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One race yesterday, the 2nd at Fair Grounds, as relayed by the Equibase chartwriter:

“TREYS MIDNITE MOON was roused [whipped]”

“IM A COWBOY TOO came under the whip”

“PAPA’S BOY drifted out under a left-handed whip”

“IMPRESSIVE STUDENT tossed his head while rank under restraint”

Then this: “CHASE FOR THE GOLD fought hard against the rating tactics of the rider when taken in hand then was wrestled back while tossing his head badly…was urged along…and stopped [finishing last, 25+ lengths back]”

“fought hard against the [jockey]…was wrestled back while tossing his head badly”

We shouldn’t need to convince you that horseracing is animal cruelty; it’s on full display at racetracks across America every single day.

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Through a FOIA request to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, I have confirmed the following deaths at that state’s tracks in 2019. Please note, however, that Suffolk Downs, Massachusetts’ (and New England’s) only Thoroughbred track, ran but a handful of dates last year; Mass’ other track, Plainridge, is harness. Please further note that Suffolk was permanently closed after its meet concluded, so it falls to us to keep the whole of New England Thoroughbred Racing-free, and toward that end, we at HW are working hand in hand with Massachusetts-based activists to do just that.

Royal Ransom, Jun 29, Suffolk R – “compound, comminuted fracture of metacarpus”

ShezSugarSweet A, Sep 19, Plainridge R – “collapsed and died instantly – no definitive cause found”

Poisonous, Oct 14, Plainridge R – “comminuted fracture of phalanx”

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Power Punch finished third (in, in a sign of the times, a three-horse field) in the 4th race at Gulfstream January 3. Then he was “vanned off” – “vanned off,” I can now confirm, to his death. But all was not lost, for in finishing the race the 2-year-old Power Punch “won” his exploiters – jockey Cristian Torres, trainer Larry Pilotti, owner Panther Gap Stables – almost $3,000. Vile. Horseracing.

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Through a FOIA request to the Minnesota Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following deaths at Canterbury Park in 2019. As always, the response came with this: “Minnesota Veterinary Medicine Laws prevent us from disseminating any other identifying information.” Minnesota and Indiana remain the only states that bury – figuratively, of course – their dead.

Racing Related: 7
Training Related: 2
Illness Related: 1
Other: 3
Total: 13 dead racehorses

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The 6th at Aqueduct this afternoon, as relayed by Equibase: “Dark N Cloudy…vied with vigour for the top…lost his rider after suffering a fatal injury…was euthanized.”

“Vied with vigour,” then died. Can you imagine a sentence like that appearing in any other sports recap? These people have no shame, nor, it would appear, consciences. In his final three completed races – all for trainer Domenick Schettino and owner Antonio Blandino – the 4-year-old Dark N Cloudy brought up the rear – a portent, perhaps, of what was to come.

Earlier in the NY day, Jewel Can Disco “sustained an injury while breezing at Belmont, was ambulanced to barn…and euthanized” (Gaming Commission). He was five.

Dead horses every day. This, America, is your “Sport of Kings.”