Spasella Dead at Charles Town
I have confirmed that 4-year-old Spasella was euthanized yesterday for an injury he suffered in the 2nd at Charles Town eight days ago. In all, the gelding had been put to the whip 16 times; at the time of his…
Patrick Battuello
State-By-State FOIA Recap
I have completed my FOIA requests and subsequent reports for 2014. Follows is a state-by-state recap. These states would not (or said they could not) fill my request: Arkansas – After the Commission said it “would not be involved in…
Shamrock Road at 12 Races in 18 Weeks
I have previously written on Shamrock Road twice (here, here). Well, Sunday he was raced – again. That’s 12 times in a little over 18 weeks. Edward Charles Sexton continues as primary exploiter. This is horseracing.
Leader of the Pack Dead at Belterra
I have confirmed that 3-year-old Leader of the Pack was euthanized (on the track) after the 8th Sunday at Belterra. In his only other time under the whip, way back in January, Leader finished 8th of 9. That race, he…
Casualties of Gambling, 6/15/15-6/21/15
The following horses were raceday casualties on American tracks last week: Reported as died, euthanized, or “broke down” – racing-speak for dead Dipping Diamonds, Delaware Aces Are Wild, Parx Light Weight, Parx Betty Mc, Louisiana Fire Chief, Thistledown Leader of…
Animal Kracker Dead at Belmont
The NYS Gaming Commission reports that Animal Kracker was euthanized after being ambulanced off the Belmont track Saturday (5th race). The 3-year-old colt is the 12th racehorse to die at Belmont this year and the 47th at NY tracks overall.…
Florida’s Dead Racehorses, Jan-Mar 2015
Through a “Public Records Act” request, I have confirmed the following 42 deaths at Florida racetracks in the first quarter of 2015: 4-year-old Sharp Harbour, January 2, Tampa Bay 4 3-year-old Humble Hero, January 3, Gulfstream, training 2-year-old Sparkling Form,…
Betty Mc Dead at Louisiana
Louisiana Downs is one of only two tracks in the nation (Parx being the other) to consistently report euthanasias on its charts. My guess is that there’s some sort of requirement to do so, for judging by the typically curt…
Eyewitness to a Breakdown Will Never Return to the Track
Recently, I received an email from an eyewitness to Mariano Intheninth’s breakdown at Churchill Downs. The words are so poignant that I asked permission to publish them as a post. On a personal note, and to which so many of…
Canadian Wish, Ghostof Gettysburg Dead in NY
The NYS Gaming Commission has disclosed the following deaths: Eight days ago at Finger Lakes, 8-year-old Canadian Wish was “humanely euthanized – severe diarrhea, dehydration, endotoxemia.” This “non-racing” death, it should be noted, came just four days after the 62-start…
“Delays” at Parx Include at Least One Dead Horse
The final footnote on the (Equibase) racing charts for Parx yesterday reads: “Due to many delays, the final race went off 20 minutes later than the scheduled post time.” The delays? In the 3rd, 4-year-old Aces Are Wild “broke down…
Derby and Preakness Runner Danzig Moon Dead
Six weeks after finishing 5th in the Derby, and four weeks after a 6th in the Preakness, 3-year-old Danzig Moon is dead after breaking down yesterday at Woodbine. News, of course, due to the relative value of the animal. This…