The following horses were injured in U.S. races last week and had to be removed from the track by “equine ambulance.” While fates remain unknown at this time, we will eventually get death confirmations on many, if not most, through our FOIA reporting. Note, also, that “bled” is shorthand for pulmonary hemorrhage – bleeding in the lungs.
Medal of Honor at Louisiana
Cash Back at Belterra
Rugged Justice at Horseshoe
Filly Gaga at Retama
Geaux Yoshka at Thistledown
Image of Me at Evangeline
Rock Harbor at Saratoga (also “fell”)
Bunny Honey at Saratoga
Benedetta at Saratoga
Mixed Blood at Delta (also “bled”)
Jess Corona Blue at Delta (also “bled”)
Happy Hint at Delta
Pulpit’s Dream at Evangeline
Capital Heat at Los Alamitos
Jess a Lil Fabulous at Retama
Gunzslinger at Retama
Avery’s Wonderland at Saratoga
Malus at Saratoga
Ah Jeez at Del Mar
Mine Seeker at Monmouth
One Smokin Moon at White Pine
And then there were these, not reported as ambulanced off, but…
Roja Redemption “got treated for heat distress” at Saratoga
Pineapple Man “bled” at Saratoga
Levitating “discovered to be lame” at Saratoga
Freckles Forever “bled” at Remington
I’m Noble “fell, DNF” at Emerald
RIP to all the horses named in the article!
Wanda we have read because of the HISA fees Emerald may not operate in 2026. Have been there many times in barns. Crummy water & ventilation for the horses! The on & off gaps are hazardous for horses as well. Portland Meadows at least had the good sense to have only 1 exit & 1 entry onto the track for galloping in am. Used both entry & exit many times. Hopefully another crummy track will bite the dust next year.
Fred and Joan, I read that there might not be a Longacres Mile race in 2026 at Emerald Downs because of the money that the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority is charging them. Nothing like the industry cannibalizing itself, so to speak. Not even the casino gambling revenue can keep Emerald Downs afloat.
Wanda, we have had experienced old racing horsemen tell us that Emerald is” too hard on horses & has too high a break down rate”. This from a gentleman who refused to have his horses race at Emerald despite being offered a good contract for his Thoroughbreds to run there. If you look at an internet map its clear the Native American tribe that now owns & operates Emerald is preparing for the tracks no longer being viable as a few miles away they have built a stand alone casino separate from the track.
The chart notes for I’M NOBLE at Emerald Downs read like a shit-show.
There was another horse involved that was disqualified from fourth place. I believe I’M NOBLE was walked off after clipping heels and falling. If this isn’t Animal Cruelty, what is?!!!