New Mexico’s “Cruelty to animals” statute reads: “Cruelty to animals consists of a person negligently mistreating, injuring, killing without lawful justification or tormenting an animal.” With that knowledge, consider the fate of a 4-year-old gelding named T I Doublegrrr: 1st…
Supposedly, the lowest breakdown rates in the world are roughly half the U.S. rate. (I say supposedly because there is no uniform policy for the recording and reporting of breakdowns.) Supposedly, these rates are effected by doing all the things…
The following horses were raceday casualties on American tracks last week: Reported as died, euthanized, or “broke down” – racing-speak for dead Mr. Giovanna, Parx Cowboy Con, Oaklawn Weekendwithbernie, Santa Anita Con Sneaky, Aqueduct Reported as “vanned off” – left…
Since recording 20 kills in its first 3 months (of current meet), Aqueduct’s been relatively quiet recently. But you knew it was just a matter of time… Yesterday, two more, and in back-to-back races no less: In the 3rd, 4-year-old…
Through a “West Virginia Freedom of Information Act” request, I have confirmed the following 78 deaths at Charles Town in 2014: 4-year-old Sassy Cherokee, January 4, Charles Town 1, “MC3 open fracture” 3-year-old Covenant Keeper, January 9, training, “MC3 fracture”…
Two horses were killed on the same Yonkers card last night: In the 1st, On The Brink snapped his leg – subsequently euthanized; in the 3rd, Fashion Shark “collapsed on the track [from an] aortic rupture” – dead in the…
Suffolk Downs may have closed for good in 2014, but it left one last trail of blood. Through a “Public Records Act” request, I have confirmed the following 15 deaths: 5-year-old Rhythm of the Moon, May 14, Suffolk 4 6-year-old…
4-year-old Conquest Two Step (pictured below) is dead from a training injury suffered Saturday at Santa Anita (euthanized Monday). We know this because this was a top-tier colt being prepped for a top-tier race. Thus, it was widely reported. And…
The California Horse Racing Board has disclosed the March 22nd death of a horse named Lendell at Golden Gate Fields: “Treated for respiratory infection, became blind in one eye, started having seizures, became blind in second eye.” And apparently, euthanized…
4-year-old Mr. Giovanna is dead after breaking down in the 1st yesterday at Parx. As this gelding was still being whipped at the maiden claiming level (10 races, barely $8,000 earnings), his passing will go largely unnoticed. In other words,…
The following horses were raceday casualties on American tracks last week: Reported as died, euthanized, or “broke down” – racing-speak for dead Starstruck Slew, Tampa Bay Ellies Tattle Tale, Pimlico Reported as “vanned off” – left via ambulance, a better-than-even…
Yesterday on American tracks: In the 1st at Pimlico, Ellies Tattle Tale, five years and one day old, broke down and can be presumed dead. It was the gelding’s 6th time under the whip in 2015: 8th of 9 (16+…
