Through a FOIA request to the Kentucky Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks in the first half of 2026. Because of the volume, I will be posting in installments (previous ones here).
(It goes without saying that almost all the victims died with stomach ulcers.)
Fitzpatrick, Feb 7, Turfway T
“Horse was finishing a 1/2-mile work when it suffered a catastrophic injury: [multiple] fractures.” And: “Extensive soft tissue damage, including tearing of the flexor retinaculum, the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the body of the suspensory ligament and both branches, the lateral aspect of the palmar annular ligament, the straight, oblique, and cruciate sesamoid ligaments, and rupture of the medial aspect of the palmar annular ligament and the intersesamoidian ligament.” This poor boy was seven.
Dame Laura, Feb 20, Turfway R
“Horse pulled up with catastrophic injury to left forelimb: markedly comminuted, biarticular fracture of the first phalanx.” Dame was two.
Gold Del Mar, Mar 26, Turfway T
“[After] galloping, horse seized, collapsed, and died in stall: exercise-associated sudden death – pulmonary artery branch rupture.” Gold had just turned five.
Coco Cool, May 22, Churchill R
“Displaced condylar fracture; displaced, biarticular P1 fractures; [multiple] torn ligaments.” Then this: “Palmar osteochondral disease is a recognized predisposing lesion to condylar fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses, as evidenced in this case.” Coco was four, not fully mature yet – “osteochondral disease.”
Dash Of Luck, Jun 2, Oak Grove R
“Horse pulled up non-weight bearing: [multiple] comminuted fractures. Due to catastrophic nature of injury, owner elected to euthanize.” Dash Of Luck was six.
Great points Wanda. Something I have Always noticed …Woodbine an Ontario Canada racetrack always seems to have a much lower thoroughbred racehorse death than us. Now, I’m not saying they have none….but, you hardly ever hear of deaths like you do in this clusterfuck country. Just sayin.
According to my online search, horse racing began in Kentucky around 1780 which was before statehood. So you know there have been untold numbers of horses injured, maimed, and killed for a long, long time by so-called horsemen & horsewomen in Kentucky alone. Their deliberate and intentional misuse of young and immature horses is morally depraved!!!!!
I can only say that I am glad that Idaho did not follow in the footsteps of Kentucky regarding the subsidization of “Pari-mutuel gambling” associated with the brutal and ruthless exploitation of horses as gambling chips.
I’m not saying that Idaho is innocent, but at least they don’t hold the brutal exploitation of horses up as something to be almost worshipped like a god and subsidized by state government.