The chartwriter’s full telling of My Trooper’s outing in the 5th at Mahoning yesterday: “My Trooper rated in the second flight early then took a bad step and pulled up at the 3/8 pole before falling with an injury and was euthanized on track.” Yeah, just another “bad step.” This poor boy was three; ’twas his 12th time under the whip. Chief exploiters: Hal Snowden, Larry Smith, Yarmarie Correa.
While the cowards at Mahoning scrubbed the replay, the ugliness – a horse dying in full public view – most certainly did not deter them from continuing with the day’s action. And just three races later, Stage Name also “took a bad step” and was “vanned off.” So, perhaps two kills at Mahoning yesterday (I’ll know for sure soon enough). Vile.
Sue, without being sarcastic in any way, I believe the word “TYPICAL” is an appropriate word to describe opening day and/or week for several racetracks; plus most of these depraved people have the “apron” of HISA to help them hide the non-stop killing of horses.
A quote I found while searching for info was words couldn’t convey the horror for Trooper. That is really a damn pathetic state of affairs as an American Disgrace. How else can one describe this travesty?
It used to be here in Oregon that no one under 18 was allowed at racetracks, Rick, because of the gamboling. Now the restrictions are solely where alcohol is available. Wanda,the worst wreck we saw was in the 2nd race of the last day of the Portland Meadows meet of 2004. A mare that we had galloped broke BOTH her front legs at the head of the stretch with a jockey who we galloped horses with John “Flip” Nollar. The mare of course died & John was severely injured. It took several weeks for John to recover. That incident is when we 1st started thinking of our participation in racing at tracks & farms that we began in 1977. Later that year we quit after an incident involving ourselves.When we worked at farms & when the weather was okay we would leave the horses at Pleasure Acres farm out as much as possible in their main field usually all night. We would only bring them in when galloping them or working with them in the barn aisle ways or training track. Immediately after riding or handling we would turn them out in the field of 10 acres or so. That made foe fitter & happier horses!
Frankly, when it comes to seeing things that are disturbing regarding horses, just seeing the NINE Thoroughbred racehorses (trained by one trainer at the time) locked up in stalls for TWENTY-THREE HOURS A DAY back in February of 1977 at the Lewiston Round-up rodeo grounds and training track was more than I could tolerate. I was used to horses being turned out on 250 Acres, possibly 300 Acres, of pasture and free to live lives conducive to much better physical and mental health for horses. It was land that was too steep for the farmers growing grain crops or peas to plow. There was an opportunity for the horses and the ponies (as well as the cattle) to roam and graze and walk the many trails from one end of the pasture to the watering hole to the other end and down the hill to the other watering hole. It also has a great view of the Clearwater River and the whole landscape surrounding it, a full 360° view of sky and land and the river.
One of the next most disturbing things I saw firsthand regarding racehorses was in Colorado at Centennial Racetrack in November of 1980. I had never seen a horse drop dead at a full gallop until that day at the races. Of course, they swept it all under the rug and gave no explanation whatsoever.
Since then I’ve learned that it is called “a sudden collapse” but I still don’t know exactly what caused it.
I have noticed in the many posts on Horseracing Wrongs that there is very little to no explanation of what happens inside the bodies of horses that die of sudden collapse at a full gallop on the racetrack.
People really have to be heartless and sadistic to even lock horses up in stalls with NO OUTDOOR RUNS for TWENTY-THREE HOURS A DAY let alone running them to death.
My friend was at that track yesterday trying to catch up with some old friends. He said when Trooper broke down, he kept trying to run while appearing to try to drag his back legs behind him, ultimately causing him to fall.
Even the announcer announced he “broke down”.
He didn’t stick around for Stage Name’s break down, but I am guessing that must have been nasty, as the replay is completely deleted.
And it is looking like that is possibly 3 deaths in less than a week at Mahoning. Great opening week. (Being sarcastic).
It’s becoming more and more common that horses die in full public view. Until this vile sport disappears completely, I don’t think anyone under 18 should be allowed anywhere near a track. Even as an adult I’ve seen things that disturb me to this day. A small child definitely should not be exposed to this carnage.