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

Harliss, Jan 17, Santa Anita R – “catastrophic fetlock breakdown, [multiple] ligament/tendon ruptures”

Enchanting Eva, Apr 4, Golden Gate T – “catastrophic breakdown: the stability and palmar support of the RF limb was destroyed”

M C Hamster, Apr 15, Santa Anita T – “complete luxation of fetlock joint with protrusion of distal MCIII through skin; [multiple] ruptures”

Arky Vaughan, May 8, Golden Gate T – “multiple comminuted fractures, [multiple] complete ruptures”; also: “chronic gastric ulceration” (three years old)

I Love Sorrento, Jun 7, Los Alamitos T – “catastrophic right humeral breakdown – returning from layoff following surgery [on same leg]”

Nana Shila, Jun 27, Los Alamitos R – “open, comminuted fractures; complete rupture [multiple] ligaments/tendons; broken neck; massive hemorrhage within spinal canal”

Plum Dandy, Aug 31, Del Mar S – “flipped – fractured skull, bled from nose, died”

She’s Got Heart, Sep 20, Golden Gate T – “multiple fractures of pastern”; also: “chronic gastric ulceration” (three years old)

Superficial, Oct 6, Santa Anita S – “skull fracture; significant blood loss from both nostrils; was ataxic and unwilling to stand; appeared to be suffocating on blood” (two years old)

Racing N Lace, Dec 5, Los Alamitos R – “catastrophic lumbar fracture, spinal cord compression, hemorrhage in spinal canal”

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

Tailback, May 10, Santa Anita T – “compound, comminuted fractures of MCII, MCIII, MCIV”

Wire to Wire Tigah, Jun 13, Golden Gate R – “[multiple] fractures, [multiple] ruptures” (first race)

Mean Sophia, Sep 5, Del Mar R – “humeral fracture, massive hemorrhage”

Bob E McGee, Sep 13, Los Alamitos R – “fell past wire: humeral fracture, biceps and triceps ruptures, massive hemorrhage”

unidentified, Oct 11, Los Alamitos S – “Quarterhorse with a history of being found dead – aortic rupture”

Hit It Up, Oct 23, Los Alamitos R (died Oct 28) – “locked up [during] race, ambulanced to stall; found dead five days [later]: catastrophic lumbar fracture; multiple, variably shaped fragments within spinal canal accompanied by massive hemorrhage and complete transection of the spinal cord”

From necropsy report: “I suspect that the ventral displacement of lumbar vertebrae accompanied by complete transection of spinal cord occurred shortly prior to the death of the horse, and may have been associated with high level of pain. In some instances extreme pain can cause overstimulation of parasympathetic system that leads to general vasodilation, significant decrease in blood pressure, and ultimately to cardiopulmonary failure.” (emphasis added)

Celtic Miracle, Nov 6, Los Alamitos R – “[multiple] fractures, [multiple] ruptures”

Love Wins, Dec 19, Golden Gate S – “found dead in stall at 4:30 am; [had] arthroscopy [day before]” (two years old)

Ebeko, Dec 27, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] displaced fractures”

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

Buckstopper Kit, Jan 5, Santa Anita T (euthanized Jan 7) – “severely comminuted radius fracture” (surgery failed)

Eyell Be Back, Jan 10, Los Alamitos R (euthanized Jan 12) – “catastrophic breakdown of right carpus”

Uncontainable, Jan 18, Santa Anita R – “catastrophic fetlock breakdown, [multiple] severe ruptures”

Katies Easy Moves, Jan 19, Los Alamitos R – “open, comminuted fracture; severe, complete rupture”

Radio Tim, Feb 21, Los Alamitos R – “[multiple] fractures, [multiple] ruptures”; also: “stomach: chronic ulcers, multiple” (three years old)

Street Machine, Feb 21, Los Alamitos R – “large open wound with exposure of MCIII, [multiple] complete ruptures”

Flokie, Mar 29, Los Alamitos R – “catastrophic breakdown of right carpus”

Royal Callan Rocks, Apr 3, Los Alamitos T – “displaced fracture of tibia” (two years old, being prepped for first race)

Chromie, Apr 11, Los Alamitos R – “catastrophic fetlock breakdown, [multiple] severe ruptures”

Billy the Hott, Sep 5, Los Alamitos R – “pelvic fractures, sacral fractures, lumbar fractures, occipital fractures, massive hemorrhage, acute hypovolemic shock”

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

Golden Birthday, Jan 1, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] comminuted fractures; [multiple] severe ruptures”

Double Touch, Feb 8, Santa Anita T – “sudden death: presumptive exercise-associated fatal pulmonary hemorrhage”

Miss Romania, Feb 12, Santa Anita T – “comminuted, complete, displaced fracture; muscles severely torn; massive hemorrhage”

Unveiled, Feb 20, Santa Anita T – “comminuted, complete, displaced fracture; massive hemorrhage”; also: in same leg, “horse had tendon trauma April 2019, then sesamoid fracture May 2019; returned to training 12/2/19”

Keck, Feb 29, Golden Gate T – “catastrophic shoulder fracture…humanely euthanized on track”; also: “severe, chronic gastric ulceration”

Chosen Vessel, Feb 29, Santa Anita R – “[multiple] fractures, [multiple] ruptures, [bone] broken through skin”

