Over the course of just 9 days (Apr 11-23) at Keeneland, 34 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet – i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them – for being “injured” or “unsound,” another 25 by private vets for being “injured” or “ill,” and 6 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:
“Twirling Queen was injured in the paddock and scratched.”
“Padiddle was injured in the starting gate and scratched.”
“Cloud Number Nine finished 4th and bled [pulmonary hemorrhage].”
“East Village returned lame; placed on Vet List.”
“Northern Chill was pulled up and required the assistance of the horse ambulance.”
“Big Boy Thunder hit rail in post parade, injuring himself.”
“American Debutante was injured prior to arrival to paddock and scratched.”
I noticed that one of the Kentucky Derby horses has cracked heals, which is pure neglect.
That’s the equivalent of you running a competitive race with sore tender oozing blisters.
Another horse has a quarter crack. That’s the equivalent of a toe so damaged that the nail has broken apart. Now put on some metal shoes and go run as fast as you can.
And this is stuff that was has actually been reported.
Enjoy your mint julep while you celebrate painful brutality.
Fred & Joan, Jdoe, I watched the recent video of Further Ado working out of the chute at the Downs video. The surface looks as though it was intentionally designed to cripple horses. The video is on instagram.com under title Further Ado works out of chute with pony. Unbelievable that trainers are not screaming their lungs out about the conditions of the surface! I am in dismay that any trainer would consent to running a horse on this rough and rugged surface.
No horse claimer or champion should be subjected to a malignant surface as the one Further Ado had to experience and cope with.
Jdoe, From our experience of galloping & riding these poor horses in am & pm most are held together with multiple cortisone shots / joint injections & once those wear off the horse can`t even walk sound let alone gallop! We have been there. Oregon, our state is especially notorious because it having no inter state wagering is HISA exempt! Our state does not even have to abide by the rules of HISA. We had been involved within the industry from 1977 until 2004.
Based on my first hand experience I can conservatively say that over 50% of racehorses are not sound.
Shocker right? 1,100 pound athletes carrying 120+ pounds going 35+ miles an hour in hard metal shoes on a hard surface.
All of the human noise is just a fake narrative for the sore horses with no voice.
Have any of you seen the present track conditions at Churchill? We did yesterday because of a loose horse being videoed & placed online. Awful ,awful, terrible muddy conditions with what appears to be a sticky , gooey muddy mess. Wonder how many equine injuries will occur this 1st Saturday in May?! We would not walk any of our horses on that track let alone gallop them. Also sadly the SAFE act did not pass congress!