The Killing, State by State

HW has been filing annual “Killed” lists since 2014. We are the first to ever do this. Here are the 11-year (’14-’24) state totals, as well as the totals for some individual tracks. Please note, however, that these figures are at a minimum. More horses, surely, were euthanized off-site or simply fell through record-keeping cracks. Not reflected, either, are the horses killed at the nation’s 200+ private training facilities. And finally, these numbers say nothing of the tens of thousands who were bled-out and butchered upon “retirement.” In short, this – over 11,000 confirmed kills in 11 years – is but a partial reckoning.

Arizona

total all tracks: 435 Killed
Turf: 385 Killed

Arkansas

Oaklawn: 120 Killed
(state did not honor our FOIA requests 2014-2018, 2024)

California

total all tracks: 1,083 Killed
Del Mar: 122 Killed
Los Alamitos: 280 Killed
Santa Anita: 315 Killed

Colorado

Arapahoe (only track): 88 Killed

Delaware

total all tracks: 190 Killed
Delaware Park: 173 Killed

Florida

total all tracks: 912 Killed
Gulfstream: 472 Killed
Tampa Bay: 226 Killed
(state did not honor our FOIA requests 2022-2024)

Illinois

total all tracks: 303 Killed

Indiana

total all tracks: 269 Killed
Horseshoe: 227 Killed

Iowa

Prairie (only track): 156 Killed

Kentucky

total all tracks: 593 Killed
Churchill: 224 Killed
Keeneland: 147 Killed

Louisiana

total all tracks: 597 Killed

Maryland

total all tracks: 398 Killed
Laurel: 312 Killed
Pimlico: 65 Killed

Minnesota

total all tracks: 116 Killed
Canterbury: 112 Killed

Nebraska

total all tracks: 82 Killed
(record-keeping is particularly bad)

New Jersey

total all tracks: 233 Killed
Monmouth: 191 Killed

New Mexico

total all tracks: 800 Killed

New York

total all tracks: 1,148 Killed
Aqueduct: 159 Killed
Belmont: 424 Killed
Saratoga: 173 Killed

Ohio

total all tracks: 576 Killed
Belterra: 126 Killed
Mahoning: 184 Killed
Thistledown: 178 Killed

Oklahoma

total all tracks: 488 Killed
Remington: 319 Killed

Pennsylvania

total all tracks: 961 Killed
Parx: 476 Killed
Penn: 323 Killed

Texas

total all tracks: 338 Killed

Washington

Emerald (only track): 164 Killed

West Virginia

total all tracks: 893 Killed
Charles Town: 607 Killed
Mountaineer: 286 Killed

All Other States

318 Killed

What Can You Do?

There are many ways to help end horseracing: Share our daily posts on social media. Write a “letter to the editor.” Contact governors and legislators. And of course: Organize or join a protest!