Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on some of that state’s kills last year (previous installments here).
Sweet Sonny, Oct 27, Los Alamitos R (euth Oct 28)
“Catastrophic RF fetlock failure: [multiple] complete, displaced, comminuted, open [through the skin] fractures; multiple torn ligaments; joint capsule completely torn.” All that destruction and they still waited till next day to euthanize. Also: “osteochondral disease [both front limbs].” Sweet Sonny was seven years old.
Elector, Nov 16, Del Mar T
“Catastrophic RF fetlock failure: [multiple] complete, displaced fractures; multiple torn ligaments; joint capsule completely torn.” Also: “osteochondral disease [both front limbs].” Elector was six years old.
Rio Del Sol, Dec 29, Santa Anita S
“Colic symptoms developed post arthroscopic surgery; referred to hospital; euthanized during surgery [for] large colon torsion.” Although this will be recorded as a stall death, it’s almost certain that the initial surgery was necessitated by a racing/training injury (perhaps in her last race on Dec 14). Rio was but two years old. That poor girl.
SWEET SONNY was a Kentucky-bred Thoroughbred Mare. She was sold at auction twice; first at Keeneland as a Yearling and second at Ocala Breeders’ Sales as a Two-year-old in training for $250,000.
She was raced at “Los Alamitos Quarter Horse” in Mixed races.
I don’t know exactly why they waited until the next day to euthanize her with all of her catastrophic injuries on top of the osteochondral disease, but I can only speculate that they may have had an insurance policy on her and it took some time to jump through the hoops to claim whatever value they could possibly claim which I suspect could have been $100,000 plus. I can only speculate and suspect because it sounds logical to me and I have no proof of this. The preferred veterinarian may have not been available immediately to do the required prior approval and paperwork necessary to claim the money that she may have been worth as a commodity.
It is barbaric and sadistic to run horses into the ground! Waiting until the next day to euthanize a catastrophically injured horse is also extremely barbaric and sadistic!
The veterinarians know the injuries and diseases that racehorses are subject to in this ugly industry of sacrificing the health and lives of horses for money. It is not a secret in the veterinary community what happens to horses in the racing industry when greedy people ruthlessly exploit horses for purse money and gambling payoffs plus tax write-offs.