laurel R (euth Mar 28)
“Broke down near 7/16 pole.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [three limbs].” Mr. Antonelli, below, was five years old.

Jasiel, Apr 6, Laurel R
“Broke down near 1/2 pole: medial sesamoid fractured into multiple pieces; lateral sesamoid also fractured with displacement; marked soft-tissue damage and hemorrhage.” Even with all that destruction (below), Jasiel was still “vanned off,” with the vet noting he was “somewhat fractious.” He had just turned four two days prior.

Beachfront Breeze, Apr 27, Laurel R
“[Multiple: I counted four] displaced, compound fractures; abundant soft-tissue damage and torn ligaments. Due to the open nature [bones jutting through the skin], the filly was euthanized on the track.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Also: “surgery to remove chips from both knees when she was two.” Again, that’s surgery on both knees when she was two. Beachfront, below, was three when she died.

Levisa, May 21, Laurel S
“[Horse] had been digging at the wooden stall [likely confinement-induced stereotypy], which caused splinters in her LF hoof. She developed an abscess. The abscess ruptured and drained out of the coronary band. On May 21, despite treatment efforts, [she] began to deteriorate. She developed laminitis and rotation of the coffin bone in her RF hoof, a consequence of prolonged lameness in her LF. Euthanized.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Levisa, below, was five years old and had last been raced Apr 4.

Sweet Izzy, May 24, Laurel R (euth Jun 5)
“Pulled up lame, vanned off. [Ensuing] days, developed substantial swelling from the knee down. Radiographs [revealed] comminuted slab fracture. Euthanized.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [both hind limbs].” Sweet Izzy, below, was three years old.

Chesapeake King, Jun 1, Laurel T
“During the gallop-out, he suddenly collapsed. [The vet] arrived quickly but unfortunately ‘Chesapeake King’ was already dead. Cause of sudden death not obvious.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [both hind limbs]; stomach ulcers.” Chesapeake, below, was three years old and being prepped for his first race.

Aonbharr, Jun 13, Laurel R
“Sustained injury – comminuted fracture of left scapula – near the wire. The horse continued on his own past the second wire before collapsing due to heatstroke. After treatment for the heatstroke, the horse got to his feet with a 4/5 lameness. [He] was helped on to the ambulance and transported back to the barn for further evaluation. Once there, it was obvious the gelding had sustained a catastrophic injury. Euthanized.” Also: “stomach ulcers.” Again, that would be a catastrophic fracture and heatstroke. That poor, poor boy. Aonbharr, below, was four years old.