Over the course of just 6 days at Churchill (Nov 23-30), 12 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet (i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them) for being “injured” or “unsound,” another 17 by private vets for “illness” or “injury,” and 2 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:
“Episist was injured in the post parade and scratched.”
“White Smoke was injured in the paddock and scratched.”
“Misinformation returned lame [after falling, that is].”
Then this:
“A Stewards Inquiry was posted involving the start of last-place Seek and Find who broke well behind the field. After reviewing the replay, the stewards determined that the filly had not been precluded from obtaining a fair start, but had reared and hit the gate at the break, causing her own trouble. There was no action taken.”
Yes, the two-year-old baby “caused her own trouble.”
Mean`t to write very few. Were not good typists!
In our 45+ years experiences with tracks & farms, we found very fem horse people who were competent! Most were just wealthy people looking for a tax write off. No horse causes their own problem! That`s a ridiculous statement for those stewards to say. Also in our experience, if there was a big sporting event not related to racing, such as the Super Bowl, the stewards at our old Portland Meadows would tell everyone to hurry up & get through the card so they could watch or attend game day events.
Blaming a two-year-old filly for getting injured is a complete deflection of responsibility. Young horses don’t choose the conditions they’re put in. Humans make those choices. A real horse person puts the horse’s welfare first. Anyone who excuses or ignores practices that endanger a young filly is not acting in the best interest of the horse. Call this what it is, cruelty and negligence.
Horses rely on us to protect them, not exploit them. No one who truly loves or understands horses would treat them this way.
That is a low-life excuse to say a two-year-old filly caused her own trouble! As if a two-year-old filly wanted to be in this situation; as if these despicable thugs have no responsibility for the unacceptable cruelty they inflict on young and underdeveloped Thoroughbreds because they are morally depraved and do this to horses for their own selfish interests. These people are not horsemen! They are animal abusers!