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This morning, I reported on Belmont’s 29th victim of the year. Tonight, number 30. In the 3rd race today, Meet Me in L A, says Equibase, “went wrong just inside the three-eighths and got placed to an immediate protective hold before being pulled up just past the five-sixteenths with an injury to the right hind and was euthanized.”

“And was euthanized.” Again. And again. And again. And again…

Look, we’re so far beyond proving NYRA to be liars with their “demonstrably safer racing.” It’s high time the media begins locking in like it did with Santa Anita this spring. There is carnage going on at another of America’s premier racetracks. Do your job; cover it. As for this state’s regulatory agency – the NYS Gaming Commission – if your words “equine safety” are to hold any meaning, shut this track down. Now. Since opening back up for business just over two weeks ago, eight – yes, eight – horses have died. What is happening there is not just immoral, it’s downright criminal.

Doyouknowsomething, Jan 8, stall – “sustained left elbow injury in stall”
Speke, Jan 19, training – “suffered a fracture to his right shoulder”
Catpsalm, Jan 29, stall – “protozoal myeloencephalitis”
Miss Marion, Feb 3, training – “fractured cannon bone…euthanized on track”
Chronos, Feb 3, training (euthanized Feb 4) – “fractured right front leg”
For Pops, Feb 26, training – “collapsed and died” (four years old)
Queen Bode, Mar 3, training – “euthanized at hospital”
Mighty Zealous, Mar 10, stall – “severe respiratory distress…euthanized”
Miss Marilyn, Mar 23, training – “leg injury…euthanasia on the track”
Miss Mimosa, Mar 28, training – “cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Pretty Enuff, Apr 1, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
Luz Mimi, Apr 4, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
La Manche, Apr 11, training – “suffered a fracture…and was euthanized”
Noble Cause, May 11, racing – “injuries necessitating euthanasia”
Anne’s Song, May 24, racing – “ambulanced off, euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Successful Mission, Jun 9, training – “sustained fractures while breezing”
Inflection, Jun 9, racing – “euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Ro Bear, Jun 16, stall – “died in the barn from an apparent impaction colic”
With Caution, Jun 28, training – “P1 fracture…died complications from anesthesia”
Fancy Persuasion, Jun 30, racing – “cardiovascular collapse” (two years old)
yet-to-be-named, Jul 11, training – “fractured sesamoids…euthanized”
La Fuerza, Jul 27, training – “fractured humeral, ambulanced to barn, euthanized”
Royal Inheritance, Sep 6, training – “collapsed and died” (five years old)
Passporttovictory, Sep 6, racing – “bad steps”
Mo Moxie, Sep 7, training – “sustained a fracture and was euthanized on track”
Deft, Sep 12, racing – “broke front leg and was euthanized on the track”
Rhode Island, Sep 14, racing – “was vanned off…subsequently euthanized”
Coffee Crush, Sep 19, training – “cardiovascular collapse”
Have Another, Sep 20, stall – “severe laminitis”
Meet Me in L A, Sep 21, racing – “went wrong…euthanized”

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As I’ve oft said, the younger generations, as a rule, “get it.” From birth, they have had information at their fingertips. And there is no better catalyst for change, for moral progress, than (factual) information. So while I am greatly heartened by these recent letters to the editor from high school students, I am not in the least surprised. A warm thanks to these brave young adults.

To the editor:

Horse racing has become a sport in which the horses are indisputably born to die. The “sport” is now a source of entertainment for onlookers who are too blind to see the real truth about horse racing.

I am writing as a high school student at Pittsfield High School. I realize I am not quite able to vote, but I will be soon enough. As a proud member of the Defenders Club at Berkshire Humane Society, I believe that the horse racing industry should no longer be supported by anyone.

