What’s Behind the Kentucky Derby? This…

With the Kentucky Derby just a few weeks away, a reminder: Even if you only watch or wager on one race a year, you are a part of it – the it being the everyday abuse and constant killing of horses at American racetracks. What follows is the carnage at just KY tracks in 2025. Please take the time to read through each of these 86 kills, then share. Save for our Killed Lists, it is the best argument I can make against this vile industry.

“open fracture”: bone broke through the skin
“comminuted fracture”: bone shattered into multiple pieces
“displaced fracture”: bone snapped out of place

Please note that almost all of the necropsies found some level of stomach ulceration.

Miss Merci Mae, Jan 3, Keeneland T (euth Jan 6)
“Complete, displaced condylar fracture; complete, comminuted sesamoid fracture; ruptured ligament.” Miss Merci was two and being prepped for her debut.

Spirit Animal, Jan 18, Turfway T
“Exercise-associated sudden death.” Spirit, eight, was also noted to have been “very agitated” before collapsing and dying.

Five Oh Two, Jan 25, Turfway R
“Horse pulled up with open, comminuted cannon fracture – euthanized on track due to severity of injury.” Five Oh was two, and this was his very first race.

Father Dalton, Feb 1, Turfway T
“Horse collided with another horse [probably Frank Jr]. Horse was non-weight-bearing with epistaxis [bleeding] from both nostrils. Radiographs revealed slab fracture. Euthanized.” Also: “marked degenerative joint disease.” Father was three.

Frank Jr, Feb 1, Turfway T
“Horse was galloping when it was hit head-on by a loose horse. Horse went down and began paddling. After rising, it was severely neurologic and fell immediately back down. Horse was then agonal and began seizing. Decision was made to euthanize.” From necropsy: “Complete, displaced, comminuted vertebral body fracture of T3 with extensive hemorrhage within adjacent skeletal muscle.” Frank was three. That poor boy.

Add More Lipstick, Feb 10, Keeneland T
“Complete, displaced, comminuted MC3 fracture; sesamoid fracture; sesamoid cartilage is excoriated, with fragmentation of the subchondral bone.” Add More Lipstick was two.

Past Imperative, Feb 10, Triple Diamonds T (euth Feb 11)
“Complete, displaced fracture; large region of acutely excoriated cartilage.” Then this: “Palmar osteochondral disease is a recognized predisposing lesion to condylar fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses, as evidenced in this case.” Past Imperative was seven.

Centuria, Feb 22, Turfway R
“Pulled up with catastrophic injury – multiple displaced fractures palpated. Horse was sedated and loaded in ambulance.” From necropsy: “There are fractures of all of the carpal bones with exception of the accessory; cartilage and bone surrounding fracture site is acutely excoriated; multiple intercarpal ligaments are torn.” So, all that destruction and they still moved this poor girl, just three, rather than euthanize then and there.

Kissalot, Feb 26, Turfway R
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury. Left forelimb: severe tearing and hemorrhage of the superficial digital extensor tendon; straight sesamoidian ligament is severely torn and hemorrhagic. Right forelimb: moderate tearing of the distal portion of the straight sesamoidian ligament and mild tearing of the distal aspect of the superficial digital flexor tendon.” Kissalot was five.

yet-to-be-named filly, Mar 5, Turfway S
“Equine protozoal myelitis.” Again, so young (two, or even one) she had no name yet. The report added: “Horse was found recumbent when barn staff arrived in morning. Could have been like that since previous day since groom reported horse did not eat its dinner and was laying down at feed time previous afternoon.”

Tswalu, Mar 8, Churchill T
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury: complete, comminuted humerus fracture; severe muscle tearing.” Also: “The presence of a preexisting callus associated with the acute fracture line in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure.” Tswalu was three.

Good Night Sally, Mar 8, High Pointe T
“Became acutely lame in RF after galloping out. Rider walked her back to the barn where she became severely lame. [Horse] distressed, owner elected to euthanize.” The injury: “displaced slab fracture.” The report also noted: “This was the fourth breeze back while returning from a layoff after an issue with the LF after its first and only start on Jun 17, 2024.” The “it” in question had just turned three three days prior.

Penny’s Smile, Mar 8, Keeneland T
“Sudden collapse and death following fracture-repair surgery [the surgery, by the way, involved 10 screws].” Also noted: “tapeworms in the cecum.” Then this: “Palmar osteochondral disease is a recognized predisposing lesion to condylar fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses, as evidenced in this case. Additionally, repetitive stress lesions are often symmetric, as evidenced in this case.” Penny’s was three. Three.

