Through a FOIA request to the Arizona Dept. of Gaming, I have confirmed the following kills at Turf Paradise thus far this year. (Turf is the only currently running track in Arizona. Because of the amount of detail, I am posting in installments – previous here.)
Luna Magica, Feb 21, Turf T
“As it was galloping out, it pulled up RF lame: [multiple] fractures, euthanized.” The “it” was two and being prepped for his first race.
Masters Hand, Feb 24, Turf T
“Before it loaded [in gate], it reared, fell over backwards, and hit its head. Due to the severity of head trauma, it was humanely euthanized.” The relevant “trauma”: “severe, comminuted skull fracture with multiple sharp segments that resulted in a ventral depression of the cranial floor, dislodged pituitary gland, and sunken and torn meninges.” Also: “blood splatter on all four limbs, head, neck, pectorals, and abdomen; muzzle covered in blood and blood coating the teeth; blood pooled in right and left ear; bloody area over right jugular vein.” A fine death, huh? This “it” was three.
Talk Out Loud, Feb 28, Turf T
“Galloping out, it pulled up RH lame. Radiographs showed [multiple] severe, comminuted tibia fractures with extensive intramuscular and subcutaneous hemorrhage. Euthanized.” This “it” had just turned two, and this was his very first “work.”
Killing horses for racing and Pari-mutuel gambling is heinous cruelty but calling their deceased victims “it” sounds like they have no knowledge of the proper terminology.
Why bother to know the difference between a colt or a filly, a “he” or a “she”, when you get paid to participate in a blood sport that is no better than putting two dogs in a ring and watching them fight to the death and, of course, placing bets of thousands of dollars on which dog survives the bloody cruelty?!
Filthy lucre, ill-gotten gains, greed, dishonesty, corruption, shameful bloody abuse of animals, moral depravity — exploiting animals for gambling has all of these undesirable aspects.