Virtually without exception, “broke down” is racing-speak for dead; “vanned off” translates to a better-than-even chance of dead. Broke Down: G W’s Hammer, Oct 3, Finger Lakes 5 Tangible Assets, Oct 3, Thistledown 8 Stormy Henry, Oct 4, Parx 6…
Dead horses are bad for business. So, out of self-preservation – and despite calls for transparency, some from within – the industry does all it can to hide its dead, a truth further illustrated in a recent Erie Times-News article…
I have confirmed that 4-year-old Tangible Assets – trainer, Nabu Morales – is dead after breaking down (leg) in yesterday’s 8th at Thistledown. The gelding had been steadily worked – all at the claiming level – in 2014. And, overworked:…
I have confirmed that 3-year-old Run Albert Run is dead after breaking down last weekend at Penn. The gelding had been under his fourth different trainer/owner team in nine months: Michael Pino/Run Horsey Run for two races, Robert Mosco/Jack Armstrong…
In an Erie Times-News article on Pennsylvania racing deaths, Penn National spokesman Fred Lipkin says, “In a perfect world, we would have zero breakdowns. … And I’m sure in the National Football League and the (National Basketball Association), they would…
An unraced 2-year-old by the name of Here in a Hurry fractured his shoulder – “after a bad step” – during morning practice at Belmont today and was euthanized. He is the 30th equine athlete killed at that esteemed track…
Since the day he was created – created not by God, but by a god complex – 11 1/2-year-old Fighting City Hall has existed for one purpose – to earn a share of gambling booty for men. Saturday afternoon at…
Pity the poor Standardbred: With practically zero mainstream coverage – you won’t see Bob Costas at Yonkers Raceway – and no chart clues to decipher, the story of his exploitation and abuse goes mostly untold. But owing to the only-one-in-the-nation…
After the Del Mar summer of failed hearts, snapped bones, and pentobarbital injections, California racing could ill afford more bad press. Alas… Over the weekend in Stockton, three were killed in the final two days of the San Joaquin County…
In yesterday’s 8th at Monmouth, 4-year-old Forward Momentum “stumbled badly and fell.” Officially, according to Equibase, a DNF. (Two other horses from that race – Valley King and Padre Graz – were also DNFs.) But in fact, the Hugh McMahon-trained…
Virtually without exception, “broke down” is racing-speak for dead; “vanned off” translates to a better-than-even chance of dead. Broke Down: Kat Alpha, Sep 22, Mountaineer 3 Italian Nany, Sep 24, Penn 7 Men Dee Go, Sep 26, Lone Star 3,…
3-year-old Men Dee Go is dead after suffering a catastrophic fall last night at Lone Star Park. The colt had been whip-forced into a competition that had he finished would have netted his connections – jockey Roman Chapa, trainer Antonio…
