Through a FOIA request to the Illinois Racing Board, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks thus far this year. Please note that Illinois racing is hanging by a thread. Hawthorne is in bankruptcy and a winning bid was submitted by a non-racing entity. The harness operation there (Suburban Downs) has already shut down, and the Thoroughbred part is, as of today, also probably finished, which would leave only Fairmount in what was, at one time, a vibrant racing state. Progress, folks.
Spin the Boulevard, Mar 19, Fairmount T
“Found down in stall [after training], unable to rise, euthanized. The cause of morbidity is not grossly appreciated. There are various hemorrhages and edema throughout the musculature and subcutis of the back and face…but the locations in this case are dorsal near the spinal column as well as a large area on the dorsal aspect of the head. These may be due to the animal rolling and/or thrashing within his stall. Minimal degenerative joint disease is present in the fetlocks but not suspected to be the cause of immobility – these findings are not terribly uncommon to see in racing Thoroughbreds.” Spin was four.
Turnin Up Aces, Mar 23, Fairmount T
“Catastrophic breakdown during training: complete humerus fracture, extensive region of surrounding musculature lacerated and hemorrhagic.” Aces was two.
Julba, Mar 28, Fairmount T
“Catastrophic breakdown during exercise: severe, complete humerus fracture; intramuscular hemorrhage; traumatic laceration of the triceps muscle – muscle exposed.” Also: “lacerations and abrasions contaminated with dirt.” Julba had just turned three.
Faith Hope N Love, Apr 14, Fairmount R
“Sudden death after race: severe exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.” Also: “The gastric ulcers were chronic and considered an incidental finding.” And: “The osteoarthritis within fetlock joints, while not related to the cause of death, may have affected physical performance.” Faith had just turned four.
Good Yegg, May 28, Hawthorne R
“[Multiple] fractures, [multiple] ruptures.” Also: “evidence of chronic osteoarthritis [both front limbs].” Yegg was nine.
FP Pony, Jun 29, Hawthorne S
“Colicky Saturday, Sunday worse, Monday worse, euthanized.” Final report: “several lipomas present in the mesentery and a stalk of one had wrapped around a segment of the jejunum, entrapping it.” At the time of his death, FP was being used as a “pony horse.”
The pony horse with colic might have been saved with surgery but the report says nothing to suggest that anyone involved was competent enough to do anything intelligent to help the horse. Again, complete and utter NEGLIGENCE and incompetence in providing appropriate care for a horse to spare the horse an excruciatingly painful death.
He was not dead yet when they discovered him down in his stall but he was unable to get up. So most people who actually want to keep their horses alive and functioning do something to assist the horse that is cast in the stall to roll over away from the wall or somehow get enough distance between the front legs (as well as the hind legs) and the wall in order for the horse to get his front hooves flat on the ground or floor and underneath his body; same with the hind hooves and legs.
In the case of SPIN THE BOULEVARD, it sounds like the necropsy note writers are leaving out enough of the details on purpose to cover up for the trainer perpetrating abuse on the horse. The snowjob of a necropsy report also suggests that the trainer was extremely negligent (as well as abusive) in attending to this horse before, during, and especially after the “training” session. The horse most likely suffered injuries from the training session and that’s why he was unable to get up on his feet again. And then he was euthanized. Next victim.
There should be a criminal investigation of everyone connected to this horse including the groom(s), but of course that doesn’t happen when it is a criminal organization covering up for their crimes as a matter of routine to begin with.
Horseracing sucks!
Gorgeous, beautiful souled horses want to live their natural life. Slavery and sick confinement is Not it. I’m for Animals …not people …ALWAYS have been 😏
So, Spin the Boulevard had injuries consistent with thrashing about in his 12×12 stall. And no one noticed this? WTF!!!
From the notes for SPIN THE BOULEVARD:
Not terribly uncommon to see in racing Thoroughbreds, (happens all the time), the horse is dead from various hemorrhages and edema throughout certain parts of the horse’s body PLUS the horse has Degenerative Joint Disease.
How are these people who do the necropsies paid; as in 1) by the hour, or 2) by the body of a dead racehorse?
Either way, the more dead bodies of racehorses, the more money they make!
#HorseracingIsAnimalCruelty