In each of the past two mornings, a horse has died training at Saratoga Race Course:
3-year-old Mr Jaggers, “injury to RF leg…euthanized”
2-year-old Shirelle, “collapsed and died at 5/8 pole”
The self-styled “oldest sporting venue in the nation” now counts 18 dead horses on the summer. 18 – four over its historical average. If that doesn’t prove that “reform” – “safe racing” – is a lie, I don’t know what will.
The 2nd at Laurel yesterday, as relayed by the chartwriter: “One Fat Kat…was pulled up after sustaining an injury nearing the five sixteenths then was euthanized on the track.” She was four years old; ’twas her ninth time under the whip.
This is horseracing.
The 5th at Thistledown yesterday: “Steel City Brieze was bounced around between horses at the start, pinched a few strides thereafter, clipped heels, fell suffering a catastrophic injury and was euthanized” (Equibase).
“bounced around between horses”
“fell suffering a catastrophic injury”
“euthanized”
Steel City Brieze was four; this was her third race (but first in almost a year).
The fall came right after the start (around 2:33 mark on video):
Chief Commander, two, was killed at Saratoga Monday – “lame after breeze, examination revealed injury to pelvis…euthanized” (Gaming Commission). He is the 16th horse killed on those hallowed grounds this summer. NYRA’s “commitment to equine safety” is smoke and mirrors, folks. Horseracing kills – full stop.
The Saratoga 16:
Cloud, Jun 18 – “sustained leg injury breezing”
Apollon, Jul 24 – “cardiovascular collapse” (two years old)
Shiny Copper Penny, Aug 5 – “experienced sudden death”
Brag On Me, Aug 11 – “tibia fracture”
Lady C, Aug 16 – “took a bad step”
First Appeal, Aug 20 – “euthanized [for] severe injuries”
Own the Outcome, Aug 28 – “fracture”
Pot of Hunny, Aug 29 – “fell heavily…euthanized on track”
Perfection, Aug 30 – “suffered a catastrophic injury”
Highly Uncertain, Aug 31 – “colic”
Obsidian Flow, Aug 31 – “[multiple] fractures”
Zunith Moon, Aug 31 – “fractured leg”
Siena’s Ticket, Sep 2 – “severe laminitis”
Samborella, Sep 4 – “took bad steps”
Giuseppe the Great, Sep 5 – “severe laminitis”
Chief Commander, Sep 14 – “lame after breeze – injury to pelvis”
To those who profit from, bet on, watch, or otherwise support horseracing, the burden falls to defend/explain the following list.
Some of the horses killed at U.S. tracks in 2019, in the words of the industry itself. Please note: I have not included California and Maryland deaths, as those states provided the most (gruesome) detail and merit stand-alone views: Cal; Maryland.
(all italics added by me) (R: Racing; T: Training; S: Stall)
Mr First Regard, Jan 4, Sunland R
“internal bleeding – euthanized on track”
The Pokester, Jan 7, Northfield R
“broke front right leg – complete”
Heza Wild Dragon, Jan 11, Sunland R
“dead upon arrival”
Get Into Mischief, Jan 12, Gulfstream T
“heart attack” (two years old)
Flying Kolors, Jan 12, Sunland R
“cardiovascular [and] fractured knee…died on track”
Raise the Mast, Jan 15, Charles Town S
“broken back”
I’lbeamonkeysuncle, Jan 15, Portland R
“sudden death – vessel ruptures in lungs”
Ucanalwaysbebetter, Jan 23, Keeneland T
“cannon fracture – bone embedded in tendons and ligament”
Tripwire, Jan 26, Gulfstream R
“collapsed fatally”
Euro Zing, Jan 26, Turfway T
“broke both front shoulders”
Jubilance, Jan 27, Turf S
“spinal cord trauma”
Hawaiian Appeal, Jan 31, Delta R
“post exertional distress, sudden death”
Aeromosa, Feb 10, Tampa Bay R
“sudden death” (three years old)
Queen Jeanne, Feb 22, Turfway R
“[multiple] fractures; [multiple] torn veins; soft tissue damage is extensive”
For Pops, Feb 26, Belmont T
“collapsed and died”
Ibetyoucanwiggle, Mar 9, Northfield R
“acute collapse, heart stopped, agonal breaths, died within three mins”
Mighty Zealous, Mar 10, Belmont S
“severe respiratory distress…euthanized”
Midnight Retreat, Mar 15, Emerald S
“gastric rupture”
Ghost Speaker, Mar 19, Retama T
“sudden death on track” (two years old)
Hazel Anne, Mar 22, Hawthorne S
“ruptured femoral artery – bled to death”
