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.)
Op Overlord, Jan 8, Churchill T
“Injured on gallop out: [multiple] open, disarticulated fractures; extensive soft tissue damage, including rupture of the medial collateral ligament, and tearing of the lateral collateral ligament, the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the body of the suspensory ligament, the lateral branch of the suspensory, the lateral aspect of the palmar annular ligament, the oblique, straight, and cruciate distal sesamoidian ligaments, and rupture of the medial aspect of the palmar annular ligament and the intersesamoidian ligament.” Or, leg destroyed. Op was two.
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Mar 12, WinStar T
“Colt suffered breakdown during training [then] fell down in trailer and could not stand: complete, displaced fracture of the humerus with marked muscle tearing – euthanized.” They added: “The presence of a pre-existing periosteal callus associated with the acute fracture line in this case is consistent with a repetitive stress injury leading to a catastrophic musculoskeletal failure.” “Repetitive stress injury” – again, this poor boy was so young he hadn’t even been named yet.
Sing for Mo Money, Apr 16, Keeneland R
“Pulled up with severe injury to LF fetlock, referred for surgical consult, euthanized due to poor prognosis.” The “severe injury”: “[multiple] fractures; soft tissue damage includes tearing of the flexor retinaculum, the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the suspensory ligament, the medial and lateral branches of the suspensory, the medial and lateral aspects of the palmar annular ligament, the straight, oblique, and cruciate sesamoidian ligaments, and rupture of the intersesamoidian ligament.” All that and he was sent for a “surgical consult”? Sing had just turned two, and this was his very first race.
Santiana, Apr 29, Churchill R (euth May 8)
“Horse vanned off after 5th race Apr 29. Down in stall May 6. Euthanized May 8.” Why? “Severe axonal degeneration in cervical spinal cord.” What’s more: “tapeworms in the cecum.” Santiana was three. That poor, poor girl.
Saravi, May 7, Turfway T
“Horse was galloping when it suffered a catastrophic injury to RH: complete, markedly comminuted, biarticular fracture of the first phalanx, with tearing of the associated distal suspensory ligaments.” Saravi was three.
You’re absolutely correct, Elizabeth! For so-called horsemen to knowingly and deliberately force colts and fillies to perform under saddle starting at 18 months of age is as “sportsman-like” as literally shooting fish in a barrel.
It has been well established by the Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine communities or bodies of knowledge that this form of misuse of young horses causes specific injuries such as Degenerate Joint Disease and broken bones specific to racing to touch the surface. The horses are treated like lab rats in so many ways, not only at the racetrack but also at Cornell University in experimentation funded by the NIH. It will make you toss your cookies if you read the details of the experiments planned for 80 Thoroughbred mares (and their fetuses) donated to Cornell University.
This is absolutely heartbreaking and infuriating. These were babies, not expendable pieces of racing equipment. Two- and three-year-old horses should be growing, developing, and living their best lives not being pushed at extreme speeds until their immature bodies suffer catastrophic injury and death. The clinical descriptions are horrifying because behind every sterile veterinary phrase like “comminuted fracture,” “soft tissue damage,” “repetitive stress injury,” and “catastrophic musculoskeletal failure” was a living, sentient horse experiencing pain and fear. Op Overlord’s leg was essentially destroyed. An unnamed two-year-old suffered a catastrophic fracture associated with a repetitive stress injury before he had even been given a name. Sing for Mo Money was only two and racing for the very first time. Santiana was just three. And these are not merely unfortunate accidents. They are the predictable consequences of an industry that puts human entertainment and profit ahead of the welfare of the horses it uses. When young horses are routinely pushed beyond what their bodies can safely withstand, catastrophic breakdowns are not an aberration. They are a symptom of the system. There is nothing glamorous, noble, or “sporting” about this. There is no acceptable justification for sacrificing horses so people can gamble, compete, and be entertained. Calling these deaths “part of the sport” only normalizes the suffering and violence. Horse racing needs to end. We need to stop breeding, training, and racing young horses for human entertainment and profit. No trophy, wager, purse, or tradition is worth a single shattered leg or a single terrified animal dying on a racetrack. These horses deserved lives not racetracks. They deserved protection not exploitation. Their deaths should not be accepted as the cost of doing business. End horse racing!!