Home Team, Mar 17, Sandy Ridge R
“Suffered catastrophic injury, went down, struggled to rise, could not use hind limbs.” Necropsy: “Complete, markedly displaced, comminuted fracture of the sixth lumbar vertebra. Spinal cord transected, with severe muscular tearing and tearing of blood vessels. Extensive diaphragmatic hemorrhages.” Home Team had just turned three.

Coal Burner, Mar 17, Turfway T
“Sudden death after training.” They added: “A cause of collapse and death could not be determined.” Coal Burner was two and being prepped for his first race – “sudden death.”

Winter War, Mar 19, HighPointe T
“Horse was breezing and suffered a catastrophic injury: open, markedly comminuted fracture.” And: “Many fragments are very small and displaced or are missing entirely [see below].” Winter was two and being prepped for his first race.

Kitten’s Temper, Mar 22, Turfway S
“Filly had been showing signs of colic since Mar 18. No sign of improvement. Euthanized Mar 22.” Kitten’s was three and had last been raced Jan 2.

She Prefers Gold, Mar 23, Keeneland T
“Pulled up abruptly at 1/16 pole: extensively comminuted, biarticular fractures of the first and second phalanges; marked amount of hemorrhage.” She Prefers was three and being prepped for her first race.

Shadow, Mar 26, Keeneland T
“Was galloping when she became abruptly lame: [multiple] fractures; marked soft-tissue damage, including tearing of deep digital flexor tendon, body of suspensory and both branches, palmar annular ligament, and straight, oblique, cruciate and intersesamoidian ligaments.” Also: “moderate numbers of tapeworms occupy the lumen of the cecum.” Shadow had not yet turned two. Yes, she was still one.

yet-to-be-named 2 (or even 1)-year-old, Apr 9, Keeneland T
“Complete, comminuted, displaced, spiral fracture of the femur with associated muscle tearing.” Again, so young he didn’t even have a name yet.

Total Gas, Apr 10, Keeneland R
“Pulled up with catastrophic injury: complete, severely comminuted, biarticular fracture; [multiple] ligaments hemorrhagic and torn.” Total was two.

Baytown Vegas, Apr 12, Turfway T
“Horse was galloping when it went down on the track: complete, comminuted fracture of the scapula; large amount of hemorrhage.” The necropsy added: “The presence of a preexisting periosteal callus associated with the acute fracture line in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure. A similar callus is noted on the contralateral limb.” “Repetitive stress” – Baytown had just turned two and was being prepped for his first race.

Baytown Triobloidi, Apr 13, Keeneland R
“Pulled up with catastrophic injury to LH limb: open, displaced, comminuted tibial fracture; tearing of flexor tendon; severe laceration.” And again: “The presence of a preexisting periosteal callus associated with the acute fracture line in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure. A similar callus was identified on the contralateral limb.” This Baytown was two weeks shy of his second birthday. Yes, he was still one.

God’s Favor, Apr 18, Churchill T
“Horse pulled up lame after breeze: complete condylar fracture, cartilage markedly excoriated.” Then this: “Palmar osteochondral disease is a recognized predisposing lesion to condylar fractures in racehorses, as evidenced in this case.” God’s was five.

Splash Master, Apr 18, Keeneland R
“Pulled up acutely and severely lame: superficial digital flexor tendon extensively torn.” Also noted: “debris (track material) within the tissues.” Splash was four.

Son of Thunder, Apr 22, Keeneland S
“104 fever, depressed, diarrhea. Began to exhibit seizure-like activity, became recumbent, and died in shedrow.” Cause: “cecal perforation and peritonitis; widespread hemorrhages.” Son was seven and had last been raced Mar 28.

Valley of Fire, Apr 24, Churchill T
“Horse suffered catastrophic injury to both front [limbs] while galloping out.” It’s actually worse. In each leg, there were multiple open fractures. Again, multiple open fractures in each leg. Also: “severe tearing of the soft tissues and contamination of the joint with track material.” Also: “osteochondral disease.” And this: “The horse was euthanized due to poor prognosis.” Two shattered legs – “poor prognosis.” Valley was three.

Darioush, Apr 29, Keeneland S
“Open, comminuted fracture; large amount of hemorrhage.” Darioush was four.

