Over the course of just 11 days (May 23-Jun 6) at Churchill, 29 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet – i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them – for being “injured” or “unsound,” another 39 by private vets for being “injured” or “ill,” and 13 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:
“Mandy’s Man Can finished 4th and suffered a post-race heatstroke.”
“Butterfy Jasmine was injured in the post parade and vanned off.”
“Fly Guy Mick returned lame.”
“Buzzworthy bled [the chart said nothing of this].”
“Crevalla de Vil finished 5th and suffered a post-race heatstroke.”
“Ashkenazi finished 5th and suffered a post-race heatstroke.”
How distressing that 29 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet and another 39 race horses were found to be unsound or injured by private vets…at least the vets prevented these horses from competing in such ill, lame, unsound or physically compromised. The whole state of Kentucky deserves to be under legal cease and desist orders. This is a state that sold its conscience and its soul to Corporate monsters, billionaire criminals without a drop of human blood in their veins. Kudos to the vets who prevented these unfit horses from being mentally and physically exploited. Question though is how long will they be employed in an industry notorious for blacklisting?
Has the entire state of Kentucky sent its heart and conscience to the junkyard as no longer being in working order?
My fervent hope is that someone with the wherewithal (and cheerfully donates funds to worthy causes) will fund a billboard stating the realty: Has the Commonwealth of Kentucky drowned her conscience and her heart with too much Kentucky Bourbon? Also featured the exact death count of race horses that died due to criminal trainers racing mentally and physically used up horses. Kentucky a heinous state morally deader than the Dodo bird.
Horseracing appears to have a motto of “protect the guilty abusers and sweep the dead and injured victims under the rug”.
Horseracing is Animal Cruelty!