Abused, Missing: Far Fly, Casanova Kiddo
On July 25th, 4-year-old Far Fly was reported to have bled in a race at Indiana Grand. She was returned to that same track August 20th and finished 7th of 9, 20 lengths back. Two weeks later: 7th of 11,…
Everyday Cruelty
Read MoreAbused, Missing: Far Fly, Casanova Kiddo
The Ongoing Abuse of Semper Kurry
On July 26th, 3-year-old Semper Kurry “fell over [a] fallen rival” (DNF) in a race at Gulfstream. Since, the Ralph Ziadie-trained, Lucille Geranis-owned colt has been put to the whip six times (all at Gulfstream or Gulfstream West): August 16th,…
Abused, Missing: Coffee Man, Storm Over Pawnee, Carbonite
On July 9th, 5-year-old Coffee Man was vanned off after the 2nd at Mountaineer – this after averaging 25 lengths back over his previous five starts. He returned to finish last of 10 at Mountaineer on September 9th. He has…
Abused, Missing: Springbreaker, Leadin Rusher, Star Lookout
On July 5th, 3-year-old Springbreaker was “pulled up in distress” in a race at Prairie Meadows. 13 days later at that same track, he finished last of 10 – 40 lengths back. He has not been heard from since. Trainer,…
Abused, Missing: Pink Friday, It’s a Bang, Charm Me Again
In the 4th race July 3rd at Delta, 3-year-old Pink Friday hit the rail and was pulled up. In her next race, a $5,000 claiming October 3rd at Evangeline, she finished last of 10 – “sluggish, out of it.” She…
Crack That Whip
A family-fun Sunday at Fair Grounds in Louisiana: In the 1st, “TRIDENT HERO…proved best [won] under a right-handed whip”; “UNION EXPRESS [who placed] was urged along while off the pace…came under a right-handed whip…was switched to a left-handed whip…” “proved…
Some Excessive Whipping and a Dead Standardbred at Cal Expo
From the January Cal Expo (harness racing) Stewards’ Minutes: “Driver Mark Eaton was fined for violation of the ‘House Whipping Rule’ – ‘ANY BLATANT OR EXAGGERATED MOVEMENTS OF THE WHIPPING ARM WHICH WILL RESULT FROM RAISING THE ELBOW ABOVE THE…
The Abuse of Seeking Bliss
The 5-year-old mare Seeking Bliss has been put to the whip a total of 8 times – all under breeders/owners Donald and Kenneth Ferguson and trainer (excepting one race) Jesus Mendoza. The results are as ugly as the industry that…
Where Are These Seven Abused Horses?
In the 7th race June 1st at Thistledown, Reno Star “returned bleeding from the nostrils.” At that same track three weeks later, the Joshua Faulkner-trained mare once again “returned bleeding from the nostrils.” She has not been heard from since.…
How Racing Makes a Hero of a Slave
From the website Horse Racing Nation: “Horses like Eltoninadress are the heart and soul of Thoroughbred racing, venerable campaigners who love to win. The 5-year-old mare won for the ninth time from 31 starts… It was only a lowly claiming…
The Abuse of Beau American
Beau American is (was?) a 6-year-old racehorse. He has been put to the whip 50 times in the past four years, and, as claiming chattel, was “for sale” prior to each and every one of those races. The most recent…
Still Under the Whip: 11-Year-Old Calculating Jimmy, 12-Year-Old Missing Sefa
It is well-established veterinary fact that horses are not fully mature till around six. Racing, because it would be economically prohibitive to wait (so it’s not going to change), typically begins pounding equine bodies at two – or the rough…