The Stronach Group – you remember them, the supposed leading light in “safer” California racing – notched two more kills yesterday, both during training hours at Golden Gate: Stopdropandroll, two, injury not disclosed; Left Alone, six, “sudden death.” For TSG, this makes 34 (that we know about) dead horses at its two Cal tracks.
Verbien O. P. Killed at Delaware
From the Delaware Racing Commission, Delaware Park, Saturday, race 3: “#3 Verbien O. P. was in between horses galloping out as the turn came up when #4 Tapit’s Girl came in a jump with #3 clipping his [sic: Tapit’s is a girl] heels and falling heavily. Verbien O. P. sustained catastrophic injuries and had to be euthanized on the track.”
This is horseracing. Every. Single. Day.
This Jess Can Dash Crumpling at Prairie
This Jess Can Dash in the 3rd at Prairie yesterday: “stumbled at the start, fell and was vanned off.” Here is what that looked like:
But fret not, said track announcer Bobby Neuman at the race’s conclusion: “Happy to report jockey Brett Birzer is up and walking around after the incident shortly after the start.” The (likely) dead horse – you know the one involved in the “incident”? Not a word. Now, on to the next race! My contempt for these people deepens every day.
For $2 Bets
Last week on U.S. flat tracks (racing only):
Wanting “vanned off” at Indiana
Plexus “vanned off” at Indiana
Zoikes “fell, vanned off” at Indiana
Dimera “vanned off” at Arizona
Dialin Some Sass “struck a fallen rival, DNF” at Thistledown
Somewhere Up North “fell entering the turn” at Thistledown
Princess Beach “vanned off” at Indiana
Blitchton Lady “vanned off” at Parx
Irie Empress “injured [in] gate” at Parx
A Silent Player “bled” at Belmont
Perfect Tapatino “collided with foe, fell heavily” at Belmont
Breaking Stones “vanned off” at Belmont
Candy Store “vanned off” at Indiana
The Maui Diamond “fell, DNF” at Albuquerque
Catability “fell, DNF” at Albuquerque
Waylay “fell, DNF” at Albuquerque
Lincoln County Kid “fell, DNF” at Albuquerque
El Casadora “vanned off” at Churchill
Gab’s Lil Leaguer “vanned off” at Charles Town
Danjer “bled” at Albuquerque
Skyvalue “vanned off” at Churchill
This Jess Can Dash “fell, vanned off” at Prairie
While not all the “vanned” end up dead, most do, as borne out by our year-end FOIA reports. But even if death is not the ultimate result, the above are victims nonetheless, suffering painful injuries – in the case of the bleeders, pulmonary hemorrhage – so that some men may gamble, others chase pots of gold. (For any new confirmed deaths during the week, please see our running annual list.)
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