Lugan Knight, Apr 30, Churchill T
“Horse collapsed and died – exercise-associated sudden death.” Lugan was five.

Baba Voss, Apr 30, Churchill R
“Flipped and died: complete, comminuted, severely displaced basisphenoid [skull] fracture; the brainstem and cerebellum are lacerated and the calvarium is filled with blood.” Baba was five.

Dude N Colorado, Apr 30, Keeneland S
“Severe necrotizing cellulitis of the ventral neck; fibrinosuppurative pleuritis.” Dude, five, had been sick for five days.

Best Seller, May 7, Keeneland T
“Horse was breezing when she suffered a catastrophic injury and fell: RF – open, severely comminuted fracture; LF – comminuted fracture. That’s two broken legs. Also: “severe soft-tissue damage.” Best Seller was five.

Mustique, May 9, Churchill R
“Pulled up after finish with catastrophic injury: [multiple] comminuted fractures; soft-tissue damage severe, including rupture of intersesamoidian ligament and tearing of superficial digital flexor, deep digital flexor, medial and lateral aspects of annular ligament, body and both branches of suspensory ligament, straight sesamoidian ligaments, and oblique sesamoidian ligament.” Or, leg destroyed. Mustique was but three.

Not Me, May 10, Keeneland T
“[Spooked prior to gallop], reared up, fell backward, died immediately.” Not Me had just turned two and was being prepped for her debut.

Will to Prepare, May 15, Churchill T
“Broke down [during] morning workout – [multiple] comminuted fractures.” And: “Soft-tissue damage is marked, with rupture of intersesamoidian ligament and tearing of medial and lateral branches of suspensory, straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments, medial and lateral aspects of annular ligament, and superficial and deep digital flexor tendons.” And: “There is a healed fracture with three cortical screws.” Will was but three.

“Meets guidelines for humane destruction. It is one of the situations for which he was insured.”

Bo Cruz, May 19, Churchill S
“Colic.” (This one came without a necropsy.) Bo was five.

Mans Grace, May 21, Keeneland S
“Treated for acute, necrotizing colitis May 20. Worse May 21, down on trailer and agonal, euthanized.” Mans had just turned two and was coming off his first race, May 8.

Viable, May 22, Churchill R (euth May 24)
“Broke down May 22, surgery May 23, unsuccessful recovery, euthanized.” Viable was four.

Tonalite, May 24, Churchill R
“Pulled up with catastrophic injury: [multiple] fractures, fetlock joint open.” More detail: “Severe soft tissue damage, resulting in protrusion of the [bone] through the flexor retinaculum and further through the skin; rupture of suspensory, intersesamoidian, and medial aspect of annular ligament; tearing of deep and superficial digital flexor tendons, lateral aspect of annular ligament, lateral branch of suspensory, and straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” All that, and they still loaded poor Tonalite, four, into the ambulance before ultimately euthanizing.

Yamato, May 25, Churchill R
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury to fetlock: [multiple] fractures with severe displacement; connective-tissue damage includes rupture of medial aspect of annular ligament and intersesamoidian ligament, and tearing of flexor retinaculum, superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, suspensory ligaments, medial and lateral branches of suspensory, and straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” All that destruction and they still “vanned” poor Yamato off before ultimately euthanizing. He was eight.

Super Rich Lady, May 26, HighPointe S
“7:20 pm: horse dull, abrasions left eyelid. 11:30 pm: horse deceased – mesenteric rent with small intestinal entrapment, mesenteric abscess.” Also noted: “autolysis precludes histologic examination.” Super was three.

Dreaming of Lilies, May 30, Keeneland T
“Complete, displaced, comminuted humeral fracture; tearing of surrounding muscles.” Dreaming was three.

Call Protection, May 31, Churchill R
“Pulled up at 1/2 pole with catastrophic injury to fetlock: [multiple] fractures.” Then this: “Soft tissue damage is extensive with tearing of the digital arteries and vein; the flexor retinaculum; the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons; the suspensory ligament; the medial and lateral branches of the annular ligament; the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments; and rupture of the medial aspect of the annular ligament and the intersesamoidian ligament.” Take all that in. Call Protection was four.

Storms Home, Jun 1, Churchill T
“Pulled up with catastrophic injury: [multiple] fractures with luxation.” And: “Extensive soft-tissue damage, with rupture of intersesamoidian ligament and medial aspect of annular ligament, tearing of flexor retinaculum, superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, lateral aspect of annular ligament, suspensory ligament, lateral and medial branches of suspensory, and straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” Or, leg destroyed. Also: The “carpal-joints severity score” was a 5 out of max 9. Storms was four.

