To those who profit from, bet on, watch, or otherwise support horseracing, the burden falls to justify the following in 21st Century America.
Some of the racehorses killed last year (I have not included California and Maryland; those states provided the most detail and merit stand-alone views).
Elegant Son, Feb 20, Saratoga Harness
“apparent broken neck”
Herecomesangelina, Mar 14, Belmont
“collapsed and died” (two years old)
Never Not Dancing, Apr 11, Saratoga Harness
“apparent broken neck”
Wakanda, May 2, Vernon
“found deceased in its stall”
No More Miracles, May 18, Finger Lakes
“collapsed and expired after a.m. workout”
Kenny Hustle, May 20, Finger Lakes
“suffered sudden death” (three years old)
Daddy Frank, May 25, Belmont
“collided with rail, could not stand after multiple attempts”
President Elect, May 28, Hawthorne
“ran May 28; found dead in stall next morning”
Jba Movin Thedynasty, Jun 5, Wyoming
“died – heart attack” (six years old)
Miss Yum Yum, Jun 11, Delaware
“fractured skull, died”
Band Camp Boy, Jun 11, Energy
“lost LH hoof, euthanized” (two years old)
My Money Is Good, Jun 14, Arapahoe
“complete, displaced, severely comminuted, open [through skin] fracture of the cannon bone” (two years old)
Commending, Jul 2, Arizona
“[multiple] spinal fractures” (two years old)
Vindatude, Jul 3, Saratoga
“collapsed and expired” (three years old)
Alfred Hanover, Jul 11, Northfield
“horse got loose after race, ran erratically, and took off to the pond; personnel ran to assist, but the horse was under water with the bike – drowned”
Playalinda, Jul 16, Monmouth
“[multiple] open, severely comminuted fractures – both hind limbs; large, gaping laceration extending from fetlock to diaphysis, exposure of bone fragments; ruptured and torn ligaments and tendons; environmental debris – dirt, grass – contaminated the fracture site” (again, that’s two shattered legs)
Anna’s Candy, Jul 17, Monmouth
“horse flipped: comminuted, displaced skull fractures with brainstem compression”
Swanky, Jul 18, Arapahoe
“left carpus has fractured bone protruding from the limb and is completely separated and lacking ligamentous or tendon attachments; P1, 2 and 3 remain attached to the protruding metacarpal bone by a thin strand of skin”
Fox Valley Adele, Jul 22, Meadowlands
“sudden death: rupture of pulmonary artery with severe hemorrhage” (two years old)
Sweet Tiramisu, Jul 24, Fairmount
“flipped, hind legs and tail paralyzed, euthanized”
Our Buddy, Jul 27, Arapahoe
“multiple comminuted skull fractures, extensive hemorrhage” (two years old)
Rylees Rose, Aug 3, Colonial
“[likely] gastric rupture, rectal tissue extruding from anus” (three years old)
Rbdocsbestbet, Aug 6, Arizona
“collapsed: pulmonary hemorrhage” (three years old)
Eyesa Got Easyer, Aug 6, Arizona
“fractured/dislocated both front fetlocks” (again, both front fetlocks)
Mort, Aug 9, Belterra
“horse was working, collapsed at 1/16 pole – bled out”
Ready Edge, Aug 10, Colonial
“superficial digital flexor tendon ruptured, deep digital flexor tendon shredded, medial proximal sesamoid shattered into four pieces”
Romped, Aug 11, Belterra
“horse fell: compound fractures of [both front legs] just below the knees” (again, both front legs)
Roster Bo James, Aug 15, Arizona
“collapsed: pulmonary hemorrhage”
Rockymountain Brew, Aug 15, Prairie
“sudden death at finish line” (three years old)
Road to Meath, Aug 19, Monmouth
“severe subcutis hemorrhage in head, eye, subgingival, laryngeal folds, tracheal wall”
Fillybuster, Aug 25, Belterra
“horse [bled out] due to fracture compromising the vasculature of hind legs”
Strawfly Eagle, Aug 30, Arapahoe
“high-speed trauma: open, displaced fractures [of] left carpus and right fetlock; complete rupture of suspensory ligament; all intra- and peri-articular supporting structures severed” (again, two broken legs; three years old)
