An “Opening Day” Kill at Mahoning
Today is Opening Day at Mahoning, and nothing says Opening Day like a kill. In the 2nd – yes, 2nd – race, this for Tuned to the Moon: “pressed the early pace before taking a bad step at the 3/16…
Patrick Battuello
The Ambulance Report for Last Week
The following horses were injured in U.S. races last week and had to be removed from the track by “equine ambulance.” While fates remain unknown at this time, please know we will eventually get kill confirmations on many if not…
Yes, Horses Are Smart
(Note: I like to re-post this every couple of years as a reminder.) Up until very recently, knowledge and appreciation of the equine mind has been noticeably lacking. Sure, we’ve learned rudimentary things about horses through the years, but only…
Safer Racing, Brought to You by HISA: Six Horses Killed Between Parx and Horseshoe This Week
Yesterday, I reported that a third horse has been confirmed killed racing at Parx Tuesday. Having been doing this a long time, I can’t recall ever reporting more than two racing kills at one track on the same day. (It’s…
First Money Confirmed Dead – That Makes It Three Kills at Parx Tuesday
As we previously reported, two horses – Keeping It Country and Awesome Cause – were killed racing at Parx Tuesday. In that post, I noted that in KIC’s race, First Money was an “injured/vanned off” – wording that more often…
DA Pasqua, Please Do Your Job and Charge/Prosecute Bruce Rotz
The big issue (beyond the horses’ well-being, of course) in the NY slaughter-truck case is the lack of charges against Bruce Rotz (and/or his company, Rotz Livestock). After all, these were his horses; he is the killer-buyer who was sending…
“High-Strung” Ewing Dies (“Cracked His Skull Open”) in Ocala
Ewing was raced at Colonial Aug 8. That, apparently, was his final race as his owners then shipped him down to Florida for “reschooling” and “reeducating” – whatever that means. Today, the TDN reports that Ewing “passed away Tuesday at…
Two Horses Killed an Hour Apart at Parx Yesterday
Parx, like the other five tracks in Pennsylvania, is being wholly propped up by taxpayer dollars – roughly $200M annually for the six tracks combined, almost $4B since the subsidies began in 2004. So what are the good citizens of…
Where Is All That Track Cash, Saratoga Springs?
To hear NYRA tell it, Saratoga Race Course is the most popular and successful track in the country – patrons pouring through the gates each summer, robust handle, and a lucrative TV deal with Fox Sports. And with it, or…
Yesterday: Mici’s Express Killed at Santa Anita, So Spirited Killed at Finger Lakes
Yesterday… In the 1st at Santa Anita, Mici’s Express, says the chart, “sustained an injury then was transported off via ambulance.” We now know (CHRB) he is dead. He was five years old. His loving owners – Randy Exelby, Tom…
Ebok’s Dream Girl Makes It Kills in Back-to-Back Days at Los Alamitos
A couple hours ago, I posted our weekly ambulance report. On it was Ebok’s Dream Girl in the 5th at Los Alamitos last night. We now know she is dead. The CHRB is calling it “non-musculoskeletal,” which usually means death…
The Weekly Report
The following horses were injured in U.S. races last week and had to be removed from the track by “equine ambulance.” While fates remain unknown at this time, please know we will eventually get kill confirmations on many if not…