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).
Dougs Moonshine, Mar 24, Cal Expo S
“Persistently painful colic, marked large colon impaction/displacement, necrotizing typhlocolitis.” Dougs was two and had been raced three days prior.
El Vigilante, May 22, Los Alamitos S
“Found deceased early this morning, stall gate damaged, hindlimb abrasions, marked hemorrhage in the nasal passages. Cause of death, acute septicemia/toxemia secondary to gastric rupture and peritonitis.” El Vigilante was two and coming off his first race.
Dr Hes Southern, Aug 19, Los Alamitos S
“Horse with history of being found dead – small intestinal incarceration.” Dr Hes was two.
Warm Springs, Oct 4, Los Alamitos R
“Collapsed and died shortly after race. Histology consistent with exercise-associated fatal pulmonary hemorrhage.” Warm Springs was two.
Note: The last three – El Vigilante, Dr Hes Southern, Warm Springs – were under the yoke of trainer Ramiro Castillo. To remind, all three were mere babies (two years old) – two of them found dead, one collapsed and died.
California Code & Regulations/ Title 4, Section 1902.5 ANIMAL WELFARE:
“NO PERSON under the jurisdiction of the Board shall alone or in concert with another person, permit or cause an animal under his control or care to suffer any form of cruelty, mistreatment, neglect or abuse.
Nor shall such person abandon, injure; maim; kill; administer a noxious or harmful substance to; or deprive an animal of necessary care, sustenance, shelter or veterinary care.”
If the California Horse Racing Board were doing their job of enforcing the laws against the abuse, neglect, and killing of racehorses, any trainer with dead two-year-olds and any other age would be stopped from being licensed as a “trainer”.