Liberty Valance, Mar 25, Mahoning R
“slab fractures [both front] knees”
Miss Mimosa, Mar 28, Belmont T
“cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Smart Daddy, Mar 28, Hawthorne T
“complete fracture of neck”
Tell It Ina Melody, Mar 28, Turfway R
“[multiple] fractures; [torn] artery and vein”
Notcho Daddy, Apr 5, Tampa Bay R
“collapse, cardiac episode” (two years old)
Myrtle’s Boy, Apr 6, Hawthorne T
“rider reported hearing a bone break – fracture[d] neck”
Cathedral Reader, Apr 6, Keeneland R
“[multiple] torn tendons and ligaments; ruptured suspensory”
Kimyun, Apr 6, Remington R
“paralyzed hind, unable to rise after race”
yet-to-be-named filly, Apr 7, Lone Star
“pneumonia/colitis/renal failure”
Mandel, Apr 10, Keeneland R
“[multiple] fractures; the following soft tissues were torn or ruptured: palmar annular ligament, suspensory ligament, sesamoidian ligaments, [multiple] tendons”
Atomic Sealster, Apr 11, Tioga T
“fell over…subsequently stopped breathing”
Wiwi Celebration, Apr 13, Tampa Bay R
“fracture; severed/ruptured ligament”
Hoped For, Apr 18, Keeneland T
“fractures; tearing of digital artery and vein”
Amandine, Apr 19, Keeneland R
“[multiple] displaced fractures; soft tissue damage is significant”
Atlantic Slew, Apr 20, Fonner R
“bled out [after falling]”
Shut the Gate, Apr 22, Will Rogers R
“head trauma”
Amos P, Apr 26, Charles Town S
“head trauma”
Andariego, Apr 29, Remington R
“fell, neck fracture”
Wire Me a Valentine, May 4, Remington R
“fractured both [back legs], pelvis”
Rg I Hop Fast, May 4, Remington R
“thrashed and collapsed in starting gate”
Allie’s Aflirt, May 11, Fairmount R
“flipped, hit head prior to race – horse died”
Prue, May 15, Arlington T
“horse dropped dead training”
Rare Escape, May 16, Remington R
“head trauma”
Shanghai Billy, May 20, Emerald T
“ligament rupture”
Laser Lynn, May 21, Mountaineer R
“collapsed – sudden death” (three years old)
Golden Julia, May 25, Saratoga T
“pelvic injury, acute blood loss”
Game Lad, May 27, Delaware R
“acute catastrophic rupture of ligaments”
Super Bound, May 27, Prairie R
“crashed into gates”
Iza Secret, May 27, Remington R
“collapsed, tried to get up, no control of hind limbs”
Mercusio, May 29, Delaware T
“collapsed – sudden death” (three years old)
Beau Dan, May 30, Belterra R
“fell at 3/16 pole – open, compound, disarticulated fracture”
Irish Miss, May 31, Belterra R
“horse bucked, kicked, and exhibited bunny hopping; upon stopping, her hind legs collapsed – suspect pelvic fracture, spinal cord trauma” (her first race)
Heaven Rocks, Jun 1, Buffalo R
“in distress, collapsed”
Coronas Al Jaguar, Jun 2, Sunray R
“pulmonary hemorrhage collapse, sudden death”
Glenwheresmymoney, Jun 7, Emerald R
“pulmonary hemorrhage”
I Miss Jumbo, Jun 9, Thistledown T
“broken pelvis”
[name redacted by Commission], Jun 13, Churchill S
“skull fracture, spontaneous hemorrhage from both nostrils”
High Beam, Jun 13, Churchill R
“pulled up with severe ataxia and white mucous membranes; horse collapsed and died within few minutes – massive pulmonary hemorrhage”
Spicey Corona, Jun 15, Delta R
“neurologic, paresis/paralysis”
Firm, Jun 15, Monmouth R
“collapse on track post-race” (three years old)
Easy Livin, Jun 15, Monticello T
“collapsed on track and died”
Senator Tequila, Jun 16, Ruidoso T
“broke back”
Bless His Heart, Jun 20, Churchill T
“rupture with tearing”
Secret Agent Girl, Jun 22, Albuquerque T
“collapsed on racetrack, sudden death”
Pomera, Jun 23, Belterra R
“rupture of sesamoidean apparatus and complete dislocation of fetlock joint”
Doc Brown, Jun 23, Emerald T
“fractures both front legs”
After Jody, Jun 27, Delaware R
“[multiple] catastrophic fractures”
Tomy, Jun 29, Albuquerque T
“collision with [another] horse”
Will Call, Jun 29, Churchill R
“horse collapsed and died – massive hemorrhage [in] thorax and abdomen; extensive hemorrhage [in] spine, neck, and hip”
Ap Bear Lake, Jun 29, Energy R
“dislocated ankle, euthanized on track”
Machine Learning, Jul 4, Monmouth R
“[multiple fractures with] avulsion”
