Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on some of that state’s kills in 2025 (previous ones here).
“open fracture”: bone broke through the skin
“comminuted fracture”: bone shattered into multiple pieces
“displaced fracture”: bone snapped out of place
Back Row Attack, Jan 29, Los Alamitos S
“Severe colitis, systemic hemorrhages – horse died [on her own].” Back Row was three.
Jericho Willie, Feb 15, Cal Expo S
“Horse suffered a sudden death, cause not obvious.” Jericho was eight.
Courtside, Mar 4, Santa Anita S
“RH: multiple quarter cracks with secondary hoof abscess over many weeks. LH: severe, chronic laminitis with rotation.” Also: “severe osteochondral disease [all four limbs].” Courtside was five and hadn’t been raced in over two years.
He’za Ten, Mar 8, Los Alamitos R (euth Mar 14)
“Catastrophic fetlock failure: [multiple] complete, displaced, comminuted fractures. Surgery [two days later]: compression plate with 10 screws. Came down with colitis, referred to hospital, died four hours later.” Oh how they made this poor baby (two) suffer.
Paprika Princess, Mar 10, Santa Anita T (euth Mar 12)
“Pulled up lame: [multiple] complete, displaced, comminuted pelvic fractures; severe hemorrhage.” Also, under “relevant history”: “hind-end issues Jun 2024, suspected pelvic fracture.” Paprika, two, was a dead horse walking – until she was simply dead.
Blushing, Apr 18, Santa Anita T
“Horse collapsed at finish line: [multiple] complete, displaced, comminuted scapular fractures.” Also: “showed signs of post-work exhaustion Mar 19.” Blushing was five.
Pretty Wicked, May 1, Los Alamitos T
“Complete, comminuted humerus fracture; severe, regionally-extensive hemorrhage.” Pretty was three and being prepped for her first race.
Made Perfect Cents, May 25, Santa Anita T
“Catastrophic – complete, displaced, comminuted – humerus fracture; severe, regionally-extensive hemorrhage.” Made Perfect was two and being prepped for her first race.
Pura Vida Summer, Jun 17, Santa Anita S
“360-degree, counterclockwise rotation of the base of the cecum; strangulating volvulus.” Pura was three and had been worked out the day prior.
Mr. Dreamcycle, Jun 28, Los Alamitos R
“Horse went down, couldn’t stand back up – [multiple] displaced vertebral fractures, hemorrhage within spinal canal, compression of spinal cord.” Mr. Dreamcycle was four.
Beautifully said, Wanda.
JERICHO WILLIE, died of “Sudden Death” in his stall…??? “Cause not obvious.” Right, broken bones and mutilated ligaments and mutilated tendons and other mutilated soft tissues are so much more obvious than the limited view of what happens inside the organs and tissues of a horse’s body that was forced to run to the point of complete exhaustion and possibly no oxygen in the blood because there are other things that could be a factor in “Sudden Death” of a racehorse. One of those other factors could be an “untraceable” drug.
I say, based on common logic, that the main cause of a sudden death in a racehorse is the fact that the horse was being forced to be a racehorse at too young of an age not to mention the brutality of racing and race training itself.
How many veterinarians are “making a living” exploiting horses in this industry as breeders, owners, and/or trainers? It’s a rhetorical question because they know that subjecting young and underdeveloped colts and fillies to confinement in a stall 23 hours a day and forcing them to gallop under the weight of a saddle, rider, whip, and possibly an illegal hand-held electrical shocking device is harmful to horses. That is not to mention the various drugs to control pain and performance.
I wonder if JERICHO WILLIE was electrocuted or not?
The diehard horse abusers in this industry never stop being disgusting and cruel.