Through a FOIA request to the Texas Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks in 2020. Please note, however, that there is a large gap between February and June. While this was the beginning of the pandemic, it defies belief that no racehorses died – racing (and there was some), training, or in stall – during this almost-four-month period. So, view this accounting accordingly.

Data Force, Jan 20, Sam Houston T – “sudden death – died on track” (two years old)

Volley Molly, Feb 6, Sam Houston T – “leg fracture – euthanized on track”

Blind Sea, Feb 15, Sam Houston R – “leg fracture, extensive hemorrhage in soft tissue around fetlock joint with fraying of tendons and ligaments, extensive loss of cartilage”

Harlan Selection, Feb 19, Sam Houston R – “hypovolemic shock – died on track”

Mary Jane’s Double, Jun 3, Lone Star R – “leg fracture, extensive hemorrhage to the subcutaneous tissue and fascia surrounding the fetlock joint”

Always Secret, Jun 8, Lone Star R – “heat stress in test barn after race”

Giant Pulpit, Jun 9, Lone Star T – “spinal fracture, head and neck trauma”

For D’s Knight, Jun 17, Lone Star R – “[multiple] fractures: comminuted, open, displaced, complete; tendons and ligaments are torn, frayed, and covered in dirt”

Prince Jet, Jun 27, Lone Star S – “colic”

Wild Indy, Jun 29, Lone Star R – “open, complete, highly comminuted fractures; [multiple] tendons and ligaments are hemorrhagic and variably frayed/torn”

Dashing Sweet Brujo, Jul 4, Retama T – “fractured leg”

Coronado Effort, Jul 9, Retama S – “colic”

Oreeo, Jul 18, Retama S – “colic”

Jess Master Angel, Jul 24, Retama R (euthanized Jul 27) – “fractured sesamoid”

Nola Win, Aug 9, Lone Star R – “fractured sesamoid”

Dashin Chiquita, Aug 19, Retama S – “colic”

Jess a Hilbily Bone, Aug 29, Retama R – “subflex of pastern joint” (60th race)

So Long Reba, Sep 11, Lone Star T – “fractured basilar”

Canyutel, Oct 2, Lone Star T – “fractured sesamoid”

Heiress Effort, Oct 15, Lone Star S – “colic”

Kiss My Axle, Oct 18, Lone Star S – “illness”

Double Down On Me, Oct 24, Lone Star R – “slab fracture”

Mister Riptide, Nov 7, Lone Star R – “fractured both front [legs]”

Avyator, Nov 28, Lone Star R – “fractured sesamoid”

Through a FOIA request to the Texas Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks thus far this year:

Data Force, Jan 20, Sam Houston T – “sudden death – died on track” (two years old)

Volley Molly, Feb 6, Sam Houston T – “leg fracture – euthanized on track”

Blind Sea, Feb 15, Sam Houston R – “leg fracture, extensive hemorrhage in soft tissue around fetlock joint with fraying of tendons and ligaments”
also: “chronic: extensive loss of cartilage”

Harlan Selection, Feb 19, Sam Houston R – “hypovolemic shock – died on track”
The official race chart, by the way, said, “fell after the wire in distress and was vanned off.” “Vanned off” – already dead, that is.

Mary Jane’s Double, Jun 3, Lone Star R – “leg fracture, extensive hemorrhage to the subcutaneous tissue and fascia surrounding the fetlock joint”

Always Secret, Jun 8, Lone Star R – “heat stress in test barn after race”

Giant Pulpit, Jun 9, Lone Star T – “heart attack” (six years old)
Giant Pulpit was raced four times this year, all at Oaklawn in Arkansas. He finished last (of 10) twice, 8th once, and was a “DNF” in the other. Then dead – of a “heart attack” – a few weeks later. Perhaps trainer Allen Milligan might have some insights?

For D’s Knight, Jun 17, Lone Star R – “[multiple] fractures: comminuted, open, displaced, complete; tendons and ligaments are torn, frayed, and covered in dirt”
The official race chart said, “went wrong, fell, vanned off.” Once again, however, the horse was euthanized where he lay.

