Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have confirmed the following deaths at that state’s tracks in 2018. (Please note: The Board redacted the names of the dead horses; any identifications below came via other channels.)

Califo Cat, June 1, Golden Gate R
“Severe soft tissue damage, rupture of ligaments and tendons, right foreleg fetlock region, with eroded/ulcerated articular surfaces of bones. Both limbs and the right side more extensively, had degenerative changes with surface damage as well, which may have played a role in the formation of the observed breakdown.”

unidentified 5-year-old, June 2, San Luis Rey Downs T
“Horse went down while being walked after working on track. Became agonal quickly and died within minutes. Cause of death, hypovolemic chock with abundant frank blood and blood clots [in] abdominal cavity [and] extensive hemorrhage [in] abdominal wall. Chronic changes of the right forelimb: roughly triangular 1.5 cm long x 1 cm deep slab held in place by a screw; lipping and deep ulceration of articular cartilage and erosion of the articular surface. Chronic changes of the left forelimb: pitting and linear erosion of articular cartilage. Stomach: Chronic erosions/ulcers, multiple. Horse has been gone from racing since Sept 2016.” (again, five years old)

unidentified 3-year-old, June 3, Golden Gate T
“This horse sustained a complete fracture of the medial and lateral proximal sesamoid bones in the right front fetlock, which was accompanied with rupture of tendons and marked bruising and edema of the subcutaneous tissues.”

unidentified 8-year-old, June 3, Golden Gate T
“Condylar fracture multiple pieces; history of sheath sever[e] synovitis, was lanced and drained four weeks ago. An approximately .6 cm long displaced bone fragment was between the sagittal ridge fragment and medial condyle. There were small fragments of bone pieces scattered throughout. There was marked hemorrhage and edema of the subcutaneous and soft tissues. There was acute, complete rupture of the lateral branch of the suspensory ligament.”

unidentified 2-year-old, June 16, Golden Gate T
“Comminuted fractures of the diaphysis with approximately 10 major fragments. The skin is lacerated with bony fragments extending through.”

unidentified 2-year-old, June 16, Los Alamitos T
“Acute comminuted fracture of the neck. A (chronic) callus located at the distal end of the spine of the scapula was likely the predisposing lesion.” (again, two years old)

Phantom Flyer, June 27, Golden Gate T
“Complete, comminuted fracture of the metatarsal. Abundant soft tissue hemorrhage surrounds all portions of the fracture.”

unidentified 2-year-old, July 27, Los Alamitos T
“Complete, comminuted, displaced, open fracture of medial proximal sesamoid bone. Displaced fracture of lateral proximal sesamoid bone Hemorrhage and fraying of medial and lateral branches of suspensory ligament. Rupture of fetlock collateral ligaments. Rupture of collateral sesamoidean ligaments.”

Skidazzle, July 29, Golden Gate T
“Fetlock crush injury: Comminuted fracture of both proximal sesamoid bones. Bilateral, apical proximal sesamoid bone fractures into 2-3 fragments with ligament rupture. Severe hemorrhaging, lateral suspensory branch fraying and partial tear, lateral collateral ligament fraying. Focally extensive ulceration of the stomach.”

Unusual Kiddy, July 29, Los Alamitos R
“Fell leaving gate paralyzed: Comminuted fracture of the lumbar spine, with extensive hemorrhages in the adjacent musculature and connective tissue.”

Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have confirmed the following deaths at California tracks in 2018. (Please note: The Board redacted the names of the dead horses; any identifications below came via other channels.)

unidentified 5-year-old, July 3, Golden Gate
“On the right hind there are multiple open wounds; largest approximately 10 cm wide. The underlying tissues and skeletal muscle are exposed and discolored dark red to black. Surrounding the wounds there is a large amount of edema and hemorrhage with marked swelling. The tarasal joints are distended by increased amounts of cloudy, yellow synovial fluid admixed with large amounts of free floating fibrin. The subcutaneous tissues are expanded by edema, hemorrhage, and emphysema and the skin is easily sloughed off. On the left hind the entire hoof wall has sloughed off and the remaining lamina and coffin bone are exposed. The findings observed within the lungs and liver are suggestive of a septicemic process, likely as a result of the severe cellulitis.” (Not an industry casualty? Please.)

Magic Mark, July 4, Los Alamitos R
“Poor performance in race; no apparent distress during unsaddling; collapsed and died suddenly at barn.”

Seared, July 8, Los Alamitos R
“Pulled up racing, collapsed on ambulance, pulled from ambulance unable to rise. Comminuted, complete, displaced fracture with compression of spinal cord.”

Seein Starz, July 14, Los Alamitos R (euthanized July 16)
“Comminuted, complete fracture of the carpal III, plus other lesions of the adjacent bones and articular surfaces that are considered chronic.”

