Through a call to the state vet, I was able to confirm that 5-year-old Our Deputy Express was euthanized after breaking down in Thursday’s 2nd race at Delaware Park. Prior to her fatal fall (“leaving the backstretch”), Our Deputy Express…
4-year-old Havana Sunrise, trained and owned by John Salvato, died Saturday at Finger Lakes from a “septic infection to RR Metatarsophalangeal.” Though termed “non-racing,” make no mistake, this young filly is a horseracing casualty. By the way, in her last…
7-year-old career claimer Back Talking broke down in last night’s 5th race at Mountaineer and can be presumed dead. Prior to his fatal fall, Back Talking “lacked speed and traveled mid track throughout.” The complicit: jockey Brandon Whitacre and the…
3-year-old This Guy Is Blue is dead after breaking down in yesterday’s 9th at Belmont. In a career that spanned 9 races – all under trainer John Kimmel and owners Chester and Mary Broman – the colt never once finished…
As has been repeated ad nauseam here, racing is loath to give up its dead. But it’s not just the tracks and state commissions: As a rule, for beat publications and mainstream media alike, the only newsworthy deaths are those…
Running in his very first race – a QuarterHorse trial at Ruidoso Downs yesterday afternoon – 2-year-old child Finns Huckleberry broke down. The complicit: jockey Tanner Thedford, trainer C. Dwayne Gilbreath, and owner/breeder Robert Roark.
Either from self-delusion or as a base marketing ploy, racing people speak almost exclusively in sport vernacular. Accordingly, to them, each racehorse actually represents a larger “team,” complete with owner, coach, assistants, team doc, and, of course, the athletes themselves…
The California Horse Racing Board has confirmed that 5-year-old Mel’s Game, reported as vanned off after the proverbial “bad step” last Thursday at Santa Anita (1st race), did in fact die from his injury. The gelding was running – via…
I have confirmed that 6-year-old career claimer Commandeer is dead after breaking down in yesterday’s 2nd race at Belterra. In his penultimate start on May 30th (at Belterra), Commandeer finished last of eight; two starts before that, on May 9th…
Two horses have been killed at Finger Lakes in as many days: In the 9th race yesterday afternoon, 7-year-old Elsaroarin, making start number 44, broke his right front pastern. And today, 4-year-old Western Grit, with two DNFs in the past…
4-year-old Roses for Romney was killed in the 8th race yesterday at Belmont. The complicit: jockey Irad Ortiz Jr, trainer Christophe Clement, owner/breeder Lawrence Goichman, and all priors. Here is the replay (“Race Replays,” Wednesday, Race 8). Slow-motion at around…
An exercise rider, Mourad Boudraa, is dead after his 3-year-old mount Tawney’s Wish had “a suspected fatal heart attack” yesterday at Woodbine. The filly had raced but once, May 25th at that same track, finishing dead last (of 11) some…
