Through a FOIA request to the Maryland Racing Commission, I have confirmed the rest of that state’s kills in 2021. (Other 2021 deaths can be found here.)

Strictly Business, Jun 17, Pimlico S
“History of colic, several days duration; horse became toxic and was euthanized.”

Dr. Daniel: “This was a long, complicated case of colic and enteritis that Dr. Maury did her best to treat in the field. It is unfortunate that referral for 24-hour care was declined multiple times by the trainer. I do feel that this horse may have been saved had this referral happened.” Strictly was three years old.

Wessington Springs, Jul 20, Timonium T
“While galloping [on Jul 19] the horse started to cough and the rider became concerned. Endoscopic exam proved clean. Galloping again on Jul 20, the colt pulled up and became unsteady. The horse then collapsed, bounced off rail twice, struck his head [and] died on the track. Hemorrhage at the base of the heart and in both lungs.”

Dr. Daniel: “The pulmonary hemorrhage in this young colt was overwhelming. I wish we could have determined an etiology…as [he] seemed to have a promising career.” Wessington was two years old.

Keepyourskateson, Aug 15, Pimlico R
“Pulled up and vanned off. Shattered carpal bone in right knee, multiple pieces.” Keepyourskateson was three years old.

Great Cause, Aug 20, Pimlico R
“The filly flipped [in paddock] and struck her head hard on the wall. [She] was recumbent, loaded on the ambulance, transported to barn, and euthanized.” Great Cause, three, had just been sold seven days prior.

Cash Comes First, Sep 7, Pimlico T
“The horse sustained open, comminuted, displaced fractures [in] his left forelimb; avulsed pieces of the ligament [through the skin].” Also: “chronic degenerative joint disease in all four coffin, pastern, and fetlock joints; chronic degenerative joint disease in both the left and right carpus joints; stomach ulcers.”

Dr. Daniel: “The degree of degenerative joint disease in such a young horse is somewhat alarming.” Trainer Henry Walters: “[Previous] surgery was performed on both knees and possibly one ankle.” Cash was three years old.

Valley Vibe, Sep, Timonium T (euthanized Sep 27 at Laurel)
“Left hind fracture, surgery. Developed laminitis [with] separation of the lamina from the hoof wall and marked downward rotation of the coffin bone to the sole involving both [emphasis mine] front limbs.” Valley was two and being prepped for his first race.

Tremendous, Oct 1, Laurel R
“The [horse] flipped over backward in the post parade and landed on his head. The horse thrashed some, but he made no effort to rise. He was bleeding profusely from his mouth, ears, and nose and developed nystagmus – euthanized due to severity of the head trauma.” Also: “severe degenerative joint disease of the fetlock [both front limbs].” Tremendous was three years old.

Kyosha, Oct 3, Laurel R
“Pulled up, unstable, vanned off. Complete, displaced, comminuted fracture – numerous pieces – of both wings of the pelvis [with] abundant hemorrhage.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [both] hind limbs.” Kyosha was three years old.

Bella Thyme, Nov 6, Laurel T
“The horse broke down near the 1/4 pole: complete, open fracture of cannon; left pelvis shattered into four large pieces; abundant hemorrhage into the body cavity.”

Not On My Watch, Nov 6, Laurel T
“The horse collapsed, appeared to be in distress, died – suspect bilateral pulmonary hemorrhage.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [both front limbs]; stomach ulcers.”

Dr. Daniel: “I am surprised to see the degree of degenerative joint disease found on necropsy. It is suspected that Not On My Watch bled severely. I would concur due to the amount of blood found in the horse ambulance coming from the nostrils. It is always a concern that pain is a contributing factor to EIPH. I wonder if joint pain contributed in this case.” Not On My Watch was three years old.

Bust’em Kurt, Nov 13, Laurel R
“Broke down near the 1/4 pole: dislocated fetlock, [multiple] fractures…euthanized on the track.” Also: “severe degenerative joint disease; stomach ulcers.”

Dr. Daniel: “The condylar fracture most likely occurred first. I would say that the sesamoid fractures occurred next, and the total dislocation of the ankle occurred as he was being pulled up. Given the degree of DJD, I would have to think there was a multifactorial cause for this devastating breakdown.” Bust’em was two years old.

Gale Winds, Nov 19, Laurel R
“The horse was removed from the track by ambulance. While at the barn, the horse made several attempts to stand and then fell through the outer wall of the shedrow. Catastrophic fracture of right femoral neck [which] caused catastrophic and irreparable bleeding; Gale Winds was bleeding out.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four legs]; stomach ulcers.” Gale was three years old.

Moquist, Nov 21, Laurel T
“Moquist was working this morning and broke down near the 3/8 pole: open [through the skin] fracture; dislocation of fetlock; fractured condyle.” Also: “There is preexisting chronic degenerative joint disease in all four legs, most severe in the front; a prior surgery [with] two screws in right ankle; and stomach ulcers.”

Manicomio, Nov 25, Laurel R
“The horse suffered a catastrophic injury then tumbled forward to the track: open fracture [and] dislocation of the right fetlock; [multiple] sesamoid fractures; tremendous soft tissue destruction; joint affixed to the body by a small piece of skin.” Also: “severe degenerative joint disease.” Manicomio was five years old.

yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, Nov 27, Laurel T
“Broke down near the 3/16 pole and euthanized on the track. RF leg: severe open, comminuted fractures of MC2, MC3, and MC4; flexor tendon rupture. RH leg: femoral neck fracture.” That’s two broken legs. Also: “degenerative joint disease in LF leg [and] subacute hemorrhage/ulcers [in] stomach.”

