Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on 2020 kills. (The Board redacted the names but, paradoxically, these horses have already been identified on the Board’s public database.)

Tikkun Olam, Jan 19, Santa Anita T – “head-on collision: traumatic spine fracture with complete transection of cord; ruptured vein”

Is It Over, Jan 21, Los Alamitos S – “colic of 24 hours duration”

Cowboy Coffee, Jan 23, San Luis Rey S – “colic – unrelenting pain for two days”
also: “chronic gastric ulceration”

The Cullinan Dream, Mar 31, Los Alamitos S – “four-day diarrhea prior to death”

La Dorada Czech, Apr 15, Los Alamitos S – “endotoxemia and/or septicemia”

Shes Our Dasher, Apr 16, Los Alamitos T – “catastrophic breakdown with phalanx protruding through the skin; [multiple] ruptures”

Isla’s Toy, Apr 17, Los Alamitos R – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”

Last Renegade, Apr 24, Santa Anita T – “hit rail, fractured pelvis, hemorrhagic shock”

Rowboat Romeo, May 9, Los Alamitos T – “catastrophic fracture; severe hemorrhage”

Conquest Sabre Cat, May 14, Golden Gate R – “catastrophic breakdown with multiple open fractures – horse was humanely destroyed on track”
also: “chronic gastric ulceration”

I’ll Dash for Gold, May 22, Golden Gate S – “spinal cord compression, severe ataxia”

unidentified, May 24, Los Alamitos T – “comminuted, complete, displaced fracture”

Young Dasher, Jun 23, Los Alamitos S – “severe pneumonia, two weeks duration”

Up and Ready, Jun 26, Los Alamitos S – “acute laminitis following castration”

Street Gambler, Jun 30, Golden Gate S – “complete hip fracture; hemorrhage”

Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on 2020 kills. (The Board redacted the names but, paradoxically, those horses have already been identified on the Board’s public database.)

Ruby Roundhouse, Jan 1, Los Alamitos S
“abscess in LH, colicky for six days; extremely painful yesterday, this morning no GI sounds, toxic” (two years old)

Elegant Sundown, Jan 5, Golden Gate R
“[multiple] open, comminuted fractures; [multiple] severe, complete ruptures”

Jest Famous, Jan 7, Los Alamitos S
“acute colic: found thrashing and rolling at 3 am with high HR; DVM found distended small intestine; on presentation down on trailer, HR 104, extremely painful; distended loops of small intestine on rectal and ultrasound, purulent appearance of abdominocentesis; suspect GI rupture/leakage/septic peritonitis” (three years old)

Super Beauty, Jan 18, Golden Gate S
“small intestinal incarceration and strangulation”

Data Hawk, Feb 7, Golden Gate S
“catastrophic skull fracture, massive subdural hemorrhage”

A Lonna At the Top, Feb 26, Golden Gate T
“collapsed in stall after training; cardiac failure?” (she was three years old)
“other findings: chronic ulcerative gastritis”

Thousand Oaks, Feb 29, Golden Gate S
“flipped on walker and died before vet arrived; severe, comminuted skull fracture”
“other findings: chronic gastric ulceration”

Get Like Me, Mar 12, Golden Gate R
“multiple displaced fractures; severe, complete ligament rupture”
“additional findings: chronic ulcerative gastritis”

Battalion Won, Mar 14, Golden Gate T
“[broke both front legs]; [multiple] open fractures and ruptures”
“other findings: chronic [gastric] ulcerations”

Ailish’s Buttercup, May 10, Golden Gate T
“[multiple] fractures and ruptures”
“other findings: gastric ulceration”

The final batch of 2019 California kills, from my FOIA request to the CHRB.

Ought to Be Wanted, Oct 5, Fresno R – “[multiple] fractures, severe cartilage loss”

Into a Hot Spot, Dec 14, Los Alamitos R – “collapsed, sudden death” (four years old)

Mighty Elijah, Dec 14, Los Alamitos R – “comminuted fracture, severe rupture”

Truest Reward, Dec 26, Santa Anita T – “comminuted, complete fracture; massive hemorrhage; muscles severely torn”

Saddle Club, Dec 28, Los Alamitos R – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”

The final batch of 2019 California kills, from my FOIA request to the CHRB.

unidentified 3-year-old, Nov 5, Los Alamitos T – “fracture, rupture, massive hemorrhage”

Ghost Street, Nov 10, Del Mar R – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”; stomach: “multiple chronic ulcers” (three years old)

Prayer Warrior, Nov 10, Del Mar R – “compound, comminuted fracture; rupture”; stomach: “multiple chronic ulcers” (three years old)

Slewgoodtobetrue, Nov 17, Del Mar T – “the horse suddenly became weak in the hind leg, then wobbly, then went down and expired”

unidentified 5-year-old, Nov 17, Los Alamitos S – “severe colic”

Koa, Nov 30, Del Mar T – “catastrophic breakdown of left front fetlock”

unidentified 2-year-old, Dec 2, San Luis Rey S – “found dead in stall at 3 am – possible cardiac failure”

More 2019 California kills, from my FOIA request to the CHRB.

unidentified 3-year-old, Oct 17, Los Alamitos T – “fracture, rupture, massive hemorrhage”

Satchel Paige, Oct 19, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”

Forgot the Rose, Oct 20, Los Alamitos R – “open, comminuted, complete, displaced knee fracture”

G Q Covergirl, Oct 25, Santa Anita T – “[both front legs]: MCIII bone completely perforated the skin…complete exposure of cannon bone”

Again, that’s “complete exposure of cannon bone” in both front legs. Imagine that.

unidentified 2-year-old, Aug 31, Los Alamitos T – “comminuted, complete, displaced slab fracture; given anti-inflammatories in hopes she could become a broodmare but became Grade 5 lame Oct 15, euthanized [ten days later]” – ten days later

unidentified 4-year-old, Oct 27, Los Alamitos T – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures”

Mongolian Groom, Nov 2, Santa Anita R – “comminuted fracture, ligament rupture”

Bye Bye Beautiful, Oct 27, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] fractures and ruptures; severe, extensive cartilage loss”