According to the chart for the 9th at Horseshoe Jul 6, Apollitical Mission’s run was uneventful: “tight early, even run,” finished 3rd. Then came this from the stewards: “Apollitical Mission was vanned off after the race. Dr. Hirschy called the stewards to report the horse had some sort of non-skeletal issue. Horse was humanely euthanized shortly after being vanned off.” Dead, at the age of four.
Still, the news was not all bad for this poor boy’s exploiters – Phillip Harrison, Tim Eggleston, Rolando Pina – for in completing the race (and in 3rd no less) Apollitical brought them almost $6,000 on his way out. Vile.
Staying at Horseshoe, in addition to the usual unsound/injured/ill scratches, these:
Jul 6: What’s Her Number “injured in paddock.”
Jul 9: Ad Litteram “injured in gate.”
Jul 9: Caelus “flipped, injured in gate.”
Why are the stewards refusing to be more specific? The stewards were also participants in the death of this horse by doing what they do.