The final report is in on Splendid Song, killed at Delaware Park Jul 4. From the stewards: “Splendid Song appeared to have a cardiac episode just past the finish and expired on track.” So she was not, as the chart said, “transported off on the ambulance” – unless, of course, they were referring to her lifeless body.
In a News Journal article on the death, Sarah Crane, executive director of the Delaware Racing Commission, “acknowledged concerns about extreme heat [that day] but said the heat index at race time was below the threshold that would prompt a postponement or cancellation.” Races, she told the paper, “are canceled if the heat index is expected to clear 105.” What exactly were the conditions Saturday? From the piece:
“The temperature recorded at the Wilmington Airport by the NWS surpassed 100 degrees on three consecutive days from July 2-July 4. At 12:51 p.m. [Jul 4], the NWS recorded a temperature of 99 and a heat index of 102 at the airport about six miles away.” Splendid Song’s Death Race that day went off at 12:56. Crane’s response: “There were over 50 horses that race[d] on Saturday. All horses cooled out normally postrace.” As if that somehow absolves them of Splendid’s death. It doesn’t.
But that’s not all. That same day, in that same oppressive heat and humidity, Delaware Park conducted three “exotic-animal races.” The words I have in mind I cannot write.
Exactly, Wanda.
WTF?! It’s bad enough we subject horses to racing, why are we now torturing other animals? They think this is funny? I sure don’t.
The ostrich named FEATHER DUSTER was obviously heat-stressed in the joke of a winner’s circle. You can tell by the fact that the huge bird has her (or his?) mouth open. That is what domestic chickens do when it is very hot and once in awhile there will be one hen that doesn’t make it through the intense heat without some type of first aid for heat stroke/exhaustion before it is too late.
Delaware is obviously proud of their stupidity in the pursuit of entertainment revenue.
Please have those in charge put on mouth gear, a human and saddle on your back and run in heat indexes that you claim are acceptable. I can personally vouch for the heat and humidity that day. The horse did not spend her last night in air conditioned accommodations either. They can justify the decision all they want to make it seem like it wasn’t their fault now was it?
As for the exotic animal races..please say this was a ridiculous piece of nonsense thought of by who? Unbelievable
Splendid Song is dead, and officials are hiding behind a heat-index cutoff. A horse’s life is worth more than any number. Saying the other horses survived doesn’t excuse the one who didn’t. This wasn’t bad luck. It was preventable. Stop sacrificing horses for profit!
So let me get this straight. A horse collapsed in 102° heat index, and Delaware Park’s brilliant idea was, “You know what this needs? More animals.” Pure genius if your goal is maximizing cruelty for cheap laughs. Nothing says “sportsmanship” like turning living, breathing creatures into heat-stroked entertainment. Absolutely revolting!!!