Lil Alma, Aug 30, Colonial
“collapsed, got back up and ran 1/8 mile on three legs – tibia fractured into several pieces, surrounding musculature severely shredded, multiple hemorrhages throughout” (two years old, very first race)
Jesst You Watch, Aug 31, Prairie
“found dead” (two years old)
Snowtrick, Sep 2, Remington
“shattered both RF sesamoids”
Beast Market, Sep 3, Gulfstream
“collapsed – unable to be revived” (two years old)
Classic Escape, Sep 4, Monmouth
“[in gate]: severe, extensive injury to the base of the tail and immediately adjacent area (perineum and anus) characterized by tearing of the subcutis from the underlying fascia and musculature; connective tissue and skeletal muscle severely stretched, separated, frayed, and torn with formation of a large cavity between the tissues that was filled with a large amount of blood and necrotic tissue debris”
High Speed Chase, Sep 7, Emerald
“blunt-force head trauma with fractures to the base of the skull and large volume of hemorrhage”
Inhonorofowenjr, Sep 7, Finger Lakes
“collapsed and expired”
Swaggy G, Sep 14, Belterra
“long pastern shattered [after wire]” (very first race)
Eyesa Red Boy, Sep 14, Will Rogers
“flipped, trauma to skull”
No Code, Sep 17, Belmont
“collapsed and died after breezing” (three years old)
Lifetime Delight, Sep 19, Harrington
“pulmonary hemorrhage post-race”
Irish Kid, Sep 21, Remington
“compound fractures of ankle and cannon” (ankle and cannon; two years old)
Palm Reader, Sep 23, Delaware
“cervical fracture, died”
Hey Hey Dancer, Sep 23, Monmouth
“fracture with protrusion of bone fragments, extensive soft-tissue hemorrhage, ruptured and torn ligaments; contamination of the site with foreign particulates – i.e., dirt and other organic debris” (two years old)
Imthefastkind, Sep 30, Lone Star
“flipped in gate, trauma, euthanized”
Legacy Slew, Sep 30, Remington
“collapsed and died – hemorrhage from nose”
Backster Ball, Oct 4, Remington
“hit head”
A. P. Mayday, Oct 8, Remington
“laminitis, pleuropneumonia” (two years old)
Town Square, Oct 13, Belmont
“collision, multiple injuries, euthanized on track”
Azaria, Oct 14, Aqueduct
“catastrophic injury, in distress, euthanized on track”
Icy Intent, Oct 15, Monmouth
“open fracture, multiple tears/ruptures, extensive hemorrhage” (two years old)
Officer Nick, Oct 18, Hawthorne
“horse dropped dead: severe pulmonary hemorrhage” (three years old)
Kj Flying Spirit, Oct 27, Lone Star
“fell in gate, trauma, died”
Kershaw, Oct 28, Monmouth
“trauma, sudden death: comminuted vertebral fracture with displaced fragments severely compressing and crushing the spinal cord”
Cabernet, Nov 1, Dayton
“mare collapsed while racing, made gurgling noises and had blue gums, quit breathing 30-60 seconds after falling, died soon after”
Angel’s Entry, Nov 4, Mahoning
“horse flipped completely over and hit his head; on [vet’s] arrival, he had nystagmus, dilated pupils, blood in ears, and pooling from nostrils”
Maybe Utah, Nov 4, Will Rogers
“[found] dead in stall” (five years old)
Anastasia Nero, Nov 9, Northfield
“horse collapsed on backstretch – bilateral epistaxis [bleeding from both nostrils], hemorrhage from right ear”
La Hermosa, Nov 11, Turf
“head/brain trauma” (two years old)
Purchase Point, Nov 18, Mahoning
“found deceased at 6:30 am [today]” (three years old)
Stormy Lass, Nov 19, Aqueduct
“collapsed and died after wire” (two years old)
Khozie’s Ghost, Dec 9, Hawthorne (euth Dec 14)
“comminuted vertebral fracture, spinal cord compressed and lacerated”
Mercys Bling, Dec 9, Lone Star
“fell, trauma, paralysis, euthanized”
P L Idaho, Dec 10, Freehold
“sudden death: severe bilateral pulmonary [both lungs] hemorrhage; copious amounts of blood drained from the nostrils and mouth, soiling the muzzle, chin, and face”
First Down Icon, Dec 15, Turf
“fractured spine” (two years old)