Well, it didn’t take long for what is now (based on the past five years’ data) the deadliest track in America to cart a dead “athlete” off the playing field. The “new and improved” Belmont Park, coming off all that pomp and circumstance of Opening Day Friday, hosted a kill yesterday, Day 2. Heat Missile, says the chart for the 2nd race, “suffered an injury…was pulled up then euthanized on the course.” This, after “dropping back while traveling a bit awkwardly” earlier in the race. The specific injury, says the Gaming Commission, was a “biaxial fracture with fetlock joint luxation.” This poor girl was four. Those mostly responsible: Gary Barber, Cayton Park Stud, Mark Casse, and Kendrick Carmouche.
Earlier in the New York Racing Association day, this for Fulmine while training at Saratoga: “injured at the wire after breezing…euthanized.” The 3-year-old was trained by Norm Casse, the aforementioned Mark’s son.
Two kills in one day – helluva job, NYRA.
Well aren’t the Casses turning into quite the horse-killing family.