With the close of racing this past Saturday, the ’21-’22 season at Turf Paradise is officially in the books. Over that six-month, roughly 120-date period, Turf, I have confirmed, hosted 43 kills – and that, of course, is only what they are disclosing. Here are the victims. (I’ll get more detail with my FOIA.)

Florida Two Step, Oct 28, training
My Proposition, Oct 29, training
Cats Blame, Nov 9, racing
Ambers Storm, Nov 10, stall
Half Cocked, Nov 30, racing
Wasjuannowpaul, Dec 6, stall
Naughty Swagger, Dec 14, racing
Originate, Dec 17, training
Midnight in Maui, Dec 20, stall
Alleyesfollowbelle, Dec 27, training
Tazeeti, Dec 27, training
Midnight Luck, Dec 29, racing
Creative Plan, Jan 7 (euthanized Feb 11), racing
C Dub, Jan 10, stall
Pay Tavasco Rent, Jan 13, stall
Raagheb, Jan 14, racing
Tamarando’s Mine, Jan 17, racing
Adorable Brittany, Jan 17, racing
Wed O’s Champ, Jan 19, racing
Aries, Jan 21, stall
Lily Malacara, Jan 21, stall
Cause I’m Leavin, Jan 26, training
Circus Ride, Jan 27, racing
Ms Michelle, Feb 9, racing
Sky’s the Limit, Feb 10, racing
Kodiak King, Feb 16, racing
Supah Sista, Mar 4, racing
Copper Peg, Mar 9, training
Distinguished, Mar 11, training
Black Drop, Mar 11, racing
Brewery Gulch, Mar 17, training
Bud Lovweiser, Mar 20, stall
Reign On, Mar 21, stall
Lil Ms. Phyllis, Mar 22, stall
Declared Best Card, Mar 24, racing
Sawmill Favorite, Apr 4, stall
All American Candy, Apr 6, racing
Green Eye Woman, Apr 19, training
Launch Pad, Apr 20, training
Bellybutton Icon, Apr 28, racing
Make Me Blush, May 3, racing
Autism’s Ribbon, May 4, training
The Valiant One, May 5, stall

As fully expected, Speedcuber has been euthanized (today) after “suffering an injury near the 1/8 pole” Saturday at Santa Anita. She was four years old; ’twas her third time under the whip. She is the sixth (admitted) dead horse at Santa Anita this year.

Dylans Wild Cat, Feb 3, training
Warren’s Showtime, Feb 26, training
Royally Command, Apr 17, racing
Magnolia, Apr 25, training
Cayton Kid, Apr 26, training
Speedcuber, May 7 (euthanized May 9), racing

To all those who submitted disgusting defenses of the outrider who abused Rich Strike Saturday, I ask, simply, what is to be your rationalization for the following?

The 3rd at Remington yesterday. Mi Bella Valentina is the horse seen flipping and thrashing in the gate. She is (was) three. Maudest Maven is the horse seen bouncing off the dirt several times. She, also, is (almost assuredly, was) three.

(I made the video a bit longer than usual in order to more comprehensively show the horror – pay special attention to the head-on in the final minute.)

Two more kills at Belmont Thursday. First, Fast Getaway was injured while training, ambulanced to barn, euthanized. He was seven years old and had been raced 21 times. Then, a yet-to-be-named 2-year-old died in his stall – probably colic.

Belmont Park, site of next month’s third leg of the “Triple Crown,” has already notched 20 kills in 2022 – this, after 50 last year and 53 in 2020.

The 2022 Victims, Thus Far

Viking Zim, Jan 2, Belmont S – “laminitis”
Dunph, Jan 5, Belmont T – “fracture, lameness, euthanasia”
Devils Dare, Jan 21, Belmont S – “found in stall unable to stand…euthanized”
Derby Kisses, Jan 25, Belmont T – “suffered a complete P1 fracture”
Minit Maus, Feb 1, Belmont T – “pulled up lame…euthanized”
Pepe’s Pride, Feb 15, Belmont T – “humeral fracture”
Dazzle Time, Feb 18, Belmont S – “inoperable colic”
Happy Medium, Feb 24, Belmont T – “pulled up, splint, ambulanced, euthanized”
Geno, Feb 26, Belmont T – “suffered an injury while galloping – euthanized”
Herecomesangelina, Mar 14, Belmont T – “collapsed and died” (two years old)
Steadfast Love, Mar 22, Belmont T – “humeral fracture, muscle atrophy”
Noble Thought, Mar 26, Belmont T – “injured…euthanized on track”
Five Alarm Robin, Apr 2, Belmont T – “collapsed and died breezing” (five years old)
Dario’s Angel, Apr 11, Belmont S – “to [hospital] via ambulance, euthanized”
Sister Luck, Apr 14, Belmont T (euthanized Apr 17) – “suspected pelvic fracture”
Green Light Go, Apr 22, Belmont T – “unsalvageable injuries”
Baby I’m Perfect, Apr 28, Belmont R – “sustained an injury at the five-furlong pole”
Not So Grimm, Apr 30, Belmont R – “vanned off, euthanized in barn”
yet-to-be-named 2-year-old, May 5, Belmont S – “died in his stall”
Fast Getaway, May 5, Belmont T – “injured, ambulanced, euthanized”