Bookofmatches, July 14, Los Alamitos R
“Horse locked up during race [and] fell. Comminuted, complete, displaced, fracture of the L 5 vertebral body, with extensive meningeal hemorrhages.”

unidentified (probably Im Ur Cutie Pie), July 20, Los Alamitos R (euthanized July 21)
“Slab fractures (2 pieces) of central tarsal bone. Extensive acute excoriation and ulceration. Severe hemorrhage of the soft tissue surrounding the tarsus. Circumferential hemorrhage of the suspensory ligament. Gastric erosions/ulcers.”

Cadillac Express, July 21, Golden Gate T
“Left front fetlock – Transverse to comminuted sesamoid bone fractures. Biaxial palmar transverse ridge arthrosis. Right front fetlock – Biaxial focal traumatic osterochondrosis. Biaxial palmar transverse ridge arthrosis.” (just three years old)

Bobby Abu Dhabi, July 22, Del Mar T
“Fracture of the medial proximal sesamoid bone. Fracture of the lateral proximal sesamoid bone. Rupture of the intersesamoidean ligament, longitudinal and the short and cruciate sesamoidean ligaments, transverse. Partial medial tear of the superficial digital flexor and fraying and hemorrhage of superficial and deep digital flexor tendons. Fraying of the suspensory ligament. Body of 3rd cervical vertebra, transverse, comminuted, complete, displaced and fracture of caudal aspect of right transverse process with hemorrhage around spinal cord. Cervical 4 and 5 vertebrae, ventral, left transverse processes, complete, displaced. Moderate to severe gastric ulcers.” (that’s multiple fetlock and cervical fractures – and ulcers, to boot)

Oso Strong, July 25, Golden Gate T
“During arthroscopy of knee, this horse did not have a strong pulse. During anesthetic recovery, did not regain a strong pulse. After prolonged treatment and CPR he died, unfortunately.” (“unfortunately”)

unidentified (probably Provodnikov), July 28, Los Alamitos R (euthanized July 30)
“Comminuted, complete, displaced, bi-articular slab fracture, III carpal bone.”

Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have confirmed the following deaths at Santa Anita in 2018. (Please note: The Board redacted the names of the dead horses; any identifications below came via other channels.)

unidentified 2-year-old, July 14, Santa Anita T
“Left front limb: Avulsion fracture, lateral proximal sesamoid bone. Rupture, inter sesamoidean ligament and fibrocartilage. Rupture, cruciate ligaments. Marked fraying and extensive hemorrhages, suspensory ligament. Marked fraying, straight distal sesamoidean ligament. Extensive hemorrhages, superficial and deep digital flexor tendons. Focal cartilage erosion, proximal articular surface of P1 (chronic). Cartilage erosion, distal articular surface of metacarpus III (chronic). Right front limb: Focal cartilage erosion, proximal articular surface of P1 (chronic). Biaxial linear cartilage erosion, distal articular surface of metacarpus III (chronic).” (again, two years old)

unidentified 2-year-old, September 25, Santa Anita T (euthanized September 29)
“Severe exertional rhabdomyolysis on 9/25; condition deteriorated over next 72 hrs. including dysphagia, third eyelid prolapse, nystagmus, and respiratory distress. On 9/29, developed low grade fever and became severely agitated (possibly due to respiratory distress) followed by agonal breathing and subsequent euthanasia. Stomach: Multiple mucosal ulcers.” (again, two years old)

unidentified 3-year-old, October 9, Santa Anita T
“Complete, diaphyseal, displaced, closed, comminuted, non-articular humeral fracture. Complete transverse rupture of brachialis muscle. Partial transverse rupture of biceps muscle. Massive hemorrhage affecting soft tissue extending from the shoulder to the proximal antebrachium. Mild/initial stage of degenerative joint disease [both front limbs].” (again, three years old)

Beau Square, October 18, Santa Anita R
“Complete fractures of proximal sesamoid bones. Complete condylar fracture of the third metatarsal. Complete, severely comminuted fracture of the proximal phalanx. [Multiple] ligament ruptures. Evidence of chronic osteoarthritis…was present in all four fetlocks. The horse likely suffered from chronic tendonitis [which] could alter the gait in a way that the [other] limb had to compensate and bear more load, consequently leading to degenerative changes that progressed rapidly, resulting in catastrophic breakdown.” (Beau Square was four years old)

unidentified 2-year-old, October 25, Santa Anita T
“Complete, closed, comminuted, displaced, slab fracture of the third carpal bone. Reason for the fracture may be related to extensive sclerosis and focal porosity on the fracture surface of the third carpal bones. This would cause an area of weakness in the bones, consequently making it prone to fracture.” (again, two years old)

