The following, unless otherwise noted, were “vanned off” American tracks this week. Monday: 4-year-old Starship Sultry, Gulfstream, race 7 (“broke down”) 3-year-old The Man Himself, Parx, race 9 (confirmed dead) 4-year-old Double Java Girl, Turf Paradise, race 4 Tuesday: 6-year-old…
The Daily Racing Form (11/14/13) reports that 6-year-old Turallure, two years removed from winning the Woodbine Mile, was killed today “shortly after breaking down in a routine gallop at Keeneland…” Trainer Charlie LoPresti: “This is just awful for all of…
The News 4 I-Team (Washington) reports (11/13/13) that the Charles Town racetrack in West Virginia – one of the nation’s busiest, running, basically, year-round – has recorded 54 2013 deaths (46 in-competition) through 9/4, and 144 over the past two…
David Willmot, former CEO of Woodbine Entertainment Group (owner of the prestigious Woodbine Racetrack), gave a 2001 speech on the then-state of Ontario Horseracing (which has since taken a significant turn for the worse). With uncommon candor, at least for…
In yesterday’s 9th race at Parx, 3-year-old The Man Himself “broke down in the opening quarter mile and was humanely euthanized.” Had he lived, the colt, who was claimed prior to the race, would have been laboring under a 4th…
Yesterday, a 5-year-old stallion named Parcel, who last raced in March 2012, fractured a leg while “breezing” at Aqueduct. He was killed. Also on Sunday, at Zia Park in New Mexico, a pair of 2-year-olds making their debuts were vanned…
The following, unless otherwise noted, were “vanned off” American tracks this weekend. Friday: 4-year-old Windswept Summer, Charles Town, race 8 (“broke down”) 3-year-old How Bout Junior, Laurel Park, race 2 (“lame,” vanned off) 3-year-old Crabapple, Thistledown, race 4 (“lame,” vanned…
Back in the spring of 2012, Governor Cuomo’s office ordered the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to investigate a spate of racing fatalities (30, in all) at Aqueduct’s 2012 winter meet. Ultimately, the Racing and Wagering Board (RWB) appointed a…
Shedrow Secrets, Installment 7 Royal Finder By Joy Aten and Jo Anne Normile (author of “Saving Baby”) Bred and owned by a prominent racing family, Royal Finder took his first wobbly steps as a newborn in Texas. One might expect…
At least 3 racehorses died yesterday on American tracks: 3-year-old Sixes Slinky Secret fell in a $3,500 claiming race at Evangeline Downs (he had been claimed, by the way). 4-year-old She’s a Listener broke her cannon bone during the 2nd…
The following, unless otherwise noted, were “vanned off” American tracks this week. Tuesday: 2-year-old Dirty Lil Secret, Mountaineer, race 3 (broke down) 2-year-old Tiz a Jungle, Parx, race 6 (“in apparent distress,” vanned off) Wednesday: 3-year-old Miss McKeown, Aqueduct, race…
Paul McCartney once famously said, “If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” Not everyone, of course, but you get the point. For the record, all animal slaughter is horrific. All of it. And the animals we routinely…
