Because NY is the only state to publicly disclose its breakdowns as they happen, we have to draw inferences on the rest of the nation’s “vanned off.” But consider this: Today, the Gaming Commission announced the death of a 3rd…
Meet Todd Pletcher, Thoroughbred trainer. 5-time Eclipse winner, 10-time top guy at Saratoga, 7-time highest American earner (over $250 million lifetime), Mr. Pletcher also owns a Kentucky Derby and a pair of Belmont Stakes trophies. Raised around tracks and tutored…
Running in his very first race, 2-year-old Mr Rabbits broke down and died yesterday afternoon at Finger Lakes, trainer James Acquilano’s 2nd dead horse in 3 days (Magestick Tomahawk on Saturday). The kill allowed Mr. Acquilano to hit his annual…
From the Daily News (10/26/13): “From Gov. Cuomo comes the welcome news that Aqueduct’s days as a shabby and underutilized thoroughbred track are likely numbered. In its heyday, Aqueduct drew tens of thousands of horse racing fans every day during…
Two of the horses listed on this weekend’s ambulance report are confirmed dead. Again, thanks to NYS’s unique database, we know that Magestick Tomahawk and Irish Lady, both of whom fell at Finger Lakes (where else?), never made it out…
A 4-year-old Thoroughbred named Points Offthebench broke his right front fetlock Saturday at Santa Anita. He is now dead. This one, however, was not difficult to find, no scouring of the charts required. For you see, Points Offthebench, having won…
The following, unless otherwise noted, were “vanned off” American tracks this weekend. Friday: 6-year-old South West Target, Delta Downs, race 1 3-year-old Business Venture, Golden Gate Fields, race 2 3-year-old Keystone Belle, Mountaineer, race 6 (bled) 4-year-old Despinas Desire, Mountaineer,…
The following perished on Long Island yesterday – Belmont’s 30th, 31st, and 32nd victims of the year: 9-year-old Hewitts, “euthanized after suffering a fracture to his right femur after unseating his exercise rider on the pony track and hitting stationary…
“There is a frog in South America whose venom is a cure For all the suffering that mankind must endure More powerful than morphine and soothing as the rain A frog in South America has the antidote for pain” (Paul…
The following, unless otherwise noted, were “vanned off” American tracks this week. Monday: 4-year-old Alert Warrior, Parx, race 2 (“took several bad steps while in apparent distress…ran loose before being captured and was vanned off”) 4-year-old South Beach Queen, Parx,…
3-year-old Sonic Dancer died yesterday afternoon at Keeneland. In race 6, the colt snapped his right leg and threw jockey Calvin Borel in the process. Because the stricken Borel was in harm’s way, the race was stopped, declared a no-contest.…
As you’ve probably noticed, I am now regularly reporting all Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses vanned off American tracks after actual races (training accidents are closely guarded secrets). One pro-racing reader took umbrage at the implication, arguing that not every horse…