A few recent harness rulings: Northfield, Jun 22: “During a search of Barn D, three needles attached to syringes were found in the tack room assigned to trainer Keith Kash Jr. [Kash] is hereby fined $1,000 and suspended 365 days.”…
Through a FOIA request to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at Prairie Meadows thus far this year. Sammy Sam Sam, May 21, Prairie T “[Multiple] fractures.” Sammy was four. R Too Feisty, May…
Over the course of just 5 days (Jun 24-28) at Churchill, 9 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet – i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them – for being “injured” or “unsound,” another 7 by private vets…
The 7th at Parx yesterday: “Cattin fell on the turn and was subsequently euthanized.” (Cattin was also “struck” by another horse after going down.) If that sounds familiar, it should, for I posted pretty much the same thing for Parx…
The final report is in on Splendid Song, killed at Delaware Park Jul 4. From the stewards: “Splendid Song appeared to have a cardiac episode just past the finish and expired on track.” So she was not, as the chart…
“But the greatest of all the prejudices we have retained from infancy is that of believing that brutes think.” (Rene Descartes, 1649) “When a Creature has given such convincing and undeniable Proofs of the Terrors upon him, and the Pains…
A recent letter from a group of West Virginia legislators to the two U.S. senators from that state illustrates (again) the gaping inconsistency between the ways dogracing and horseracing are perceived, spoken of, and treated in this country. The letter…
The chartwriter’s cold, terse note for J C’s Lovin’ Life in the 9th at Parx yesterday: “J C’s Lovin’ Life suffered a catastrophic injury to her left front on the turn, was eased and subsequently euthanized.” And that’s that, next…
The following horses left the track in an ambulance after races in Virginia; all, I have confirmed, are indeed dead. That’s Not Funny, May 2, Great Meadow. That’s Not Funny was seven; ’twas his 23rd time under the whip. His…
Yesterday, says the NYS Gaming Commission, three horses were killed racing – or in the case of one, while they were attempting to race him. Starting at Finger Lakes, this for 5-year-old Seventh Race Shake prior to the 4th race:…
Some noteworthy scratches at Horseshoe in June (there were plenty of others for the usual “injured/unsound/sick”): “Cloudy Star flipped in starting gate.” “Bobby’s Workout loose before loading, hit rail.” “Dame’s Rocket flipped in paddock.” Also: The claim (sale) of Mr.…
Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on some of that state’s kills in 2025 (previous ones here). Willy, Apr 3, Los Alamitos T “Complete, displaced, comminuted fracture of the scapula;…