Over 1,000 horses die every year on the race track and these numbers are no surprise to the horse racing industry. Even more are euthanized at a trainer[‘s] farm, training facilities or due to “training deaths.” It is sickening to me that people are letting this happen right under their noses, but they choose not to care at all. Some injuries can easily be treated or fixed with time, care, and compassion, but the injured horses are seen as useless debt, so the easiest, and least expensive choice is to euthanize the poor horse.

So all I ask you to not attend any horse racing function because it would be a sign that you find entertainment in the horses’ misery. Please educate your friends and your family about the truth of horse racing.

Senate bill S.101 and House bill H1.3 would allow a license issued over 20 years ago by the Racing Commission to operate as permission for the return of racing to Great Barrington Fairgrounds. This would strip the community of the right to vote. How can we let this happen?

Elodie Theriault,
Pittsfield
The Berkshire Eagle, September 20, 2019

I am writing as a high school student at TEC Connections Academy, but also as a concerned member of my community. I realize I am not quite able to vote, but I will be soon enough. As a member of the Defenders club at Berkshire Humane Society, I believe NOT supporting the horse racing industry is incredibly important.

Horse racing is no longer the “sport of kings” it used to be. It has instead become a sport of corruption, bribery, fraud, greed, and a complete lack of ethics for animals.

Did you know that over 1,000 horses died last year on the racetrack? That number does not even include the deaths of horses after they were euthanized at the trainer’s farm or private training facilities, what they refer to as “training deaths.” Never mind the horses that were sent to slaughter in other countries after failing in the industry. Where is the accountability for these animals? If dogs or cats were being treated in this same fashion wouldn’t the pubic want justice for the animals?

Senate Bill S101 and House Bill H13 allow a license issued over 20 years ago by the Racing Commission to operate as permission for the return of racing to Great Barrington Fairgrounds. This would strip the community of the right to vote. How can we let this happen in our community?

Lena P. DuPont
Pittsfield
The Berkshire Edge, September 20, 2019

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Yesterday, the NYS Gaming Commission reported that Have Another “developed severe laminitis” at Belmont and was euthanized. Aside from this being the 29th dead racehorse at Belmont this year – and 7th in the first two weeks of the Fall Meet – the disclosure is noteworthy for how the Commission filed it: “non-racing.”

Have Another was five years old and had been raced continuously for three years – 24 times under the whip in all. Add to that the countless “training sessions” (most recent: 11 days prior to dying), and you have the kind of wear and tear – “cartilage erosion,” “osteochondrosis,” “osteoarthritis,” “tendonitis,” “chronic lesions,” etc. – I consistently see on necropsy reports (in horses, mind you, mostly still in puberty). In short, this “severe laminitis” death is unequivocally an industry kill.

Belmont’s 29 dead racehorses, 2019:

Doyouknowsomething, Jan 8, stall – “sustained left elbow injury in stall”
Speke, Jan 19, training – “suffered a fracture to his right shoulder”
Catpsalm, Jan 29, stall – “protozoal myeloencephalitis”
Miss Marion, Feb 3, training – “fractured cannon bone…euthanized on track”
Chronos, Feb 3, training (euthanized Feb 4) – “fractured right front leg”
For Pops, Feb 26, training – “collapsed and died” (four years old)
Queen Bode, Mar 3, training – “euthanized at hospital”
Mighty Zealous, Mar 10, stall – “severe respiratory distress…euthanized”
Miss Marilyn, Mar 23, training – “leg injury…euthanasia on the track”
Miss Mimosa, Mar 28, training – “cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Pretty Enuff, Apr 1, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
Luz Mimi, Apr 4, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
La Manche, Apr 11, training – “suffered a fracture…and was euthanized”
Noble Cause, May 11, racing – “injuries necessitating euthanasia”
Anne’s Song, May 24, racing – “ambulanced off, euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Successful Mission, Jun 9, training – “sustained fractures while breezing”
Inflection, Jun 9, racing – “euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Ro Bear, Jun 16, stall – “died in the barn from an apparent impaction colic”
With Caution, Jun 28, training – “P1 fracture…died complications from anesthesia”
Fancy Persuasion, Jun 30, racing – “cardiovascular collapse” (two years old)
yet-to-be-named, Jul 11, training – “fractured sesamoids…euthanized”
La Fuerza, Jul 27, training – “fractured humeral, ambulanced to barn, euthanized”
Royal Inheritance, Sep 6, training – “collapsed and died” (five years old)
Passporttovictory, Sep 6, racing – “bad steps”
Mo Moxie, Sep 7, training – “sustained a fracture and was euthanized on track”
Deft, Sep 12, racing – “broke front leg and was euthanized on the track”
Rhode Island, Sep 14, racing – “was vanned off…subsequently euthanized”
Coffee Crush, Sep 19, training – “cardiovascular collapse”
Have Another, Sep 20, stall – “severe laminitis”