Prince Jet, Jun 27, Lone Star S – “colic”

Wild Indy, Jun 29, Lone Star R – “open, complete, highly comminuted fractures; the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons, the strait and oblique sesmoidian ligaments, the suspensory ligament and extensor branches, and palmer ligament are hemorrhagic and variably frayed/torn”

Through a FOIA request to the Texas Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks in 2019. (This is Part 2; Part 1 here.) (Please note: With but two training deaths listed since May, the carnage in the Lone Star State is surely being underreported by the “connections”/tracks/Commission.)

Witt’s Cut, May 10, Lone Star R – “open fracture MCIII”

Sister Ashlee, May 17, Lone Star S – “colic” (last raced 13 days prior)

Hez Dashin Bigtime, May 17, Sam Houston R – “horse flipped in holding barn”

Yankee Gambler, May 19, Lone Star S – “laminitis” (raced 37 times)

Typhoon Tycoon, May 19, Lone Star T – “sesamoid fracture”

Magnum Maduro, Jun 1, Lone Star R – “sesamoid fracture”

Moro Chief, Jun 8, Lone Star R – “fetlock disarticulation”

yet-to-be-named, Jun 13, Lone Star S – “laminitis” (two years old)

F J Uncle Vic, Jun 30, Lone Star R (euthanized Jul 4) – “chondritis” (63rd race)

Pal Play, Jul 11, Lone Star R – “cannon fracture” (first race)

Smoklahoma, Jul 15, Lone Star T – “condylar fracture”

Carolina Jasmine, Jul 20, Lone Star R – “fetlock, both sesamoids”

Miss Perry Twister, Jul 23, Retama S – “colic” (last raced Jul 5)

Squeeze My Corona, Jul 27, Retama R – “spinal cord fracture”

Klone, Aug 10, Gillespie R – “cannon bone fracture”

Chattering Class, Aug 10, Retama S – “foundered” (70 races – most recently Jul 18)

Facunda, Sep 6, Retama R – “spinal cord fracture”

Little Bean, Sep 10, Retama R – “fetlock fracture”

Promissory Note, Oct 4, Lone Star S – “cellulitis”

Tenue de Soiree, Oct 22, Lone Star S – “neck/back”

Fm Dynasty Rock, Nov 9, Lone Star R – “facial/nasal fractures – massive blood loss”

Through a FOIA request to the Texas Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks through April 21:

Team Colors, Jan 27, Sam Houston R – “bilateral proximal sesamoid fracture”
Come and Take It, Jan 29, Retama – “leg caught in stall door, fractured fetlock”
Twice Please, Feb 16, Sam Houston T – “severe back injury working from gates”
Charlie Webb, Mar 2, Sam Houston T – “high transverse cannon bone fracture”
Doctor C., Mar 10, Sam Houston – “vet scratch, colic Mar 9, died Mar 10”
Colt Silver Bullet, Mar 13, Sam Houston T – “sesamoid fracture, cannon fracture”
Ghost Speaker, Mar 19, Retama T – “sudden death on track” (two years old)
Tommy Grossman, Mar 26, Sam Houston R – “sudden death on track” (four years old)
Supernumerary, Mar 30, Sam Houston – “severe laminitis”
yet-to-be-named filly, Apr 7, Lone Star – “pneumonia/colitis/renal failure”
It’s All Up to You, Apr 20, Lone Star R – “fetlock disarticulation”
Montt, Apr 20, Lone Star R – “P1 fracture”
Thisonesmylife, Apr 21, Lone Star R – “cannon fracture”

The full report on Supernumerary: “Horse shipped from Fair Grounds Race track after original injury. Horse [treated] for septic arthritis RH fetlock – non-responsive to [treatment] – progressed to severe laminitis leading to euthanasia.” The 3-year-old Supernumerary was last raced at Fair Grounds in December, so it’s safe to assume that he was suffering for weeks, if not months, with the “original injury,” then “septic arthritis,” and finally, “severe laminitis.” Imagine that.

This is horseracing.