Everyday Obituaries

Two “athletes” “broke down” in the same Belterra race yesterday afternoon; “broke down,” of course, is the industry’s euphemism of choice for dead. Glint, eight, had been put to the whip 43 times entering Sunday; Mr. Mostly, six, 52 times.…

A world away from the odious excesses at Churchill Downs, America’s more pedestrian venues – that is to say, the vast majority of U.S. racetracks – continued their relentless pounding of equine bodies yesterday. And killing: In the 6th at…

In April ’13, a 2-year-old racehorse named Czech Revolution “broke down” – snapped both front legs, a la Eight Belles – while training at Delta Downs. Dead. But this, of course, is not what made this story newsworthy to the…

The entire racing “career” of a horse named Lovelibuzz: November 27, Parx, “maiden claiming” – last of 8, 26+ lengths back April 18, Parx, “maiden claiming” – last of 8, 45+ lengths back May 3, Parx, “maiden claiming” – “broke…

The Racing Kill-Machine doesn’t discriminate – some horses go down after several years and many races (more than a few, no doubt, due to said pounding), others after having just arrived on the scene. Case in point, yesterday (Equibase): At…

The carnage continues: Yesterday afternoon at Tampa Bay, 4-year-old Congrats to Ken “broke down” in the 4th race – “euthanized,” says Equibase. Last night at Saratoga Raceway, 4-year-old Ideal Brandi “collapsed and died on the track” in the 11th race…

The Equibase chart for the 8th last evening at Los Alamitos: “MACHO SOX…broke down… FIDDLER BLUE…fell over the fallen horse…vanned off.” Both, according to the track itself, dead – two more sentient beings killed for $2 bets. How does 21st…

(At least) two horses “broke down” yesterday on U.S. tracks; a “broke down” on the charts is virtually synonymous with dead. 3-year-old Sawyers Mickey in the 6th at Thistledown. Trainer, Peter Walder; owner, Loooch Racing; breeder, Susan King; jockey, Scott…

The NYS Gaming Commission reports that Copper Forest “collapsed and died while galloping out after breezing” at Finger Lakes Friday – “a suspected cardiovascular event,” they say. Copper Forest was ten – old in the Racing world – and had…

A racing truth: The kill-machine is never idle. Yesterday, Monday, one of the two lightest days of the U.S. Racing week, yet another hapless horse lost his life in the pursuit of handle cash. Salty’s Hero, four, “broke down and…

Friday’s 9th race at Keeneland was a $100,000 Grade 3. In other words, the kind of race that typically garners press coverage. Owing to such coverage, we now know that one of those under the whip that evening, a 4-year-old…