This, according to the NY Commission, during morning training at Saratoga yesterday: “Horse was galloped on the main track this morning; the exercise rider noted she felt sluggish; rider started to pull her up and as he was doing so the horse collapsed and died.” I’d give you a name but this poor girl was so young – born in 2024 – she hadn’t even been christened yet. Two years old (at most) – “collapsed and died.”
Saratoga Race Course, arguably the preeminent track in America, has hosted over 250 horse kills just since 2009. Over a short summer meet (typically eight weeks) Saratoga averages 15 deaths. With this year’s just beginning, already four horses have perished.
The Saratoga 2026 Death Watch:
yet-to-be-named, Apr 24 – “tibia fracture, euthanized due to prognosis” (two years old)
Shiny New Object, May 29 – “fractured humerus…euthanized on track” (two years old)
No Doubt About It, Jun 29 – “flipped over…euthanized”
yet-to-be-named, Jul 4 – “collapsed and died” (two years old)
How apropos is the name Shiny New Object for a racehorse; they should all be christened with that name, as that’s exactly what they are to their indifferent connections, just a new object to exploit until it’s time to move on to the next one.
If the New York State Gaming Commission would mandate that the BITLESS BRIDLE (PROFESSOR ROBERT COOK) be used in training Young Horses, and horses of any age being used for racing, starting immediately or anytime soon, I feel confident that there would be many horses spared from the fatal collapse that is so common in the racing industry.
If these racing industry people were actually concerned about the WELFARE OF HORSES, and also their Social License to Operate, they would make these necessary changes.
At the very least, make THE choice to take some of the sadistic brutality out of racing by adding BITLESS BRIDLE races on the card.
New York is on record for killing the most horses of all the different states that have horse racing in the United States.
So glad I found your website