Through a FOIA request to the Arizona Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills on that state’s tracks through April 30:

Popyhowuspelcupcak, Jan 1, Turf R – “fracture left front leg”
Tribal Hero, Jan 5, Turf T – “fracture left front leg”
Cause for Eviction, Jan 8, Turf R – “fracture pelvis”
Velocitation, Jan 13, Turf R – “fracture left front leg fetlock”
Unusually Striking, Jan 16, Turf R – “fracture left front leg”
Rose Dynasty, Jan 20, Turf R – “fracture spine or pelvis”
Dancin N Moonlight, Feb 2, Turf T – “cannon bone fracture”
Majesty Marie, Feb 9, Rillito T – “fracture left front cannon bone”
Junior G Man, Feb 20, Turf R – “fracture right front fetlock”
Serbian Syclone, Feb 25, Turf R (euthanized Apr 14) – “fracture front leg”
P T Bruiser, Feb 27, Turf T – “fracture right carpus”
Vergelito Two, Mar 3, Turf T – “fracture shoulder”
Ls Power, Mar 31, Turf R – “fracture spine”
Redneck Humor, Apr 7, Turf R – “fracture right front leg”
Lion Command, Apr 15, Turf R (euthanized Apr 16) – “fracture right front leg”
Caramelo P, Apr 28, Turf R – “fracture left rear leg”

In addition, these still-very-much-active racehorses died on track grounds from what the industry craftily calls “non-racing” causes. Technically true, perhaps, but morally they are no less casualties of this vile business than the ones above.

L ‘s Choice, Jan 10, Turf – “illness – lungs”
Top Hat Wildcat, Jan 23, Turf – “laceration abdomen”
Jubilance, Jan 27, Turf – “flipped in stall, hit head, spinal cord trauma”
Surely a Bullet, Feb 4, Turf – “weight loss, cancer”

Through a FOIA request to the Arizona Department of Gaming, I have confirmed the following kills on that state’s tracks in 2018. Unless otherwise noted, immediate cause of death was a break of one kind or another; underlying cause – Racing itself.

Tenacions Tally, January 10, Turf R

Another Forever, January 14, Turf R

Betrbegone, January 14, Turf R

Upsidedwnpineapple, January 21, Turf R

Takeit Tothe Limit, January 25, Turf T

Sheri Sugar Rush, February 3, Turf R

Rocky Litigation, February 5, Turf T

Pay Or Play, February 6, Turf T

unnamed, February 10, Turf T – broke both front legs and neck

Black Tornado, February 10, Turf R

Teresita Gb, February 11, Turf T

The Spinmeister, February 18, Turf T

Boom Boys, February 24, Rillito T

Great Selection, February 24, Turf R

Realwin, February 25, Rillito R

Mr. Padre, February 28, Turf R – “ruptured tendon”

Melvinized, March 3, Rillito R – “torn ligaments/tendons”

Boo Boo Bear, March 3, Turf R

You Decide, March 3, Turf R

Coolidge, March 4, Turf R – cannon and “exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage”

Evening Up, March 6, Turf R – two broken ankles

Kafister, March 7, Turf T

Wheres Hollywood, March 10, Rillito R (euthanized after surgery “failed”)

Lassie’s Reward, March 11, Turf R

Triple Vodka Memorys, March 13, Turf T – “seizure”

Tribal Table, March 20, Turf R

Joshuasistheway, April 9, Turf T

Sicilian Star, April 14, Turf T

Tiz Rolly, April 28, Turf R

Mr Dynasty, April 29, Turf T – “head trauma – fractured skull, brain bleed”

Fighter Gone Wild, April 29, Turf R

Tap On a Star, April 30, Turf R

Doeseedoe, May 6, Santa Cruz R

Jess Pure Class, October 14, Turf R – broke both front legs

Bitz and a Chair, October 20, Turf R

Racin Blue Jean, October 28, Turf R

Jury, November 2, Turf R

Alpha Pegasus, November 5, Turf T – fractures and “torn tendons”

Metric System, November 17, Turf T

Prados Way, November 17, Turf T

Finale’s Dolly, November 18, Turf T

Werewarningyou, November 19, Turf R – fractures and “torn tendons”

Toy’s Party, November 23, Turf R

Oh Yes I Did, November 24, Turf R

Angel Tears, December 4, Turf R

Unusual Champ, December 12, Turf R – “collapse – pulmonary hemorrhage”

Cali Encounter, December 29, Turf R

In addition, these still-very-much-active racehorses died on track grounds from what the industry craftily calls “non-racing” causes. Technically true, perhaps, but morally they are no less casualties of this vile business than the ones above.

Circle Once, April 5, Turf
“pneumonia”

Solomon, April 6, Turf
“cecum colon displacement”

Lidy Peak, May 5, Turf
“pneumonia”

Through a FOIA request to the Arizona Department of Racing, I have confirmed the following kills on that state’s tracks in 2017.

