From an article in Horse Racing Nation last week:
“California’s already reeling breeding industry will take a big hit starting next Thursday when Harris Farms sells off 90 horses after last month’s death of legendary breeder John Harris. … The 330-acre Harris Farm will be converted to vegetable land by next summer…. What remains of the horse operation will be consolidated at Harris’s 140-acre property about 65 miles away in Sanger, Calif.”
While I’m not happy about those 90 horses – Harris’ “breeding and racing stock” – being auctioned off, this is a win. Less breeding will lead, some day, to no breeding. And “will be converted to vegetable land” – a double win.
The following horses were “scratched” at Delaware Park for illness or injury over just 7 racedays (Jul 26-Aug 7):
Rockin’ Lioness
Morning Thoughts
Style Me Royal
Walk Away Joe
Beach Island
Carvellian Quest
No Cents
Lorraine’s Way
Amazing Bernie
Vignon Manor
My Kid Syd
Daredavite
Fifty Nine Fifty
Nanisca
Bad Temper
Fashionista
Step Lightly
Go Mischievous
In the Biz
Nancy Made My Day
And, say the Delaware stewards:
“The claim [sale] of Magic Spin was voided for unsoundness.”
“The claim of Candy for Carmel was voided for unsoundness.”
“The claim of Play Harder was voided for unsoundness.”
In addition, Parlay for Destiny was “distanced.” Yeah, I’ll say: The 3-year-old Parlay finished 103+ lengths back. But he did finish, and because he did, and because Delaware Park is a taxpayer-funded track that is able (via slots cash) to pay first-last, his exploiters – Robert Reidy, Mario Serey – walked away with $200.
Speaking of Reidy and Serey, another of their horses, By Its Absence, was scratched last Wednesday by the regulatory vet for being “lame in the post parade” – meaning unless the 5-year-old was injured in the paddock or post parade, he was brought out to race that day already lame. Worse yet, BIA’s last completed race was way back in May of last year at Monmouth. That day, Reidy and Serey thought they had unloaded BIA in a pre-race claim, but that $10K sale was voided by the vet because, presumably, BIA finished the race physically-compromised in one way or another. A fine pair of “horsemen,” huh?
Robert Reidy and Mario Serey show themselves to be a fine pair of racetracker thugs who should be charged with Animal Cruelty and put in jail. Delaware has a lot to answer for.