Injunction, Jun 7, Turfway T
“Horse pulled up near 7/8 pole with catastrophic injury to fetlock: multiple [I counted four] open fractures.” Also: “Soft-tissue damage is marked, with rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament and the medial aspect of the palmar ligament, and tearing of the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the medial and lateral branches of the
suspensory ligament and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” And: “The medial digital vein is torn.” As if not enough: “The worn and chipped enamel of the buccal surfaces of the incisors is likely indicative of stereotypic behavior such as cribbing or bar/wall rubbing.” Injunction, seven, also had a carpal-joint “severity score” of 8 out of a max 9. What a short (though long for him), miserable existence. That poor boy.

Over Proof, Jun 19, Turfway T
“Racehorse sustained complete, displaced, comminuted MT3 fracture; avulsion fracture of sesamoid; ligament rupture.” Over Proof was three.

Kinetic Control, Jun 20, Churchill R
“Horse suffered catastrophic injury just before the wire: [multiple] open fractures.” And: “Soft-tissue damage is extensive, with rupture of the medial branch of the suspensory, the medial aspect of the annular ligament and the intersesamoidian ligament, and tearing of the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the lateral branch of the suspensory, and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” And: “The medial digital vein is torn.” Kinetic, three, was euthanized where he lay.

Dealing Justice, Jun 27, Churchill R
“Horse suffered catastrophic injury just before the wire: [multiple] fractures, severe soft-tissue damage with [multiple] ruptures and tears.” Dealing was seven.

Purely Zen, Jul 5, Ellis R
“Horse pulled up just past 1/4 pole: complete, comminuted, biarticular fracture of the first phalanx; large amount of hemorrhage.” Purely Zen was two.

Blue Fifty Two, Jul 12, HighPointe T
“Horse pulled up lame after breezing: [multiple] fractures.” Blue Fifty was two and being prepped for his first race.

My Katie, Jul 30, Keeneland S
“Ileal rupture with peritonitis – edges of rupture jagged and hemorrhagic.” My Katie was four and was entered to race that very day.

Joy’s Warrior, Aug 6, Churchill T
“Horse pulled up with a comminuted, compound fracture. Soft-tissue damage includes rupture of the lateral branch of the suspensory ligament and tearing of the medial branch of the suspensory.” Joy’s was two and being prepped for her first race.

Patsyno, Aug 15, Turfway T
“Filly worked this morning and pulled up lame. Shortly after returning to stall, stifle area began to swell [to] the size of three basketballs – complete, displaced pelvic fracture – euthanized.” Then this: “The presence of a preexisting periosteal callus associated with the acute fracture line in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure.” “Repetitive stress injury” – Patsy was two years old.

Night Trust, Aug 31, Churchill T (died Sep 3)
“Filly was scheduled for surgery this morning for [training] fracture. [Vet] left to get fluids; while he was gone, horse became severely painful and died shortly after.” They added: “Horses subject to stress of many types can develop colitis/typhlocolitis/typhlitis. In this case, the stress/pain of the fracture may have been the precipitating event.” Also: “tapeworms.” Night Trust was two and being prepped for her first race.

Greymoor, Sep 10, Kentucky R
“Pulled up after finish: [multiple] comminuted fractures.” They added: “joint fluid contains flecks of bone and cartilage.” Greymoor was two; this was his second race.

Global Queen, Sep 12, Ellis T
“Horse pulled up acutely lame. After returning to barn, horse collapsed. When vet arrived, horse was agonal and gums were white. Euthanized.” Cause: “pelvic fracture with laceration of a large blood vessel.” In other words, Global, just three, bled out.

Witmo, Sep 14, Turfway T
“[Multiple] fractures.” Then: “Soft-tissue damage is severe, including tearing of the flexor retinaculum and the deep and superficial digital flexor tendons, rupture of the palmar annular ligament, the intersesamoidian ligament, and tearing of the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” Witmo was two and being prepped for his first race.

Mas Better, Sep 20, Triple Diamond S
“Colicky Sep 19, euthanized [next day].” Report reads: “There was a twist within the mesentery of the jejunum; the cecum was cranially displaced and twisted around the large intestine.” Mas was two and being prepped for his first race.

