The following horses were raceday casualties on American tracks last week: Reported as died, euthanized, or “broke down” – racing-speak for dead Red October, Thistledown Bluecam, Parx Reported as “vanned off” – left via ambulance, a better-than-even chance of dead…
Bluecam, a 5-year-old gelding, is dead after breaking down in the 6th at Parx yesterday. The chartwriter reports (Equibase): “DESPITE A TERRIFIC EFFORT BY JOCKEY RIVERA TO PULL BLUECAM UP AND DISMOUNT IMMEDIATELY, BLUECAM WAS HAMANELY [sic] EUTHANIZED.” “Terrific effort”?…
David Jacobson-trained 5-year-old Mr. O’Leary is dead after breaking down while “breezing” at Aqueduct this morning. Prior to dying, Mr. O’Leary was put to the whip 13 times. He is the 31st horse to perish on or at a NYS…
On the same day that American Pharoah won the $1.5 million Preakness at Pimlico, these 11 horses were ambulanced off (source: Equibase) other American tracks. It is highly likely that at least half are dead: Furrever, Albuquerque Silverhill, Albuquerque Diamond…
I have confirmed that 4-year-old Red October is dead after breaking down in the 1st at Thistledown Wednesday afternoon. Prior to his death, Red October had been put to the whip 23 times. Trainer/owner, Gerald Brooks. Also, the Los Alamitos…
Thursday, 3-year-old Indian Scribbles was ambulanced off the Golden Gate track after the 6th race. Bad enough – worse, though, because this wasn’t the first time: Oak Tree June 20, “pulled up, vanned off”; Golden Gate January 16, “went wrong,…
Steve Haskin, whom I’ve written on before, is a well-known Racing writer and a lifelong fan. But he also possesses, at least from what I can gather through his words, a thoughtfulness that sets him apart from many of his…
Through an “Indiana Access to Public Records Act” request, I have confirmed the following 24 deaths at Indiana Grand in 2014. Please note that the Racing Commission redacted “identifying information about the horses,” claiming it to be a matter of…
On December 10, Sage Valley dropped dead of an “apparent cardiac arrest” in a race at Aqueduct. At five, he was only just reaching the tail-end of puberty. Turns out, there was a drug “violation,” which may or may not…
Through a “New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act,” I have confirmed the following 16 deaths at Zia Park in 2014. (In addition to these, the Commission sent reports for several horses who were “vanned off” and have since disappeared.…