Watyurname, Jul 6, Ruidoso R
“fractured shoulder; severe hemorrhage”
Dash For The Cash, Jul 9, Monticello R
“died following 2nd place win”
Fight Night, Jul 12, Saratoga R
“fell heavily after the wire…euthanized on track”
Montezuma Ridge, Jul 13, Arapahoe S
“found dead in stall with trauma” (two years old)
Jess Moonflash, Jul 14, Ruidoso R
“compound fracture both front fetlocks”
Fabulous Prince, Jul 15, Finger Lakes R
“skull fracture”
Overlord, Jul 15, Saratoga S
“colonic rupture”
Luckycuba, Jul 19, Delaware S
“found dead with blood and foam at the nostrils”
Maximum Volume, Jul 19, Prairie R
“sudden death” (three years old)
High Profit, Jul 21, Arizona Downs T
“head [and] spine trauma”
Racy Opinion, Jul 21, Emerald R
“fractured spine”
Carolina Reaper, Jul 23, Mountaineer R
“fell, died”
Colonel Lewis, Jul 24, Thistledown R
“horse dislocated ankle – open, degloved”
Squeeze My Corona, Jul 27, Retama R
“spinal cord fracture”
Misspent Youth, Jul 27, Saratoga T
“cardiovascular collapse”
Sir Navigator, Aug 4, Ellis R
“horse finished race, collapsed and died”
Purple Flowers, Aug 15, Belterra R
“complete dislocation of fetlock joint”
Anything, Aug 17, Belterra R
“bone fractured into multiple pieces”
It’s Flashy, Aug 17, Finger Lakes T
“expired after breezing”
Dna Dales Cece, Aug 24, Indiana R
“fractured both front ankles”
Royal Inheritance, Sep 6, Belmont T
“collapsed and died”
Four Times Lucky, Sep 6, Harney Fair R
“internal bleed”
Facunda, Sep 6, Retama R
“spinal cord fracture”
Brave Spirited, Sep 7, Charles Town R
“sudden death, pulmonary hemorrhage”
Believein, Sep 13, Churchill T
“[multiple] fractures; severe soft tissue damage”
Tapalot, Sep 14, Emerald R
“fractures both front legs”
Smarter Yet, Sep 14, Northville R
“cardiovascular collapse warming up for a race”
Burnout B, Sep 15, Will Rogers R
“fractured skull [and] spine”
ShezSugarSweet A, Sep 19, Plainridge R
“collapsed and died instantly, no definitive cause found”
B P Rocket, Sep 20, Keeneland T
“shoulder fracture; [torn] tissues; extensive gastric ulcers” (three years old)
Queen Elsa, Sep 23, Saratoga Harness S
“found deceased in stall”
Southern Slugger, Sep 26, Indiana S
“acute gastric rupture”
Noontime Salsa, Sep 28, Delaware T
“exercise-associated sudden death” (three years old)
Iana, Oct 3, Charles Town R
“leg shattered”
Elverson, Oct 3, Charles Town R
“neck and head fractures”
Stella d’Oro, Oct 4, Keeneland R
“multiple fractures; massive soft tissue damage”
Go Oshie Go, Oct 12, Hawthorne R
“dropped dead on track”
Indy’s Quick Image, Oct 13, Delaware S
“found dead – acute brain hemorrhage”
Call to Victory, Oct 20, Keeneland R
“[multiple] open fractures; extensive soft tissue damage; extensive ulceration of stomach” (three years old)
Maggie Pie, Oct 24, Remington R
“fell hard on neck – deceased in stall next day”
The Keeper, Nov 2, Keeneland T
“open fractures – fragments missing, large fragment embedded in ligament”
Grand Peak, Nov 3, Will Rogers R
“fractured skull [and] spine”
Bv Tempted, Nov 8, Will Rogers R
“fractured [both] front limbs”
Fm Dynasty Rock, Nov 9, Lone Star R
“facial/nasal fractures – massive blood loss”
Tico’s Premed, Nov 11, Zia R
“collapsed post race, died” (three years old)
Coronas Dashin Injun, Nov 16, Zia R
“broken back”
Rancers Dancer, Nov 17, Zia R
“broke leg above knee, died [not euthanized] in place”
Goneonamission, Nov 24, Belmont S
“found deceased with apparent head injury”
Tigers Rule, Nov 24, Churchill R
“[multiple] fractures with tearing of artery and vein”
Too Deadly, Nov 26, Evangeline R
“skull [and] spine fractures”
Elegant Bay, Nov 30, Churchill R
“multiple fractures; soft tissue damage is severe”
Fast Steppin, Dec 6, Zia T
“shattered pastern”
Sierra Steel, Dec 7, Turf R
“fractured pelvis”
Bright Diamond N, Dec 14, Yonkers R
“fell over, died on racetrack”
Thecaptainnshawneel, Dec 20, Sunland T
“broken back”
Warminister A, Dec 28, Freehold R
“sudden death, cause unknown”
Olly Wonder, Dec 31, Turfway R
“severe tearing of tendons and ligaments“
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