A reminder: Virtually without exception, “broke down” is racing-speak for dead; “vanned off” translates to a better-than-even chance of same-day euthanasia or shortly thereafter. Monday Ferarri Cartel, Ruidoso 1, bled, vanned off Tuesday Ithink I Can Dance, Mountaineer 6, broke…
Yesterday at Del Mar, two more horses were killed, bringing the “Where the Turf Meets the Surf” track’s two-day death toll to four. 5-year-old Lil Swiss Echo (trainer Vladimir Cerin) broke down in the 5th. (DRF’s Jay Privman: “Lil Swiss…
3-year-old Chichita snapped a leg and was killed in Saturday’s 1st race at Finger Lakes, her first under Sal Iorio. Chichita’s five career starts before yesterday, all under Andrew Lakeman: Finished last of 9 April 11th at Aqueduct, 17 1/2…
Snapped bones (and a spine) and pentobarbital cast pall over Friday at the races… At celebrated Del Mar, two horses died in successive contests: 4-year-old Yes She’s Unusual went down in the 6th. In her most previous start – May…
All week, I’ve been attempting – with several (unanswered) calls and voice messages – to secure kill confirmations on horses at Charles Town, Mountaineer, and Parx. As we know, transparency isn’t a hallmark of the racing industry. When a star…
Saratoga Race Course recorded its first kill of the summer meet when 4-year-old filly Lifeguard On Duty broke a pair of sesamoids while training today. Anthony Dutrow was her handler. NY’s 2014 Death Toll stands at 59.
I have confirmed that 2-year-old Washington Dacat is dead after breaking down in the 7th race Sunday at Canterbury Park. Pity trainer McLean Robertson and owner Barbara Kelley, for they are left with a zero return on their investment: This…
In a French steeplechase (Saint-Pierre-la-Cour) this past Sunday, 10 horses started, 3 finished. The video tells the story far better than I ever could:
A 3-year-old filly named Missy Zelliott collapsed and died while training at Belmont Park Sunday; the Gaming Commission believes the collapse a “cardiovascular” event. At three, the rough equivalent of a human pubescent. By the way, this horse had but…
In futurity trials at Ruidoso Downs (New Mexico) on Friday, a pair of 2-year-olds – Ivory On the Up, Old Happy Cowboy – were vanned off with possibly (probably?) fatal injuries in the same race. A reminder from equine vet…
A reminder: Virtually without exception, “broke down” is racing-speak for dead; “vanned off” translates to a better-than-even chance of same-day euthanasia or shortly thereafter. Monday Costly, Mountaineer 1, bled, vanned off Finally Together, Mountaineer 9, confirmed dead Dangerously Royal, Suffolk…
I am able to confirm two fatalities from this weekend: 4-year-old Generator in Friday’s 8th race at Evangeline and 5-year-old Piskacha in yesterday’s 4th race at Belterra. Prior to his fatal fall, Generator was raced eight times, earning $40,000 for…