Running for Annie, January 3, Turf, race 1
“open fracture fetlock”

With Love Too, January 8, Turf, race 1
“open fracture fetlock” (10 years old, 50th race)

Mydancingshadow, January 8, Turf, race 7
“open fracture fetlock”

Roi Soleil, January 30, Turf, race 3
“luxated fetlock, possible sesamoid fractures, disruption of supporting tissue”

Sir Got Class, February 4, Turf, race 1
“suspected medial and lateral sesamoid bones, with soft tissue insults”

El Trompito, February 5, Turf, training
“fracture to shoulder” (not yet two years old, being prepped for first race)

Indian Nate, February 12, Turf, race 7
“fracture sesamoids with concominant soft tissue disruption”

Ra Indio Tizok, February 19, Rillito, race 1
“fracture radius”

Clever Bling Chick, February 22, Turf, training
“fracture humerus” (two years old, being prepped for first race)

Amberella, February 26, Rillito, race 7
(seven years old)

Guybrush, February 27, Turf, training
“flipped over on training track, died moments later – suspect a broken neck”

Quorum of Joy, March 7, Turf, training
“ruptured digital flexor tendon”

Inexcess Time, March 8, Turf, training
“slab fracture knee” (most recent race, February 25: last, 34 lengths back)

Hail Casper, March 20, Turf, training
“fracture cannon” (not yet two years old, being prepped for first race)

He’s a Dandy, March 22, Turf, training
(nine years old)

Papa Howg, March 25, Turf, training
“sesamoid fracture” (not yet two years old, being prepped for first race)

Smack Talk, March 25, Turf, training
“slab fracture carpus”

Five Star Bert, March 27, Turf, training
“probable heart attack” (five years old)

Kickin Carver, March 28, Turf, training
“heart attack” (two years old, being prepped for first race)

Thundersgold, April 1, Turf, training
“fracture shoulder”

Lo Duca, April 1, Turf, race 2 (euthanized April 3)
“slab fracture carpus”

Market Mayhem, April 4, Turf, race 8
“broke fetlock”

Brazilian Barbeque, April 9, Turf, race 6
“fetlock fracture”

Jess a Dejon, April 29, Turf, race 1
“broken leg at cannon” (first race)

Hymn’s Girl, May 1, Turf, race 7
“fracture cannon bone”

Catching Fire, September 24, Turf, training
“collapse – lung bleeding”

Tizfun, September 29, Turf, training
“collapsed – bled into lungs”

La Moneda, November 5, Turf, race 3
“exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage”

Sooner Boomer, November 5, Turf, race 7
“fracture phalanx”

Bistro Lights, November 12, Turf, race 4
“fracture sesamoids”

Spanish Jazz, November 20, Turf, race 4
(eight years old, 55th race)

Compadre Sam, November 27, Turf, race 5
“fracture cannon”

Lady Chatterley, November 28, Turf, training
“fracture shoulder” (two years old, being prepped for first race)

Dont Tell Danna, December 1, Turf, training
“fracture shoulder” (two years old, being prepped for first race)

Arizona Dreamer, December 18, Turf, race 8
(first race)

Joshuas Glory, December 27, Turf, race 4
“fracture cannon”

In addition, these still-very-much-active racehorses died on track grounds from what the industry craftily calls “non-racing” causes. Technically true, perhaps, but morally they are no less casualties of this vile business than the ones above.

Doginabox, February 22, Turf
“pleural pneumonia”

Flat Out Filly (sic perhaps), February 22, Turf
“colic”

Sunday Dawn, April 5, Turf
“colic” (seven years old, raced 42 times, most recent March 14)

Dollys Party Doll, October 2, Turf
“colic collapse” (last raced April 18)

Kershner, October 24, Turf
“sudden death; had been treated for colic, intestinal rupture” (last raced February 14)

Jamaalaree, November 16, Turf
“pleuropneumonia” (last raced July 16)

Through a FOIA request to the Arizona Department of Racing, I have confirmed the following deaths at Arizona tracks in 2016:

The Blue Mercedes, January 3, Turf training, “fractured shoulder”
Little But Lucky, January 23, Turf 4, “carpal slab fracture”
Sweet N Spicenight, January 27, Turf training, “neurologic”
Mustbkrazy, January 31, Turf training, “fractured cannon – compound”
Berry Valid, February 1, Turf 8, “ruptured suspensory, fractured sesamoids”
Andherecomescj, February 3, Turf training, “fractured shoulder”
Mesa Brute, February 9, Turf 4, “compound luxation fetlock, ruptured suspensory”
Pax Tecum, February 13, Rillito 6, “shattered sesamoids”
Feasibility, March 20, Turf 7, “sesamoid fracture”
Preachinahit, March 21, Turf 8, “shattered sesamoid”
Hidden Demon, March 22, Turf 7, “compound luxation of fetlock”
Chance for Glory, March 28, Turf 4, “compound fracture cannon bone”
Old Squeeze, April 15, Turf training, “fractured shoulder”
Brassy Pete, April 16, Turf 8, “fractured shoulder”
Bluesie Brown, October 3, Turf training, “fractured coffin bone”
Aikman Rose, October 16, Turf training, “pastern fracture”
Macho N Awesome, October 18, Turf training, “laceration”
Excite Me, October 19, Turf training, “fractured shoulder”
Highly Classified, October 24, Turf 2, “bled out internally”
Shesaperfectbeamer, October 29, Turf 3 (euthanized October 30), “carpus”
Randi’s Diamond, November 9, Turf training, “compound fractures of cannon bones”
Blitzinonmoonshine, November 23, Turf training, “broke down – knee”
Tripski, November 26, Turf training, “condylar fracture”
Supah Guy, November 29, prior to Turf 4, “hit head – copious epistaxis…teeth quivers”
Millennium Flower, December 2, Turf training, “fractured radius”
Ella’s Kitten, December 7, Turf training, “heart attack”
Twobobs, December 27, Turf training, “condylar fracture”

In addition, the following horses died on track grounds from what the industry calls “non-racing” causes. While this may be technically true, morally they are no less casualties of this vile business than the ones above.

Wild Iris, April 4, Turf, “severe pleuropneumonia with septicemia”
Noble Mojave, December 30, Turf, “colic”

There can be no justification for the killing of animals for $2 bets. End it. Now.

After several requests, I finally received documentation on Rillito Park’s dead from last year. The response, however, strains credibility – but two horses killed in a spring meet that spanned three months. That said, here they are:

6-year-old Praise a Native, February 14, Rillito 5

10-year-old Lisasfinishline, March 29, Rillito 5