Sgt. Garcia, Sep 21, Churchill R
“Horse pulled up at 3/8 pole with catastrophic injury: [multiple] open fractures; fetlock is disarticulated, with complete rupture of the collateral ligaments; [multiple] torn tendons [see below].” They added this: “Horse was euthanized on the track and loaded onto ambulance with a rescue sled.” Sgt. Garcia was two.

yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Oct 4, Churchill T
“Complete, comminuted, displaced fracture of the humerus, with tearing of the surrounding muscles.” As mentioned, this boy was so young he hadn’t even been named yet. In fact, the report noted, “just shipped in Sep 28.”

Beocca, Oct 7, HighPointe S
“Severe respiratory distress – euthanized.” More detail: “severe fibrinosuppurative and necrotizing bronchopneumonia with myriad intralesional bacteria, cavitary necrosis, fibrinous pleuritis.” Beocca was seven.

Vandolero, Oct 10, Churchill S
“Horse was treated for respiratory disease for seven days and improved. Horse appeared to relapse and was diagnosed with severe respiratory disease and pleuritis. Overnight, condition severely deteriorated and became septic – euthanized.” Vandolero was two and being prepped for his first race.

Gotta Lotta Tempo, Oct 10, Keeneland R
“Horse suffered catastrophic injury: multiple fractures, fetlock open and disarticulated, complete rupture of [multiple] ligaments.” Gotta Lotta was two; this was her first race.

Cielo, Oct 11, Keeneland R
“Fell, catastrophic injury to fetlock: [multiple] fractures.” But that wasn’t all: “There is severe soft-tissue damage [see below], including tearing of the medial digital artery, vein, and nerve. The flexor retinaculum is torn and superficial digital flexor is torn, with rupture of the medial branch, and the deep digital flexor tendon is extensively torn. The medial and lateral aspects of the annular ligament are ruptured. The suspensory ligament is torn, and the medial and lateral branches are ruptured. The intersesamoidian ligament is ruptured, and the straight and oblique distal sesamoidian ligaments are torn.” In other words, this baby’s (two years old) leg was utterly destroyed.

Biloxi Blues, Oct 15, Keeneland T
“Collision with another horse on the track: second and third thoracic vertebrae shattered with transection of the [spinal] cord.” Additional details: “The spinal canal from the level of the brainstem to the lumbar cord contains blood. There are lacerations on the dorsal aspect of the right lung and in the dorsal mediastinal tissues. The right lung is hemorrhagic, the left lung atelectatic.” Biloxi was five.

Banksia, Oct 20, Keeneland T
“Filly flipped over rail: open, comminuted fracture; 12-cm-long laceration that extends through multiple muscle layers.” Banksia was two and being prepped for her first race.

Scattitude, Oct 24, Churchill T
“Catastrophic injury while galloping out from a breeze: [multiple] open, comminuted fractures – [one] with massive comminution; marked tearing of the subcutaneous tissues of the medial aspect and lateral aspect of the fetlock, with laceration of the medial digital vein and tearing of the body of the suspensory and both branches.” Scattitude was three.

Sweet Petite, Oct 25, Churchill T
“Horse fell at 9/16 with catastrophic injury: complete, displaced, comminuted fracture of the humerus, with tearing of the surrounding musculature.” They added: “The presence of a preexisting periosteal callus associated with the acute fracture line in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure.” “Repetitive stress injury” – Sweet was two years old.

Victory Waltz, Nov 1, Keeneland S
“Horse was tied on wall, spooked at something, and flipped. Wobbly, fell down and couldn’t get up. Comminuted fracture of thoracic vertebral column (T1, T2, T3) with spinal cord impingement.” Also: “bot larvae in stomach.” Victory was three.

Taylor Time, Nov 7, Churchill T
“Filly was galloping when she became wobbly, collapsed, and died on the track – exercise-associated sudden death [caused by] tearing of multiple small vessels near the left kidney.” Taylor was two and coming off her first race.

El Zain, Nov 14, Keeneland T
“Filly pulled up lame after breeze: severely comminuted, moderately displaced RH fracture.” They also noted this in the other hind limb: “repaired fracture with three screws in place.” El Zain was four.

Scooch Over, Nov 15, Churchill R
“Horse suffered catastrophic injury and fell. Horse rose and fell again near inside rail. [Multiple] fractures with missing fragments, fetlock open and disarticulated, severe soft-tissue damage [see below].” They also noted a pelvic fracture, with this: “The location of the pelvic fracture and the lack of underlying pathology of the pelvis support a peracute, traumatic event occurring after the breakdown, as a result of the fall.” Scooch was three.

