Through a FOIA request to the New Jersey Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks in 2020.

please note:
As with many other states, this is surely an underreporting by the Commission – e.g., only two stall deaths, just a single harness death, etc.

Almost every report came with this: “Carcass Removed By M & S Pet Removal.” From “majestic athletes” to “carcasses.”

Constitutional Pal, Jul 4, Monmouth R – “[multiple] complete, displaced fractures; ulceration and dissection of the articular cartilage from the subchondral bone”

Ilchester Cheetah, Jul 11, Monmouth R – “sudden death: rupture of arterial tree in right lung that resulted in pulmonary laceration and hemorrhage” (three years old)

Jonimarie, Jul 23, Monmouth S – “acute cardiovascular collapse” (five years old, scheduled to race next day)

Gin and Platonic, Aug 1, Monmouth R – “dropped dead: rupture of arterial tree right lung with laceration and intrathoracic hemorrhage” (three years old)

Withholder, Aug 2, Monmouth T – “pulled up lame, collapsed into hypovolemic shock – pelvic fracture with severe and extensive soft tissue hemorrhage” (two years old)

Tony, Aug 15, Monmouth R (euthanized Aug 23) – “[multiple] fractures, severe and extensive soft tissue hemorrhage”

Giant Rose, Aug 17, Monmouth S – “acute laminitis both front feet; started Aug 10 [two days after last race]”

Painted Image, Aug 22, Monmouth R – “partial tear suspensory ligament, severe soft tissue hemorrhage”

Our Americanbeauty, Aug 27, Monmouth T – “complete humerus fracture”

Eve’s Medal, Sep 20, Monmouth T – “dropped dead: aortic rupture, hemorrhage into the thoracic cavity” (three years old)

Evil Monkey, Oct 1, Monmouth T – “fractured pelvis”

Rubenslegacy, Oct 4, Monmouth T – “complete, comminuted P1 fracture”

Cinnamon Latte, Oct 14, Monmouth R – “complete rupture [multiple] ligaments, massive and extensive soft tissue hemorrhage”

Octane Blue Chip, Dec 26, Meadowlands R – “sudden death: aortic rupture, additional hemorrhage in lungs and thoracic cavity” (six year old)

Through a FOIA request to the New Jersey Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks in 2019. (Note: Almost every report came with this: “Carcass Removed By M & S Pet Removal.” From “majestic athletes” to carcasses.)

Rock Star, Apr 27, Freehold R – “Place of Death: Pit at Freehold Raceway”

So Good, Apr 29, Monmouth T – “probable heart attack” (five years old)

Red Gum, May 12, Monmouth R – “trauma LF fetlock…euthan[ized] on track”

Orra Moor, Jun 15, Monmouth R – “[multiple] fractures”

Firm, Jun 15, Monmouth R – “collapse on track post-race” (three years old)

Joey Flash, Jul 4, Monmouth T – “compound, comminuted ankle fracture”

Machine Learning, Jul 4, Monmouth R – “[multiple fractures with] avulsion”

Paganini, Jul 4, Monmouth R (euthanized Jul 5) – “sesamoid fracture”

Metallic, Jul 7, Monmouth R – “on track, 3/8 pole”

Diamonds for Jack, Jul 9, Monmouth T – “comminuted condylar fracture”

Jerseymooseisloose, Jul 14, Monmouth R – “sesamoids fracture, suspensory failure”

Classy Dragon, Jul 16, Freehold T – “knee, ankle”

Frittata, Jul 20, Monmouth T (euthanized Jul 23) – “torn suspensory”

Spiral Bound, Jul 27, Monmouth R – “fractured ankle”

Hijacker, Sep 1, Monmouth R – “fractured pastern”

Old What’s Up (sic), Sep 27, Monmouth T – “coming out of gate – possible aneurysm”

Eastern Front, Oct 6, Monmouth R (euthanized Oct 7) – “Place of Death: Rake Yard”

Carolina Day Dream, Oct 12, Monmouth T – “comminuted fracture”

Across the Bridge, Oct 13, Monmouth R – “Place of Death: Rake Yard”

Heavenly Blessed, Oct 20, Monmouth T – “complete fracture of cannon bone”

Warminister A, Dec 28, Freehold R – “sudden death – cause unknown”

Through a FOIA request to the New Jersey Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills on that state’s tracks in 2018.