Tariq, October 26, Santa Anita T
“Sudden death. The multiple hemorrhages and congestion observed in multiple organs are very acute and consistent with acute cardiac failure cases. On the aboral portion of the tongue, there were two 0.5 in diameter ulcers. Within the stomach…11 multifocal to coalescing well-demarcated ulcers.” (Tariq was two years old)

unidentified 4-year-old, October 29, Santa Anita
“Anaphylactic shock.”

unidentified 2-year-old, November 28, Santa Anita T
“Severely comminuted, complete, displaced, biarticular fracture of proximal phalanx – fracture is lacking an intact strut of bone between the proximal and distal articular surfaces. The diaphysis…is highly comminuted, constituting fragments are uncountable. Proximal articular surface is divided into 4 major fragments. There is also incomplete fracture affecting the lateral condyle. Severe, full thickness cartilage loss; extensive hemorrhage; severe scoring; severe hemorrhage.”

unidentified 3-year-old, December 3, Santa Anita T (euthanized December 7)
“Horse worked 12/3; evaluated 12/7 for non-weight bearing lameness. Presumptive diagnosis – Fx left ilium/pelvis. Owner…requested euthanasia as unable to re-home the filly – according to trainer. Ran one time – 8/12/17, no works recorded till October 2018. The acute onset of the lameness described in the history was the clinical manifestation of progression of chronic changes…”

Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have confirmed the following deaths at that state’s tracks in 2018. (Please note: The Board redacted the names of the dead horses; any identifications below came via other channels. Also, because of the sheer volume, I will be posting in increments of 10.)

unidentified 2-year-old, May 3, Santa Anita T
“LEFT FRONT LEG: complete, comminuted fracture of MCIII; severe tearing and hemorrhage of the soft tissues surrounding the area of fracture; LEFT REAR LEG: complete, comminuted fracture of the right tibia and fibula; severe tearing and hemorrhage of the muscles surrounding the area of fracture (that’s two broken legs)

Bella Sierra, May 10, Santa Anita R
“comminuted, complete, displaced articular transverse fracture of the medial proximal sesamoid bone, with: avulsion fracture, axial margin, medial proximal sesamoid bone; longitudinal and transverse rupture, intersesamoidean ligament and fibrocartilage; marked fraying, sesamoidean ligaments; marked fraying and partial transection, deep digital flexor tendon and superficial digital flexor tendon”

Fast Munny, May 19, Santa Anita R
“horse was trailing field and suddenly collapsed and expired at the wire – extensive hemorrhages of the left caudal lobe, hemorrhages in multiple organs, diffusely congested liver and kidneys, and chronic gastric erosions/ulcers” (five years old)

Waya Ed, June 2, Santa Anita R
“catastrophic fracture of the right tibia; several variable size bone fragments within the two main fractured bone fragments; severe tearing and hemorrhage of the muscles of the leg surrounding the area of fracture”

unidentified 9-year-old, June 2, Santa Anita
“history of colic for 2 days – owner declined referral hospital visit for further dx and tx; horse had a large enterolith in the right dorsal colon-small colon junction…the area presented congestion, suggesting that there was intermittent and/or partial obstruction, that must have been responsible for the clinical signs observed”

Amada Rafaela, June 7, Santa Anita R
“severe pulmonary hemorrhage; horse staggered and collapsed…rapid onset of agonal breathing with white mucus membranes; both lungs presented many sub-pleural hemorrhages; large amount of red-tinged stable froth in the trachea and lower airways; acute hemorrhage, pelvic fracture, vertebral fracture(s)”

unidentified 3-year-old, June 14, Santa Anita T
“complete, displaced, articular, fracture of both proximal sesamoid bones, with a focal area of subchondral sclerosis of the medial proximal sesamoid bone (chronic, likely predisposing lesion), with: avulsion fracture, axial aspect of the proximal lateral sesamoid bone; rupture, inter-sesamoidean ligament and fibrocartilage; rupture, cruciate ligaments; rupture, annular ligament”; other leg: “cartilage thinning”

Tiffany Diamond, June 17, Santa Anita R
“catastrophic left hind fetlock failure – there were over 40 bone fragments of varying sizes; extensive subcutaneous hemorrhage and edema in the metatarsal area and the suspensory ligament; [multiple] tendons were surrounded by hemorrhage and edema.” other back leg: “subcutaneous and periarticular hemorrhage and swelling of the fetlock joint and the proximal interphalangeal joint”

unidentified 10-year-old, June 28, Santa Anita
“horse was found dead by barn personnel following an unexplained struggle in the stall – presumptive heart failure with: severe pulmonary congestion and edema”

unidentified 3-year-old, July 8, Santa Anita T
“humerus had a comminuted, complete, displaced fracture of the diaphysis; at the caudal aspect of the bone, specifically in the neck, there was a focal irregular red area, interpreted as a callus – the fracture line traveled through this callus…[then] traveled distally through the teres major tuberosity reaching the distal third of the humerus, then traveled along the musculo-spiral groove back to the neck of the humerus”