Through a FOIA request to the West Virginia Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s two tracks in the first half of the year. Two notes: As you will see, detail was woefully lacking. More important, we did not get all the Mountaineer deaths. Initially, I was told all the paperwork wasn’t in yet and to sit tight. Finally (after repeated inquiries), I received this from the Commission:
“We currently do not have a full-time Regulatory Vet at Mountaineer Park. We have been fulfilling the duties with contractual veterinarians. This causes reporting to take a back burner to ontrack services. I do not have all the details organized. However, I do know there were 6 deaths at MP in June 2026. 3 were racing musculoskeletal fatalities, 2 were training fatalities, and one was due to colic. I will update you when I have a completed mortality spreadsheet.”
Imagine that: No full-time regulatory vet at Mountaineer. Horrific. I was able to identify (through other sources) the three June racing deaths.
Mio Atlas, Jan 1, Charles Town T
“Fractured radius.” Mio was three.
Idiosyncrasies, Jan 3, Charles Town R
“Slab fracture.” Idiosyncrasies was four.
Queen Valentine, Jan 12, Charles Town T
“Open fracture, LF.” Queen was two.
Talented Warrior, Jan 19, Charles Town T
“Fractured cannon.” Warrior was two and being prepped for his first race.
Boot Camp, Jan 21, Charles Town R
“Fell before wire: fractured shoulder.” Boot was three; this was his second race.
The Commish, Feb 11, Charles Town R
“Fell: fractured cannon.” The Commish was four.
Regal Temple, Feb 11, Charles Town R (same race as above)
“Fell over fallen foe [above]: fractured forelimb.” Regal was three.
Tencentmillionaire, Feb 21, Charles Town T (euth Mar 2)
“Fractured stifle.” Tencentmillionaire was two and being prepped for his first race.
Rocket Science, Feb 28, Charles Town R
“Fractured sesamoid.” Rocket was four.
Gourmet, Mar 5, Charles Town R
“Ruptured suspensory.” Gourmet was five.
Talented Lino, Mar 12, Charles Town R
“Fractured fetlock.” Lino was three.
Starship Aspen, Mar 17, Charles Town S
“Peritonitis.” Starship was three.
Secession, Mar 18, Charles Town R
“Fractured fetlock.” Secession was six.
Clapping, Apr 9, Charles Town R
“Fractured fetlock.” Clapping was four.
Lawyer Up Riley, Apr 16, Charles Town R
“Fractured sesamoid.” Riley was four.
Spark One Up, Apr 17, Charles Town T
“Sudden death.” Spark was two – “sudden death.”
Absolute Courage, Apr 19, Mountaineer S
“Colic, torsion.” Absolute was seven.
Dontcrosstheline, Apr 24, Charles Town R
“Ruptured suspensory.” Dontcrosstheline was three.
Run Tzu, Apr 30, Charles Town R
“Fractured cannon.” Tzu was three.
Cats Diamond Boy, May 2, Charles Town T
“Fractured LH.” Cats was seven.
Kingdom’s Spirit, May 11, Mountaineer R (video here)
“Open fracture, luxation.” Kingdom’s was eight.
Woodella, May 14, Charles Town R
“Sudden death.” Woodella was five – “sudden death.”
Jungle Boogie, May 18, Charles Town T
“Sudden death.” Boogie was four – “sudden death.”
Hala Blue, May 24, Charles Town T
“Ruptured suspensory, sepsis.” Hala was four and had been sold in her last race, May 7.
Valid Connection, May 26, Mountaineer R (video here)
“Fetlock luxation.” Valid was four.
Not My Circus, May 29, Charles Town T
“Fractured fetlock.” Not My Circus was three.
High Strike, May 29, Charles Town R
“Fractured fetlock.” High Strike was six.
Mamawasagogogirl, May 29, Charles Town R (third on-track kill that day)
“Fractured fetlock.” Mamawasagogogirl was four.
Flipana, Jun 1, Mountaineer T
“Fractured shoulder.” Flipana was two and being prepped for her first race.
Accelerina, Jun 1, Mountaineer T
“[Sudden death]: pulmonary hemorrhage.” Accelerina was six.
Paramount’s Pick, Jun 6, Charles Town R (euth Jun 25)
“Fractured cannon.” Paramount’s was three.
River Rabbit, Jun 18, Charles Town T
“Sudden death.” Rabbit was four – “sudden death.”
Optimistic Nate, Jun 24, Mountaineer T
“Fractured shoulder.” Nate was six.
Luft to Run, Jun 26, Charles Town T
“LF fracture.” Luft was three.
Wild Gold Rush, Jun 29, Mountaineer R
Gold was four.
Thirsty John, Jun 29, Mountaineer R
John was six.
Nocashrefunds, Jun 30, Mountaineer R
Nocashrefunds was eight.
Excellent point Wanda …(illegal gambling)
It sounds like Mountaineer Park is on the verge of becoming a venue of illegal gambling without a full-time Regulatory Veterinarian.
As abusive and criminal as it is to cause horses to get injured on purpose (by forcing them to perform beyond their physical capacity), the Mountaineer Park racing industry insiders should be under much more scrutiny from authorities for their questionable methods of operating without a full-time Regulatory Veterinarian on staff.
Unfortunately, this daily routine mistreatment and deliberately haphazard form of Animal Cruelty, and cheating the gamblers as well, will most likely not be flagged for violations. I would be shocked if the FBI stepped in and ordered Mountaineer Park to cease and desist doing business without, at the very least, a full-time Regulatory Veterinarian.