White Lightning, May 8, Monmouth T
“heart attack or aneurysm” (three years old)

Steve Says No, May 15, Monmouth T
“ligament rupture”

Pray for Bourbon, June 3, Monmouth R
“sesamoid fracture, comminuted pastern fracture, comminuted condylar fracture”

Head Hunter, June 23, Monmouth R
“fractured condyle”

Marathon Boy, July 7, Monmouth R
“sudden death” (four years old)

Passel, July 24, Monmouth T
“severe displaced fracture of the right carpus”

Chicago Sally, July 31, Monmouth T
“bilateral complete sesamoid fractures”

Magic Mangus, August 17, Monmouth R (euthanized August 31)
“right dorsal displacement; also – “laminitis, pneumonia, colic” – imagine this poor animal’s suffering

Gata’s Applause, August 18, Monmouth R
“comminuted slab fracture”

Chocolate Bourbon, August 31, Monmouth R
“fracture of femur”

Vivid Image, September 2, Monmouth R
“fractured medial and lateral sesamoid – suspect also condylar fracture”

Victory’s Idol, September 4, Monmouth T
“fractured pelvis”

Maderno, September 24, Monmouth T
no injury given

Shades of Grey, September 29, Meadowlands R (euthanized October 1)
“suspensory injury”

Sweet Reef, October 15, Monmouth T
“possible heart attack” (five years old)

Impulse Buy, October 30, Monmouth T
“complete, comminuted [fracture]”

In addition, these horses died on track grounds from what the industry craftily calls “non-racing” causes. Technically true, perhaps, but morally they are no less casualties of this vile business than the ones above.

Every Intention, March 10, Meadowlands
“severe injury to ankle, open wound into fetlock joint – euthanized in pit”

Exclusive Package, May 12, Monmouth
“chronic knee, post-surgical arthritis with new chips in upper joint” (four years old)

unnamed filly, May 24, Monmouth
“received lasix at 5:30; at 6:30 she was down in the stall with no pulse”; cause of death: “no idea” (three years old)

Sugar Foot, June 9, Monmouth
“suffering from EPM, doing poorly, owner elected humane destruction”

Divine Order, June 10, Monmouth
“severe colic, toxic, severe pain”

Fortune Hunter, August 17, Monmouth
“botulism”

Casual Honor (probably sic), October 1, Monmouth
“fever, diarrhea, founder” (two years old)

Through a request to the New Jersey Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following deaths at that state’s tracks in 2017.

Heavy Head, January 21, Monmouth, training
“fractured humerus”

Liscloon, April 7, Meadowlands
“colic”; “carcass removed to M & S Pet Removal” (6-year-old, had been raced 12 times in the first three months of 2017)

Here’s the Moon, May 31, Monmouth, training
“shattered carpus”

Maritime Pulpit, July 13, Monmouth, training
“medial/lateral sesamoid fracture, condylar fracture”

Cool It, July 16, Monmouth, training
“euthanasia due to shock from large laceration with arterial bleeding”

Herriot, July 22, Monmouth, race 6
“complete disruption of suspensory apparatus during race” (third race in three weeks; trainer, Victor Russo)

Big Man Rocket, July 23, Monmouth, training
“euthanasia due to an inoperable carpal fracture”

Cosmic Ruby, December 19, Westampton Training Center, training
“died in stall – complication of routine surgery” (3-year-old coming off consecutive last-place finishes – combined 83 lengths back)

There can be no moral defense for the killing of animals for $2 bets. End it. Now.

Through a request to the New Jersey Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following deaths at New Jersey tracks in 2016:

Ziegler Hanover, April 25, Gaitway Farm (NJ), “euthanasia following fractures of the cannon and pastern bones”

De Millie, May 26, Monmouth (from Laurel training), “euthanasia due to a fractured spine which occurred two months ago in Maryland”

El Charchas, July 16, Monmouth 5, “horse fell…euthanasia due to fetlock dislocation”

Perfectly True, July 20, Monmouth training, “slab fracture knee, displaced, no surgery possible – euthanasia”

Store of Value, August 6, Monmouth training, “shattered pastern – euthanasia”

Bam Bam Brown, November 12, Westampton Farm (NJ) (euthanized November 14), “fractured pastern”

In addition, the following horses died on track grounds from what the industry calls “non-racing” causes. While this may be technically true, morally they are no less casualties of this vile business than the ones above.

El Borracho, June 14, Monmouth, “found dead in am, no signs of struggle”

Bettarun Realfast, July 18, Monmouth, “horse had laminitis of greater than 7 days duration…developed colic today – not responsive to any medications…euthanasia”

Beavis, August 6, Monmouth, “unknown – possible cardiac incident”

What a Cat, September 22, Monmouth, “peritonitis of unknown origin – suspect necrotic bowel secondary to colic”; “Carcass Removed: M & S Pet Removal”

There can be no justification for the killing of animals for $2 bets. End it. Now.