Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on 4 of that state’s 64 kills last year (previous ones here).
Miss Sugar Hill, Aug 18, Del Mar T
“Horse was working on the main track. As [she] was pulling up, [she] whinnied, became ataxic, and collapsed. Cause of death: exercise-associated pulmonary hemorrhage [both lungs] – hemorrhages severe.” Also: “chronic stomach erosions/ulcers.” Miss Sugar Hill was three years old.
Echosmith, Sep 18, Santa Anita T
“Catastrophic scapular fracture – complete, displaced, severely comminuted; severe hemorrhage of surrounding muscles.” Also: “palmar osteochondral disease; gastric ulceration.” Echosmith was three years old.
Invictatatus, Sep 27, Los Alamitos S
“Horse found down in stall – severe colitis, [euthanized].” Invictatatus was six years old and had been raced 22 times, most recently in April.
January Magic, Oct 27, Los Alamitos T
“Catastrophic humeral fracture – comminuted, complete, displaced; [multiple] ruptures; severe and extensive hemorrhage.” Also: “palmar osteochondral disease [both front limbs].” January Magic was just two years old. Osteochondral disease.