The latest Del Mar Minutes are in. While no dead are specifically identified (because California does not require such transparency), the “deceased” tally for the week comes in at four. This presumably includes Unusualy, Alicanto, and All the Marbles –…
Desert Trial, a 2-year-old colt, is dead from a “suspected cardiovascular collapse” (Gaming Commission) while training at Saratoga yesterday morning. Again, two – on the maturation chart, the rough equivalent of a first-grader. “Cardiovascular collapse.” Desert Trial was raced once,…
Today is Travers Day, among a handful of the most celebrated on the American racing calendar. The feature, of course, is the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, at once historic – first run in 1864, it is billed as the oldest…
At Saratoga today: In the 1st, 9-year-old Bob Le Beau “broke down” – dead. In the 10th, 3-year-old Ring of Truth “went wrong, fell” – also dead. To date, 13 racehorses have lost their lives on these hallowed grounds: Hadeed…
As with Saratoga in New York, a single California track dominates the summer scene, garnering, along the way, (mostly) fawning coverage from mainstream media and racing press alike – Del Mar, of course. And yet, just like NY, other tracks…
As Saratoga readies for one of Racing’s grandest days (Travers), the kills keep coming. This morning, 4-year-old Elusive Neko, being prepped for a third Saratoga ’16 start, broke a leg in practice, was “vanned off,” and subsequently euthanized (Gaming Commission).…
On the same day I reported that Del Mar had hit at least 18 dead on the summer, another horse was felled. 3-year-old All the Marbles was euthanized, says the Daily Racing Form, “after suffering a catastrophic ankle fracture just…
While the NY racing world (and much of the rest of the country) remains fixated on Saratoga – where, incidentally, 10 racehorses have died thus far – kills are still coming in from other Empire State tracks. According to the…
Saratoga and Del Mar continued their ignominious summers of killing yesterday: At Saratoga, 3-year-old Prince Corredor “suffered a cardiovascular collapse and died after breezing” (Gaming Commission). “Cardiovascular collapse” at the human equivalent (in physical maturity) of a grade-schooler. But rest…
According to the most recent Del Mar Stewards Minutes, Hadfunlastnight was euthanized back in the barn after being “vanned off” August 12 (race 3). Dead. The 7-year-old had been under the whip for the 40th time. The minutes reveal two…
Recently disclosed by the NYS Gaming Commission: 3-year-old Was It Worth It suffered an injury in the 6th at Finger Lakes July 19. From there, “left stifle swelling, ligament rupture” – euthanized August 8. This past Monday, Victorious Lover, also…
From the Daily Racing Form: At Del Mar, 4-year-old Unusualy “collapsed after completing a five-furlong workout Monday and perished.” According to the paper, he is the 13th track-related kill there this summer – 6 racing, 7 training. There have also…
