Over the course of the 17-day Keeneland fall meet (Oct 3-25), 33 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet (i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them) for being “injured” or “unsound,” another 31 by private vets for “illness” or “injury,” and 12 horses who were “claimed” (bought) prior to races were subsequently returned to their sellers because they finished said races physically compromised in one way or another.
In addition, say the stewards:
“Noquestionaboutit returned lame.”
“Samarita was injured in the paddock.”
“Wizard of Yester was injured in the starting gate.”
“Auratium returned lame.”
It’s more than just the killing, folks (that said, there were at least two racing kills at Keeneland during the meet).
RIP
Nancy, all of that plus when a victimized horse is fatally injured and euthanized, he or she can be used again in death as a tax write-off, a business loss. No problem, next victim. This is the moral depravity of these people.
Just send them out to the starting gate and hope the horse gets past the stewards or track vet. Then keep your fingers crossed,hope for the best and see that the horse gets back to his barn that night. If not,just find the next “victim” and cry you had no clue.
The horse couldn’t tell you he was in dire need. Yeah right
How does a so-called “horseman” decide to race a horse that is lame, unsound, injured in some way???
These people are not true horsemen.
A Standardbred was raced with fractured ribs but the connections say that they “had no idea” as an excuse.
The horse had had his front legs over the stall door at some point before being raced for the 22nd or 23rd time (and only a three-year-old). (I wonder if someone kicked him in the ribs!)
Imagine being a racehorse and forced to race with fractured ribs because your connections are so “smart” that they are clueless, or JUST DON’T CARE. They had him X-rayed because he didn’t win and evidently showed signs during and after the race that something was definitely wrong.
But, when it’s time to come up with nauseating excuses, these people can do that. Saying “we had no idea” is unacceptable! Acting clueless after forcing a horse to race with fractured ribs is part of their Modus Operandi.
These people are greedy and heartless.
Those numbers paint a troubling picture of how often horses are brought to the brink of injury before someone intervenes. Imagine being one of those horses — hurt, sick, but still expected to run until someone finally calls it off.