In the span of an hour and a half yesterday at Parx, two horses died on the playing field: In the 5th race, 8-year-old Lobo Del Norte, claimed for $12,500 prior to the gun, “clipped heels and fell before the…
In addition to Stormdefrere, at least two other Thoroughbreds were killed in action on one of racing’s most celebrated days: 5-year-old Lemon Sundae died after the 1st race at Finger Lakes from a “possible heat stroke.” This after “[losing] contact…
An open question to Art Sherman, Perry Martin, Steve Coburn, the 100,000 fans in attendance, the millions more watching around the world, indeed, all who were seduced by NBC’s shameful coverage: How to explain, justify, defend this? (pick up around…
5-year-old Stormdefrere, making her third start in 21 days, broke down and died in tonight’s 3rd race at Penn National. The trainer/owner who pushed the not-yet-fully-mature mare to her breaking point is Varsamis Barbalios. This is horseracing.
Today, California Chrome will be lavishly feted in NBC’s pre-Belmont coverage as he (ludicrously) “chases immortality.” On the other side of this odious spectrum lies a horse named Call Tiger, a 9-year-old gelding with 87 career starts. Nine years old,…
This week’s casualties: Monday Unremitting, Ruidoso, race 7, vanned off Tuesday Captain Daddy, Parx, race 6, vanned off Fenway, SunRay, race 4, vanned off Wednesday Patriot’s Dream, Delaware, race 3, vanned off Princess Zaneta, Thistledown, race 2, “returned bleeding from…
A six-month update on those horses reported as “vanned off” in November 2013: Kela Flatts, Charles Town, hasn’t been heard from since South Forty, Golden Gate, hasn’t been heard from since Royal Pop Lbh, Lone Star, hasn’t been heard from…
Broken and gone from the weekend: 3-year-old gelding Jess a Speeder broke down in Friday’s 7th race at Arapahoe 5-year-old mare Berrymeaux broke down in Saturday’s 2nd race at Mountaineer 3-year-old colt Archie’s All Heart broke down in Sunday’s 4th…
The following racehorses were casualties on American tracks last week: Monday Mitch’s Halo, Les Bois, race 9, vanned off Phonybooksnrecords, Prairie, race 6, vanned off Tuesday Silver Arch, Parx, race 7, confirmed dead Wednesday New Vogue, Les Bois, race 5,…
Each day, I review the Equibase charts of every Thoroughbred and QuarterHorse race run in the U.S. the day before. The goal: to identify and document as many of racing’s casualties as possible. Unfortunately, some fall through the cracks –…
According to a source at the track, 4-year-old Kingston Jamaica broke down (in both fronts) and died while practicing Thursday morning at Belmont. Born in Ireland, the colt had raced three times in the States, all for Todd Pletcher/Gary Barber.…
From this week’s Santa Anita Stewards Report: (5/22/14) EDWIN OROZCO was in the office this morning in response to a complaint filed against him for his actions on a difficult horse during training hours yesterday. According to Safety Steward LUIS…