Chickititas Favorite, Mar 8, Los Alamitos R – “[multiple] fractures; severe, complete ligament rupture”

Smiling Ali, Apr 2, Santa Anita T – “sudden death: extensive hemorrhages in the lung”; also: “stomach: chronic ulcers, multiple” (two years old)

Jabber Now, May 24, Los Alamitos R (euthanized May 26) – “[multiple] fractures, complete rupture of ligaments”; also: “severe gastric ulceration”

Malibu Morning, May 29, Los Alamitos R – “open, comminuted, complete, displaced fracture”; also: “severe gastric ulceration” (three years old)

Grimm Resolve, Jun 2, Los Alamitos S – “found dead in stall” (two years old)

Jive Talkin, Jun 6, Golden Gate T – “[multiple] fractures, [multiple] ruptures”; also: “there was blood in the peritoneal and thoracic cavities, focal hemorrhage and tearing of the diaphragm, hemorrhage in the eyes; gastric ulceration diffuse and severe”

Lightsaber, Jun 7, Santa Anita T – “hit the rail: complete tibia fracture, massive hemorrhage, muscles severely torn” (two years old, being prepped for first race)

Leggolas, Jun 18, Los Alamitos T – “horse was jogging back, became unstable, collapsed, and died” (two years old)

Big Red Valentine, Jun 18, Santa Anita S – “ran loose, collided with barn: traumatic, highly comminuted fracture of spine; complete transection of spinal cord; open fracture of cannon; MCIII snapped into two halves; transverse rupture of suspensory ligament; highly comminuted fracture of rostral bones of upper jaw”

Strictly Biz, Jun 20, Santa Anita R – “multiple comminuted, displaced fractures; [multiple] complete ruptures”

Equilibrio, Jun 26, Los Alamitos R – “complete fracture of the neck of the scapula, severe hemorrhage associated with rupture[d] muscles” (two years old, first race)

Mr Dejavu, Jun 27, San Luis Rey T – “rider heard loud pop and jumped off: complete, displaced, comminuted fracture; rupture[d] biceps; massive hemorrhage”

Peek It Up, Aug 22, Los Alamitos R – “fractured [back], multiple fragments within spinal canal, complete transection of the spinal cord, massive hemorrhage”

Streets, Aug 30, Golden Gate T (euthanized Aug 31) – “comminuted, displaced fracture; [multiple] ruptures”

Cool Hunter, Oct 1, Golden Gate R – “multiple fractures, [multiple] ruptures”; also: “multiple chronic gastric ulcers throughout the stomach”

Ministers of Money, Oct 9, Golden Gate R – “multiple fractures, complete rupture of flexor tendon and [multiple] ligaments”

Look At My Hooves, Nov 1, Golden Gate R – “comminuted, complete, displaced fracture; complete rupture of flexor tendon and [multiple] ligaments”

Duchamp, Nov 13, Golden Gate T – “open, highly comminuted, complete, displaced fracture P1; complete rupture sesamoidean ligaments”

yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Nov 18, Santa Anita S – “stomach rupture”

Thru Lady, Dec 16, Los Alamitos S – “flipped over, fell against back wall, and died – [possible] seizure or acute heart failure” (four years old)

Penelope Rose, Dec 16, Santa Anita T – “comminuted, complete, displaced fracture; muscles severely torn; massive hemorrhage”

Cedars of Lebanon, Dec 31, Golden Gate S – “horse began showing signs of anaphylaxis…expired shortly thereafter”

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

Warren, Jul 2, Los Alamitos S
“colic, distended small intestine, extensive hemorrhages”

This Is Us, Jul 3, Los Alamitos R
“open fracture, complete luxation of the fetlock joint”

Jess Bet Me, Jul 5, Los Alamitos R
“[multiple] fractures, [multiple] complete ruptures”

Lovely Lilia, Jul 11, Del Mar T
“[multiple] fractures; [multiple] severe, complete ruptures”

Alltime Favorite, Jul 11, Los Alamitos R (euthanized Jul 13)
“multiple comminuted, displaced fractures; complete rupture of [multiple] ligaments; severe, extensive cartilage loss”

Tacy, Jul 12, Los Alamitos R
“open fracture; complete rupture, [multiple] ligaments; complete rupture, tendon”

The Armenian, Jul 21, Del Mar S
“focal serosal hemorrhages [in] colon”

Snow Pack, Aug 2, Golden Gate R
“catastrophic fetlock breakdown, complete rupture of [multiple] ligaments”

Bf Field Notes, Aug 7, Los Alamitos S
“collided with rail – [multiple] comminuted spine fractures, spinal cord compression, hemorrhage within spinal canal, aortic rupture”

Secret Tonight, Aug 8, Los Alamitos R
“complete fracture of the scapula, severe hemorrhage”

Galaxy Master, Aug 13, Golden Gate S
“horse was tied to back of stall waiting to train, started shaking, collapsed and died – unknown cause” (four years old)

My Sweet Lou, Aug 23, Golden Gate R
“multiple fractures of the RF fetlock, complete rupture of [multiple] ligaments”

Irreproachable, Aug 24, Del Mar T
“[multiple] fractures and ruptures”

Adriatic Son, Aug 27, Los Alamitos S
“found dead in stall – colon rupture with hemorrhage”