The chart note for Hinton in the 2nd at Hawthorne yesterday: “a bit reluctant to load, was urged along the inside disputing the pace in the opening half, gave way racing into the far turn, was pulled up entering the lane, then was vanned off the course.”

“a bit reluctant to load”

“was urged along”

“was pulled up”

“was vanned off the course”

Translation: He did not want to “race.” He was forced to anyway – and whipped in the process. He was injured, maybe before the race even started. He was ambulanced away, which means it’s a good (better than even) chance he’s dead today. (I will definitively find out with a FOIA request.) The 6-year-old was under the whip for the 20th time; he had not “won” a race in almost three years. Oh, and he was also “For Sale” at the bargain-bin price of $5,000 prior to. Trainer, Ingrid Mason; owner, Muddy Water Stables; jockey, Charles Roberts.

An update on a pair of horses we’ve previously highlighted…

Last Sunday at Camarero, 12-year-old Pickett’s Charge was put to the whip for the 138th time. He finished almost 12 lengths back. His abuser is still Jose Lozano. Same day, at Mountaineer, 10-year-old Lady Panther went under the whip for the 105th time. She finished over 14 lengths back. Her abuser remains Shane Spiess. Both horses were, of course, “For Sale” prior to their races.

Camarero Racecourse: 787-641-6060
Mountaineer Racetrack: 800-804-0468

Starship Carnegie was first put to the whip in 2016. From the beginning, she was run exclusively in “claiming” races (meaning she was “For Sale” each and every time out). After an August 2018 race, she disappeared from the charts. “Retired,” perhaps? No, as it turns out: This past Sunday, Starship was forced back onto the track – after over two years away. And the result was what you might expect: Running in the 1st at Mountaineer, the now 8-year-old finished 21 lengths back. The miscreants responsible: owner (and breeder) Starship Stables, trainer Jay Bernardini.

The 4-year-old filly Persevering Honor was a “scratch” (removed from race prior to) in the 7th yesterday at Thistledown. Here, in pictures, is why:

Friday, 5-year-old Ghostly Who “won” the 4th race at Keeneland. The following is how he looked immediately after that race. While the cause of the bleeding remains unclear, what is certain is that this poor animal suffered, even if only for a brief time, while being forced – via a whip – to “race” for a share of $20,000. (First place was worth $12,000 – as it turned out, the last payday for trainer Robertino Diodoro and owner Mike Sisk, as Ghostly was sold for $8,000 right before the race.)

The replay – in vivid detail – can be found here (hit Oct 9, race 4).