Through a FOIA request to the West Virginia Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s two tracks last year (this is part 2; Charles Town part 1 here; Mountaineer part 1 here – 56 kills in total).
Strike Three, Jul 17, Charles Town R (euth Jul 18) – “multiple fractures/fragments”
Aim to Please, Jul 18, Charles Town T – “hip fracture”
Friar Tuck, Jul 26, Charles Town T – “[multiple] fractures”
Juba’s Punch, Aug 7, Charles Town R – “spinal trauma in paddock”
Double Overtime, Aug 11, Mountaineer S – “limb [fracture], colic” (last raced Jul 21)
No Body Likes Me, Aug 22, Charles Town R – “[multiple] fractures”
Crafty Gal, Sep 9, Mountaineer R – “[multiple] fractures”
Billy the Greek, Sep 14, Mountaineer R – “cardiac crisis – sudden death” (four years old)
Rainbow Trout, Sep 23, Mountaineer R – “[multiple] fractures”
Play Hard, Sep 25, Mountaineer S – “colic, died [just died, not euthanized]”
Taco Time, Sep 27, Charles Town R – “spinal trauma in paddock”
Twinspiredjoey, Sep 28, Mountaineer R – “shoulder fracture” (first race in two years)
Secret Soul, Oct 7, Mountaineer T – “shoulder fracture”
Heatontap, Oct 8, Mountaineer S – “respiratory/neurological” (last raced Aug 24)
Beach Blonde, Oct 9, Charles Town R – “joint laceration”
Candy May Ride, Oct 10, Charles Town T – “condylar fracture”
Aldarighttricks, Oct 10, Charles Town R – “slab fracture”
Madam Senator, Oct 18, Charles Town R – “shoulder fracture”
Your Trophy Girl, Oct 28, Mountaineer R – “[multiple] fractures”
Sky Travel, Oct 29, Charles Town R – “injured head”
Netta Rox, Nov 7, Charles Town R – “MCIII fracture”
Sensible Gordy, Nov 11, Mountaineer R (euth Nov 16) – “carpus fracture”
No Denying Denis, Nov 21, Charles Town S – “founder, cellulitis” (last raced Oct 11)
Cenzontle, Dec 1, Mountaineer R – “carpus fracture”
Mic’d Up, Dec 4, Charles Town R – “exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage”
Somebodylovesyou, Dec 9, Mountaineer R – “luxation, [ruptured] ligaments”
Castellana, Dec 29, Charles Town T – “shoulder fracture”
Since Jan 1, 2014, when Horseracing Wrongs began the unprecedented work of reporting kills in the U.S. horseracing industry, 949 (that we know about) horses have perished at WV’s two tracks. That’s 949 beautiful, intelligent, sensitive beings sacrificed for nothing more than $2 bets and frivolous entertainment. Are we not better than this, America?
I’m certainly going to speak up
Why did the connections of SENSIBLE GORDY wait five days to euthanize him knowing that he had a “carpus fracture”?
Was it not enough for these sadistic monsters to know that they inflicted horrific pain on the horse by racing him into a skeletal breakdown?
Did they get their full dose of sadistic satisfaction by making the horse wait for FIVE MORE DAYS before they decided to have him euthanized?
These people should be arrested for Animal Cruelty!
After the “humane” euthanization, most are hauled off to the community dumping grounds still in their racing socks. This is in memory of Bridget Maloney and all the others who had their lives ended in these barbaric sites.