Horseracing, we are told, is a proud sporting fraternity, an extended family, if you will, comprised of both people – breeders, owners, trainers, jockeys, etc. – and the equine “athletes” themselves. So when the House of Saratoga lost yet another…
From Saratoga’s 7th this afternoon: “[3-year-old] M B and Tee…held on safely [for the first place share of an $83,000 purse], then fell heavily after crossing the wire and was euthanized.” On the track. Here are this pathetic creature’s last…
An update on the January 2014 casualties. The following were reported as “vanned off”: Holy Simone, Delta, Jan 1, still active Leavin Here, Parx, Jan 1, hasn’t been heard from since Ezinmotion, Portland, Jan 1, hasn’t been heard from since…
On Sunday, the Erie Times-News published an article by John Guerriero: “Despite horse injuries, Presque Isle Downs’ safety record remains good.” In it, Guerriero touts Presque Isle’s supposedly lower-than-national-average breakdown rate (despite, that is, seven kills in the current meet,…
We have confirmed three recent deaths at Charles Town: 5-year-old Intimate Storm, July 30th, race 6, trainer Charles Frock 3-year-old Bullwhip, August 14th, race 1, trainer Jeff Runco 3-year-old Deputy Gulch, August 14th, race 2, trainer James Dean Locklear Also,…
According to the Equine Welfare Alliance, last year, 152,814 American horses were shipped to foreign abattoirs for the shackle-hoist-and-slash. A “Wild for Life Foundation” study (2002-2010) found that on average 19% of the slaughter-bound are Thoroughbreds. Even if we were…
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 Ketel Wons Copy, Ruidoso 3, vanned off Regretless, Saratoga 4, collapsed, vanned off, subsequently confirmed…
3-year-old Bayview Drive, trained by Jeff Mullins and owned by Cellist Racing, is dead after breaking down in yesterday’s 10th race at Del Mar. He is the 13th horse to die at that storied track in the past month. In…
Conditioned early on to view the track as playing field and the horses jocks, those in and around horseracing have long since abandoned any objectivity on their precious game. Thus they fail to see or choose to ignore the incongruity…
This much we know: Suffolk Downs, the sole remaining Thoroughbred track in all of New England, is dying, its product – like that of the majority of tracks in this country – no longer viable. (WBUR: “Chip Tuttle, the racetrack’s…
4-year-old Serious, who broke down (“on her own”) in the 7th race at Del Mar on July 31st, was (finally) euthanized yesterday (Steve Andersen, DRF). At the time of her break, you might remember, the state vet supposedly recommended death,…
3-year-old Steppingood, trained by Patrick Biancone and owned by Robert Trussell Jr, became the 11th victim of Del Mar’s current meet when he broke down in yesterday’s 8th race and was subsequently euthanized. The 10 previous kills: 4-year-old Corlett Drive,…
