Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on 2021 kills. (I have been posting in installments.)
My Three Kids, Feb 21, Golden Gate T
“Horse was galloping on track and sustained [multiple] open, comminuted, displaced fractures and [multiple] severe, complete ligament ruptures.”
Mantra, Mar 21, Santa Anita R (euthanized Mar 22)
“[Multiple] displaced fractures; [multiple] severe ruptures.” Also: “bilateral moderate-to-severe palmar osteochondral disease.” Mantra was just five – still in adolescence. One other note: “Insurance agency declined surgical repair, so horse was euthanized.”
John’s Jewel, Mar 24, Golden Gate S
“Severe, chronic, active fibrinous and necrotizing pleuropneumonia.” Also: “mild random hepatic necrosis [in] liver.” John’s Jewel was just two years old.
yet-to-be-named, Mar 30, Golden Gate S (euthanized Apr 1)
“[Horse] suffered a deep laceration – severed tendon sheath, deep flexor tendon, part of superficial flexor tendon; euthanized due to deterioration.”
Velocemente, Apr 3, Golden Gate R
“Fell: open, comminuted fractures, both distal tibiae; while struggling, [suffered] open, comminuted fractures of radius; severe hemorrhage and tearing of musculature.” That’s multiple open – through the skin – fractures. Also: “moderate-to-severe dorsal metacarpal disease.” Velocemente was just two, and this was her first race.
My Child Sbud, Apr 17, Santa Anita R
“[Multiple] open, comminuted fractures [with] severe, complete ruptures of the intersesamoidean ligament, the lateral and medial collateral ligaments, the palmar annular ligament, and the digital flexor tendons.” Also: “palmar osteochondral disease [and] dorsal metacarpal disease.” My Child Sbud was just three years old.
Lady of the House, Apr 18, Golden Gate R
“This filly suffered multiple open, displaced fractures of fetlock [with] severe, complete ruptures of [multiple] ligaments.” Also: “bilateral, moderate-to-severe palmar osteochondral disease.” Lady of the House was just two years old.
Multiplier, Apr 18, Santa Anita R (euthanized Apr 19)
“Pulled up lame – complete rupture of distal sesamoidean ligaments.”
Champagneformybaby, Apr 20, Golden Gate S
“When turning horse around, [rider] heard a loud pop and horse went acutely lame – catastrophic femoral fracture with severe hemorrhage and tearing of musculature.”
Big Wish, May 31, Golden Gate R
“Fractured both left front sesamoids at the finish line – open and comminuted; complete ruptures of [multiple] ligaments and tendons.”

Music Babe, Jun 16, Golden Gate T
“Galloped this morning, came back to barn, put away in stall. Assistant trainer was watering horses late morning and found horse deceased. Cause of death unknown.”
Snazzy Cazzy, Jun 17, Golden Gate S
“Horse found deceased in stall at feed time. The gross findings are consistent with a diagnosis of hemorrhage and exsanguination as the cause of death.” In other words, the 3-year-old Snazzy bled to death.
Racer, Nov 6, Golden Gate S
“Treated yesterday for colic/large intestinal displacement, died during the night – colonic rupture with leakage of manure into the abdominal cavity.”