Everyday Obituaries

NY is the only state in the nation that maintains a public website listing its dead racehorses. Theoretically, any horse who dies on or at a NYS track ends up on this list – and in real time. That said,…

I have confirmed that Texas Rapper is dead after breaking down in the 8th yesterday at Sunland. Prior to dying in the New Mexico dirt, the 3-year-old gelding had been put to the whip 11 times, all under trainer Johnnie…

In the 7th at Louisiana yesterday, Mm Paul Revere finished 4th, earning $750 for his people. But that wasn’t the end of his line – turns out, the 3-year-old “fell past [the] wire” and was euthanized for an undisclosed injury.…

Sunday at Parx, two horses died in back-to-back races: In the 1st, 7-year-old Bracket Buster “collapsed on the track and died on his way back to the barn,” this after an official finish of 45+ lengths back. Prior to yesterday,…

7-year-old Rule Breaker is dead after breaking down while practicing at Golden Gate February 16th. He was trained by John Martin.

4-year-old Doubly Smart “was humanely euthanzied” after “breaking down badly” in yesterday’s 3rd at Parx. After being put to the whip 22 times by trainer/owner/breeder Elizabeth Merryman, the gelding was sold to trainer Scott Lake/owner Joseph Besecker for $16,000. And…

According to the Daily Racing Form, Sprague River – whom the chart had as merely “took a bad step…pulled up…vanned off” – was euthanized following yesterday’s 4th at Santa Anita. She was five days shy of her 4th birthday. Trainer,…

5-year-old Belonging, reported to have been merely “vanned off” (“bad step”) after a race at Santa Anita last Thursday, was in fact euthanized for her injuries. The George Papaprodromou-trained mare was put to the whip 14 times in her short,…

Four horses “broke down” on American tracks yesterday; all can be presumed dead: 4-year-old I Jus Wana Hav Fun went down in the 1st at Fair Grounds. The 22-start mare was “for sale” at $5,000 prior to falling. Trainer/owner, Edward…

The California Horse Racing Board has disclosed the following deaths at Golden Gate: 4-year-old Warrens Hornblower, February 2nd: “right front leg became infected following race on 3-21-14; was treated aggressively, but unsuccessful.” 2-year-old Peaceful Quiet, February 4th: fractured right front…

Saturday, I posted on the breakdown/death of La Ranchera at Tampa Bay the day before. Her fatal crumple, you may remember, initiated a pileup that eventually included four horses. One – Bright Promise – was listed as vanned off; the…

Yesterday – Monday, one of the slowest racing days of the week – two more racehorses were sacrificed for $2 bets and racino-subsidized pots of gold: In the 4th at Parx, 4-year-old Trust in Tebow broke down and was “humanely…