Among the latest batch of excessive whippers in harness racing, this for Kyle Swift at Batavia Oct 4: “While driving Lyons Surfing, Kyle Swift was observed using more than hand and wrist action after the 3/4 pole and again in the stretch. For this infraction, Mr. Swift is hereby fined $500 and suspended 7 days.” Why the stiffer-than-normal penalties? “This is his third offense in a 365-day period.” One of those “offenses” was at Buffalo Jun 25: “While driving Daisys Duchess, Kyle Swift did cause injury to a horse with the whip.” Left unsaid was the exact nature of the whip-inflicted injury. For background on Swift, though, here is a post of ours regarding an “infraction” at Batavia last Oct:
“Kyle Swift was observed hitting his horse more than three times in the stretch.” Fined $250, suspended three days. By the way, in a March HarnessLink profile on the 18-year-old Swift, he said: “When I got my groom’s license at the age of 14, and got into it more, I learned a lot and really fell in love with the animal. There is nothing better than the horses.” Yup, nothing shows love like hitting.
Here’s Trojan Mule going down after the wire at Finger Lakes on the 15th. The chart simply said the 5-year-old was “vanned off,” but we’ll see…
Delaware Park has closed up shop till next May. Over just its last five days of action (Oct 9-18), 3 horses were “scratched” for injury, another 14 for “illness.” Also, say the stewards:
“Workhard Playhard was injured in the paddock.”
“Knocking Luck was lame in the post parade.”
“Knockout Guy was pulled up and vanned off.” (The chart said nothing of the ambulance.)
“Claim [sale] of D’ tiger Lily was voided for unsoundness.”
“Claim of Inbound was voided for unsoundness.”
RIP
The New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission reportedly have a different view of what constitutes abuse of a two-year-old in training. The assistant starter named Orlando Quinones at Saratoga is being suspended for 365 days for roughing up the nose and muzzle of the young and underdeveloped colt that has not been raced yet.
For a State steward to notice the injuries, it has to be something serious there. The NYRA does not agree that the horse was abused by Orlando Quinones at the starting gate.
If X-rays were taken of the colt’s knees and other joints and disclosed to the public, I suspect we would see Degenerative Joint Disease. It is a crying shame that there doesn’t seem to be any rules against causing horses to have degenerative joint disease, not to mention Ulcers.
Wanda, some of us really do love horses & at the time of our involvement with racing we did not realize the cruel & horrible things that occurred until much later. Many things were covered up & hidden from us “Newbies”. Later after these horrible people thought we would say nothing we became more privy to what really goes on. That poor horse above is only too typical of a horse being worn down at the end of a meet & breaking down! Our state,Oregon, does not even participate in HISA`s minimal rules! The crummy trainers we used to be involved with,( many live in Washington) still operate after our leaving the track in 2004. They are in their 80`s!
TROJAN MULE didn’t look like he was trying to get up at all in the last split second of the video replay shown here.
The announcer at Finger Lakes race track voiced absolutely NO CONCERN WHATSOEVER that a racehorse fell down on the track during a race OR that the jockey had been thrown away from the horse as the injured horse fell. This is the mark of a serial killer of horses — show no concern when you see a horse go down because you have seen it so many times in your “illustrious” career AND you are morally bankrupt. 🤮
The jockey didn’t look like he was trying to get up either. If only the jockey could make better occupational choices that DO NOT involve Animal Cruelty.
The animal abuser, Kyle Swift, saying he “loves” horses is definitely a toxic person, a dysfunctional person, that not only uses the whip but also uses it excessively. Who cares about the rules when you “love” horses so much?! (Sarcasm!)
The “whipping rules” of horseracing are violated every day in this fundamentally cruel business. Why else would these individuals who choose to be drivers or jockeys “love” horses so much?!
Where else can you get away with abusing horses multiple times in a day and get paid for it???
#HorseracingIsAnimalCruelty
#EndHorseracingNOW