More often than not, a racehorse who cannot exit the course under his own power – is vanned off – ends up euthanized back in the barn or shortly thereafter. But confirmations are hard to come by, and we’re left…
2-year-old QuarterHorse Kays Version broke down in a stakes trial at Sunland yesterday afternoon. Replay here (Dec 12, race 3) – the filly crumples to the dirt at :30 mark. She was trained by Jaime Aldavaz and owned by Currie…
5-year-old Ludo Bagman is dead after breaking down (sesamoids) in the 1st yesterday at Aqueduct. In three years covering 24 races, the gelding endured five different trainers: Richard Dutrow, Rudy Rodriguez, Jeremiah Englehart, Naipaul Chatterpaul, and finally, David Jacobson. For…
I have confirmed the deaths of two broken horses from yesterday: 4-year-old Lefty Closer – trained and owned by Antonio Pizzurro – in the 7th at Mahoning; 6-year-old Matter of Truth – trained by David Walters, owned by Larry Brafman…
Shortly after coming “under urging,” 5-year-old Sage Valley died from an “apparent cardiac arrest” in the 8th yesterday at Aqueduct. To remind, 5-year-old equines – the rough equivalents of human teenagers – should not be dropping dead of heart failure.…
I have confirmed that 7-year-old Crazy Bear was euthanized after breaking down in last Thursday’s 4th at Charles Town. The Alex Correa-trained mare was being raced for the 62nd time. This is horseracing.
An update on the May 2014 American horseracing casualties. 99 horses were “vanned off”; 2 of whom were later confirmed dead: Reflective Glory, May 24, Emerald 6 Big Note, May 24, Santa Anita 2 Of the rest, 85 have not…
Last week’s U.S. horseracing casualties. Reported as Dead or “Broke Down” (racing-speak for dead): Princes On Thelake, Dec 3, Aqueduct 5 Precocious Kitty, Dec 3, Delta 8 Carla Sweetrevenge, Dec 3, Finger Lakes 7 Sweet Strider, Dec 3, Turf 1…
The CHRB has confirmed the death of Sunny One at Golden Gate. Apparently, the 5-year-old was found dead in his stall on November 29th, just two days after finishing 2nd in a GG race. His trainer was Alex Sywak, his…
A pair of abused animals who have gone missing: 4-year-old Strong Alex Cat: May 3, Golden Gate, last, 26 lengths back May 23, Golden Gate, “pulled up lame,” vanned off Jul 3, Oak Tree, last, 22+ lengths back Hasn’t been…
3-year-old Jacaranda Cat is dead after breaking down yesterday at Turf (5th). Before losing her short, miserable life, Jacaranda Cat was sold – again – for a lousy $4,000. Trainer of record, Chad Story; seller, Joseph Brucato; buyer, Michael Barro.
As oft repeated here, it is a bad sign when a horse cannot leave the track under his own power. In fact, through conversations with industry experts and my own research, I have concluded that most (easily) of the “vanned…
