Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on 2 of that state’s 64 kills last year (previous ones here).
Silver Lyric, Jun 7, Golden Gate T “Sudden death on track while galloping, no corneal reflex present when vet [arrived] – cause of death unknown.” Also: “stomach ulceration.” Silver was four years old.
Famous Miss Kitty, Dec 31, Los Alamitos R “[Multiple – at least five] fractures; [multiple] ruptures; severe, extensive hemorrhage.” Also: “palmar osteochondral disease [both forelimbs]; stomach ulceration.” Famous was but two years old. The report also noted: “Early degenerative changes (e.g. subchondral sclerosis), like in this case, resulting from repetitive impact trauma by racing or training, are thought to precede the fractures of the carpal bones.”
Bank On Shea, the Gaming Commission reports (belatedly again), was euthanized at Belmont March 16 – “illness.” Bank was three days shy of turning six. He was in training at Belmont, but hadn’t been raced since last July at Saratoga. He becomes the 1,760th kill at a NYS racetrack since 2009.
Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on 6 of that state’s 64 kills last year (previous ones here).
Kazuhiko, Nov 11, Del Mar R “Ataxia, sudden death on way back to barn after being pulled up during race: severe hemorrhages involving both lungs, abundant bloody froth in airways.” Also: “large numbers of hemosiderophages suggest previous bouts of pulmonary hemorrhage.” And, of course: “chronic ulcers/erosions in stomach.” Kazuhiko was five years old.
Coast of Roan, Nov 13, Del Mar R “Horse became ataxic, collapsed and died spontaneously on main track: arterial rupture.” Also: “Horse had history of pulmonary hemorrhage during last start.” Coast was six years old.
Majestic Sam, Nov 19, Santa Anita T “[Multiple] complete, displaced fractures; [multiple] ligament and tendon ruptures.” Also: “palmar osteochondral disease [both forelimbs]; stomach ulceration.” Majestic was just two years old and had yet to be raced.
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Nov 28, Golden Gate S “Bilateral atrioventricular valvular dysplasia with congestive heart failure.” Again, so young she didn’t even have a name yet. Congestive heart failure.
Javelina Cantina, Dec 3, Los Alamitos R “Collapsed while walking back to the barn post race and died – cause not apparent.” Also: “chronic stomach ulceration.” Javelina was five years old.
Sugar Girl, Dec 10, Los Alamitos R “Horse unseated rider post parade, ran loose, flipped over outside rail, ran into barn area, and collapsed. Recumbent, agonal, died spontaneously: [multiple – at least nine] catastrophic rib fractures; [fractured bones caused] multiple tears in lung, heart, and diaphragm; severe hemothorax; several muscles ruptured.” Also: “multiple roundworms observed in intestine.” Sugar was just two; this was to be her first race.
Ahead of my New Mexico report, a few particularly horrific cases:
On Nov 13, Miss Hussy Cartel was “scratched” in the gate at Zia – “mouth injury.” According to the jockey, the horse next to Miss Hussy moved and Miss Hussy then “attempted to start hitting her mouth on the gate.” The 3-year-old did survive and is still being raced and abused in New Mexico.
Same day, three races later, Teller Dragon “flipped [and got] hung up in the gate” – “bleeding mouth.” The trainer, Jose Gonzalez, says it was but a “freak accident, doesn’t blame anyone.” Teller is also three, and she, too, is still under the yoke in New Mexico.
Seven days later, Apollitical Papa was also “scratched” at Zia – yes, another gate incident. This time a “broken tooth” and “lacerated gums.” From the report: “[Trainer] Fred Danley stated when Apollitical flipped in the gate, he was sitting on his rear with his head between his legs. Jockey requested that the crew open the tailgate so he could go ahead and fall backward…and not get hung up under the gate. [Danley] thinks more training should be done with the starters….” Just six days after this, what I’m sure was a terrifying, painful ordeal, the 5-year-old Apollitical was taken to a clinic “for signs of colic.” The following day, he died. That poor, poor boy.
And finally, this for 3-year-old Truely Right Oct 9 at Zia: “Horse escaped from stall and ran loose in barn area. He made contact with a parked vehicle and shattered front windshield – multiple abrasions and lacerations.” Truely was not reported as euthanized, but obviously I will follow up.