Wonder of You, Nov 19, Churchill R
“Horse pulled up with severe injury: complete, comminuted fracture of the third carpal bone, with tearing of the intercarpal ligaments; comminuted fracture of the palmar aspect of the ulnar carpal bone.” Wonder of You was four.

Girl Scout, Nov 20, Keeneland T
“Complete, biarticular fracture of the phalanx; joint fluid is hemorrhagic with bony spicules admixed.” Girl Scout was two and coming off her first race.

Campaign Trail, Nov 24, Churchill T
“Horse pulled up with severe injury to right carpus: comminuted fracture with displacement.” Campaign was three.

Operation Sunrise, Nov 27, Churchill R
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury: [multiple] open, comminuted fractures.” They added: “Soft-tissue damage includes: tearing of the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, rupture of the palmar annular ligament, including the medial and lateral aspects, the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory ligament, and the intersesamoidian ligament; tearing of the body of the suspensory and the straight and oblique sesamoidian ligaments.” In other words, leg destroyed (see below). Operation was three.

Lifer, Nov 27, Keeneland T
“Broke down while breezing: complete fracture of the humerus.” Lifer was two and being prepped for her first race.

Peachtree Battle, Nov 29, Turfway T
“Pulled up with [multiple] fractures; marked soft-tissue damage, including rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament and tearing of the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the suspensory ligament and the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory, the medial and lateral aspects of the annular ligament, and the cruciate, oblique, and straight sesamoidian ligaments.” Peachtree was two and being prepped for his first race.

Gilded Ruler, Nov 30, Churchill T
“Horse trained normally [then] in stall, struggled, crashed into walls, collapsed, and died.” Gilded was six.

Tapitown, Dec 4, Keeneland T
“Horse collapsed on the gallop out – died before any medical intervention was done. Exercise-associated sudden death.” Tapitown was three – “sudden death.”

Turnupthesunshine, Dec 5, Skylight S
“Found dead in stall this morning: [multiple] vertebral fractures, [multiple] skull fractures, marked hemorrhage.” Turnup was three and being prepped for her third race.

James Milton, Dec 8, Turfway T
“Open, displaced fracture.” Then this: “Soft-tissue damage is severe, including rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament and tearing of the following structures: flexor retinaculum, superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, suspensory ligament, medial and lateral branches of the suspensory, medial and lateral aspects of the annular ligament, the cruciate, oblique, and straight sesamoidian ligaments.” “Severe”? I guess so. James was four and being prepped for his first race.

Naples Gal, Dec 20, Turfway T
“Pulled up at finish of routine gallop with an open, severely comminuted fracture.” And more: “The extensor tendons are multifocally torn. There is extensive tearing of the majority of the suspensory, with embedded fracture fragments.” Naples was three.

Brody, Dec 20, Turfway R (euth Dec 21)
“Pulled up with catastrophic injury to LF fetlock: fracture, severe tearing, [multiple] ruptured ligaments.” Brody was four.

April Aster, Dec 23, Triple Diamonds T
“Filly was about one furlong in when she fractured both front legs at the cannon.” More detail: “Left limb: carpus is open and disarticulated with severe tearing of the carpal ligaments; comminuted slab fracture of the third metacarpal bone, with additional comminuted fractures of the radius, intermediate carpal bone, accessory carpal bone, and ulnar carpal bone; fractured portions of the intermediate and accessory carpal bone are displaced dorsally. Right limb: complete, markedly comminuted, open fracture of the proximal one-half of the diaphysis of the third metacarpal.” Again, that’s two shattered legs – with broken bones sticking out. April was five.

Ace On the Turn, Dec 31, Turfway T
“Rider pulled horse up after hearing a pop: biaxial sesamoid fractures with marked soft-tissue disruption, including tearing of the flexor retinaculum, the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the lateral aspect of the annular ligament, the straight and oblique distal sesamoidian ligaments, and rupture of the medial aspect of the annular ligament and the intersesamoidian ligament.” Ace was three.

Since Jan 1, 2014, when Horseracing Wrongs began the unprecedented work of reporting kills in the U.S. horseracing industry, 679 (that we know about) horses have perished at Kentucky tracks. That’s 679 beautiful, intelligent, sensitive beings sacrificed for nothing more than $2 bets. Are we not better than this, America?