Through a FOIA request to the Texas Racing Commission, I have confirmed the following kills at that state’s tracks from August through December of last year (this is part 2; part 1, which ran through Aug 5, is here).

There are, you will see, only three listings. That the whole state of Texas had only three deaths after August 5 defies belief, and I said so in an email to the Commission. In response, they magically found one more (initially they had only forwarded two deaths, with no causes or locations), but that was it. In addition, there were two deaths on the first FOIA in August that were not included this time around (I asked for the entire year in order to cross-check and to make sure no horses slipped through the cracks). Bottom line, the Texas recordkeeping is slipshod at best, and I simply do not accept that the 30 kills I have for 2021 is the true toll.

Jessa Louisiana Dash, Oct 6, Sam Houston T – “sesamoid fracture”
Marmalade Candy, Oct 26, Lone Star S – “found dead” (five years old)
Kw Sally, Nov 20, Lone Star R – “comminuted carpal fracture”

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

Commanding Candy, Jan 8, Sam Houston R – “torn suspensory ligament”

Flyin’ Easy, Jan 18, Sam Houston T – “scapula fracture”

Brave Nation, Feb 4, Sam Houston T – “bilateral fracture”

Twisted Emotions, Feb 21, Sam Houston T – “fetlock disarticulation”

Flitter Bye, Mar 19, Sam Houston T – “cannon fracture” (two, being prepped for debut)

Gal Named Ann, Apr 2, Sam Houston T – “fracture” (two, being prepped for debut)

Rare Redidirt Road, Apr 19, Sam Houston T – “comminuted fracture”

Moro Jetsetter, Apr 22, Lone Star R – “sesamoid fracture”

Versailles, Apr 24, Lone Star T – “comminuted fracture” (being prepped for debut)

Call Dish, May 7, Lone Star R – “sesamoid fracture”

Ileavethelighton, May 16, Lone Star R – “carpal slab fracture”

General Trev, May 21, Lone Star R – “carpal slab fracture”

High Pursuit, May 22, Lone Star R – “sesamoid fracture”

Hoist Your Glass, May 27, Lone Star S – “joint infection/sepsis” (was raced May 7)

Delicious Pursuit, Jun 5, Lone Star R – “acute death”

Dac Timetoshine, Jun 10, Sam Houston S – “colic” (was raced May 22)

Sheer Devil, Jun 11, Lone Star R – “sesamoid fracture”

Lone Star Heat, Jun 19, Lone Star T – “sesamoid fracture”

Sir Angel, Jun 24, Sam Houston S – “colic” (nine years old, was raced May 22)

Easy Return, Jun 24, Sam Houston T – “possible cardiac” (two years old)

Beta Lake, Jun 27, Lone Star R – “sesamoid fracture”

Jordans Game, Jul 4, Gillespie R – “humeral fracture” (two years old, first race)

Expect Halo, Jul 4, Lone Star T – “severe groin injury”

Pretty Britches, Jul 9, Lone Star R – “sesamoid fracture”

Country Love, Jul 9, Lone Star R – “scapula fracture”

Blue Duck La Jolla, Jul 14, Sam Houston R – “humerus fracture”

Kk Dashing Fury, Aug 5, Sam Houston R – “complete luxation, severed ligament”

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”