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Last week, I reported on a kill at Thistledown (actually, kills on back-to-back days). But I had it on good authority that two other horses died that day (September 11). So, I contacted the Ohio State Racing Commission; Wednesday, I received confirmation:

In the 1st race, She’s Flat Out “fractured right front ankle at 3/8 pole” – euthanized. She’s Flat Out was four and under the whip for the 36th time.

Prior to the 2nd race, Zippit Yankee – but a “scratch” on the chart – “injured [his] tail and fractured vertebrae in [the] gate” – euthanized where he lay. Imagine that scene.

In all, Thistledown killed four horses – just racing, mind you – in two days.

Defend that, apologists.

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This morning, Coffee Crush died training at Belmont – officially (Gaming Commission), “horse had apparent cardiovascular collapse.” Coffee Crush was four years old. Since racing returned to Belmont less than two weeks ago, six – yes, six – horses have been killed on-track. If I haven’t already convinced you that NYRA’s “demonstrably safer racing” is but a base marketing ploy, I’m not sure that I can.

Belmont now counts 28 dead horses on the year…

Doyouknowsomething, Jan 8, stall – “sustained left elbow injury in stall”
Speke, Jan 19, training – “suffered a fracture to his right shoulder”
Catpsalm, Jan 29, stall – “protozoal myeloencephalitis”
Miss Marion, Feb 3, training – “fractured cannon bone…euthanized on track”
Chronos, Feb 3, training (euthanized Feb 4) – “fractured right front leg”
For Pops, Feb 26, training – “collapsed and died” (four years old)
Queen Bode, Mar 3, training – “euthanized at hospital”
Mighty Zealous, Mar 10, stall – “severe respiratory distress…euthanized”
Miss Marilyn, Mar 23, training – “leg injury…euthanasia on the track”
Miss Mimosa, Mar 28, training – “cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Pretty Enuff, Apr 1, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
Luz Mimi, Apr 4, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
La Manche, Apr 11, training – “suffered a fracture…and was euthanized”
Noble Cause, May 11, racing – “injuries necessitating euthanasia”
Anne’s Song, May 24, racing – “ambulanced off, euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Successful Mission, Jun 9, training – “sustained fractures while breezing”
Inflection, Jun 9, racing – “euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Ro Bear, Jun 16, stall – “died in the barn from an apparent impaction colic”
With Caution, Jun 28, training – “P1 fracture…died complications from anesthesia”
Fancy Persuasion, Jun 30, racing – “cardiovascular collapse” (two years old)
yet-to-be-named, Jul 11, training – “fractured sesamoids…euthanized”
La Fuerza, Jul 27, training – “fractured humeral, ambulanced to barn, euthanized”
Royal Inheritance, Sep 6, training – “collapsed and died” (five years old)
Passporttovictory, Sep 6, racing – “bad steps”
Mo Moxie, Sep 7, training – “sustained a fracture and was euthanized on track”
Deft, Sep 12, racing – “broke front leg and was euthanized on the track”
Rhode Island, Sep 14, racing – “was vanned off…subsequently euthanized”
Coffee Crush, Sep 19, training – “cardiovascular collapse”