Dr. Daniel: “It is always surprising to me to see the degree of degenerative joint disease present even in a young horse….” Again, two years old.

American Playboy, Nov 28, Laurel R
“Open, compound, comminuted fracture of the RF cannon…euthanized on the track.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [both front limbs]; stomach ulcers.” Dr. Daniel: “[The] joint disease may be a result of hard training.” American was two years old.

McElmore Avenue, Dec 26, Laurel R
“Walking back to the barn horse suddenly collapsed and fell to the ground; [vet] arrived on the scene and determined that the horse was dead – most likely pulmonary hemorrhage.” Also: “degenerative joint disease [all four fetlocks]; stomach ulcers.” McElmore was four years old.

Through a FOIA request to the Maryland Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks thus far this year. (Because the details, including vet testimony, are so powerful – and damning – I will post in multiple installments so as to give each death its proper due.)

Military Commander, Jun 6, Pimlico R
“Military Commander suffered catastrophic [breakdown]: fetlock completely dropped to ground, [multiple] fractures, significant soft tissue disruption. The proximal edge of the fractured condyle came through the skin after the horse was placed in splint and allowed to bear on limb to load on ambo.” Also: “stomach ulcers [and] severe degenerative joint disease.” Military was three years old.

Kens Lady, Jun 20, Pimlico R
“The horse sustained a catastrophic injury and fell to the track.” Dr. Daniel: “When I arrived at the scene, I assessed…and determined quickly that she would need to be euthanized as she had an open, degloving fracture/dislocation of her LF fetlock.” Also: “stomach ulcers [and] degenerative joint disease.” Kens Lady was three years old.

Sweet Sassafrassy, Jun 20, Pimlico R
“The hind legs of Kens Lady clipped [Sweet Sassafrassy’s] front legs out from under her causing her to fall. [She] thrashed several times and ended up [recumbent]. Scapula shattered into [six] pieces. Euthanized [after being loaded and unloaded on/from ambulance two separate times].” Also: “gastric ulcers and severe degenerative joint disease [all four limbs].” Dr. Dilodovico also notes: “The filly had scars on both front legs from an incident as a baby.” Sweet was five years old.

Through a FOIA request to the Maryland Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks thus far this year. (Because the details, including vet testimony, are so powerful – and damning – I will post in multiple installments so as to give each death its proper due.)

Vern H, May 13, Pimlico R
“The horse appeared to take a bad step. The horse took several more strides and then collapsed…catastrophic injury to the right front shoulder…euthanized on the track.”

Da Chrome, May 29, Pimlico R
“Broke down just past 5/16 pole…believed to have an open [through the skin] fracture of left front ankle…. The horse was euthanized off [italics added] the track.” Also: “The right lip fold is lacerated and the overlying skin is missing deep into the dermis. There is blood coming from the nostrils and the skin around the right eye has…hemorrhage. The skin of the scrotum is also partially missing. Severe ulcers [in] stomach.”

Da Chrome was just three years old. This poor, poor boy.

Silver Sun, Jun 26, Timonium S (scheduled to be raced that day at Pimlico)
“The gelding was tied to the stall wall ready to come to the races. While the connections went to get the trailer, the horse flipped…suffer[ing] acute brain trauma.”

Through a FOIA request to the Maryland Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks thus far this year. (Because the details, including vet testimony, are so powerful – and damning – I will post in multiple installments so as to give each death its proper due.)

R Bs Rod, Apr 3, Laurel T (euthanized Apr 24)
“The horse returned from galloping lame – tibial fracture. [Three weeks later], private vet reported fracture had displaced…euthanized.”

Dr. Daniel (commission vet): “The goal was to keep the horse up for several weeks to allow the limb and fracture to stabilize…. At some point, apparently the ‘High Line’ broke and the colt laid down. Sadly, the fracture became much worse when he attempted to get back up. At this point, euthanasia was the humane option.”

Also, R Bs Rod, two, suffered from “chronic ulcers in the stomach,” “[some] chronic degenerative joint disease,” and “early laminitis – separation of laminae – [in three of the four] hooves.” Again, two years old. Bastards.

Friesian Days, Apr 13, Laurel S
“Trainer and horse were in barn preparing to go to the track. Trainer threw rider onto the horse and the horse reared up and started backing up. The horse then backed into the annex shed, striking its head on the wall and then flipping. The horse was then able to get outside of the barn and collapsed to the ground…unable to rise again or move back legs. [I]njuries were so severe – vertebral and brain trauma with spinal cord and brain hemorrhages/compressions – that the horse [was] euthanized.”

Then this: “History of a fracture in LH leg after a head trauma over 1 year ago, per owner.” And: “There is noted chronic degenerative joint disease in three of the four legs [and] subacute hemorrhage/ulcers in stomach.”

So, that’s two “head traumas,” the second fatal, in a little over a year; a prior fractured leg; “chronic degenerative joint disease”; and “hemorrhage/ulcers in stomach.” Friesian Days was just three years old.

Escapability, Apr 13, Laurel T
“Horse broke down near the finish line: [multiple] open [through the skin], complete, displaced fractures.”

Also: “Chronic degenerative joint disease in all four pastern and fetlock joints…most severe in front limbs.” And (of course): “stomach ulcers.” Escapability was two years old.