Last week’s casualties: Tuesday Briteburg, Fairmount, race 2, bled Lunchwithgodzilla, Finger Lakes, race 1, “in distress,” DNF Mommy’s Dearest, Finger Lakes, race 2, vanned off Snowy Vengeance, Indiana, race 9, vanned off Joe Alan, Mountaineer, race 1, vanned off Absolum,…
As has been repeated ad nauseam here, racing is loath to give up its dead. But it’s not just the tracks and state commissions: As a rule, for beat publications and mainstream media alike, the only newsworthy deaths are those…
Sometimes, even I am left virtually speechless. Yesterday at Ellis Park, a mare named Texas Gold Digger was entered to run in the 6th race. Although she was ultimately scratched (reason unknown), her longtime trainer/owner, Robert Winstead, appeared ready to…
Running in his very first race – a QuarterHorse trial at Ruidoso Downs yesterday afternoon – 2-year-old child Finns Huckleberry broke down. The complicit: jockey Tanner Thedford, trainer C. Dwayne Gilbreath, and owner/breeder Robert Roark.
Killer Diller is a 6-year-old career claimer currently doing time at Finger Lakes. According to the website “Finger Lakes Finest Thoroughbreds” (“helping former racehorses gallop into your heart”), the bay gelding (below) is “for sale” – and has been since…
Either from self-delusion or as a base marketing ploy, racing people speak almost exclusively in sport vernacular. Accordingly, to them, each racehorse actually represents a larger “team,” complete with owner, coach, assistants, team doc, and, of course, the athletes themselves…
The California Horse Racing Board has confirmed that 5-year-old Mel’s Game, reported as vanned off after the proverbial “bad step” last Thursday at Santa Anita (1st race), did in fact die from his injury. The gelding was running – via…
Last week’s casualties: Monday Griffin Rock, Parx, race 1, broke down Hot Bride, Parx, race 9, vanned off Tuesday Given a Rose, Indiana, race 1, vanned off Gold ‘n White, Indiana, race 3, vanned off Wallstreet Royal T, Indiana, race…
I have confirmed that 6-year-old career claimer Commandeer is dead after breaking down in yesterday’s 2nd race at Belterra. In his penultimate start on May 30th (at Belterra), Commandeer finished last of eight; two starts before that, on May 9th…
Abuse in racing comes in various forms, not the least of which is running a horse into the ground. Consider a gelding named Coaltown Legend, nine years old and 63 races into a career that began before Barack Obama was…
Two horses have been killed at Finger Lakes in as many days: In the 9th race yesterday afternoon, 7-year-old Elsaroarin, making start number 44, broke his right front pastern. And today, 4-year-old Western Grit, with two DNFs in the past…
4-year-old Roses for Romney was killed in the 8th race yesterday at Belmont. The complicit: jockey Irad Ortiz Jr, trainer Christophe Clement, owner/breeder Lawrence Goichman, and all priors. Here is the replay (“Race Replays,” Wednesday, Race 8). Slow-motion at around…