I have been able to confirm the following deaths at Mountaineer Racetrack:

Pastorelli in the 7th race July 9. He was four years old and under the whip for the 10th time. Rose’s Asset in the 4th race August 25. She was six years old and under the whip for the 35th time. Flying Around in the 9th race December 2. He was six years old and under the whip for the 53rd time.

It’s worth noting that according to my source, all three were euthanized where they lay – on the track, that is. Yet according to the Equibase notes, each was “vanned off” after taking a “bad step” – no mention of death. They lie and deceive because dead horses – now more than ever – are bad for business.

Even though the NYRA baton has been passed to Aqueduct, the killing at Belmont Park continues. The NYS Gaming Commission has disclosed the following:

Goneonamission “found deceased in stall with apparent head injury Nov 24.” The 2-year-old was raced at Aqueduct just two days prior, finishing dead last, some 57 lengths back. Germane? Perhaps.

Sweet Timing “stall bound since Oct 12 due to pelvic injury, developed fever and pleuropneumonia – euthanized Nov 29 due to poor prognosis.” The Commission, of course, is trying to pass this off as “non-racing”; we, however, know there’s no such thing, for all deaths within Racing are by Racing. But in addition, the 3-year-old Sweet Timing was “worked out” on Oct 9, meaning it’s a good bet the pelvic injury that led to her death was incurred on the track.

For those who may have lost count, that’s 37 dead horses at Belmont Park this year. 37. For shame, America.

Doyouknowsomething, Jan 8, stall – “sustained left elbow injury in stall”
Speke, Jan 19, training – “suffered a fracture to his right shoulder”
Catpsalm, Jan 29, stall – “protozoal myeloencephalitis”
Miss Marion, Feb 3, training – “fractured cannon bone…euthanized on track”
Chronos, Feb 3, training (euthanized Feb 4) – “fractured right front leg”
For Pops, Feb 26, training – “collapsed and died” (four years old)
Queen Bode, Mar 3, training – “euthanized at hospital”
Mighty Zealous, Mar 10, stall – “severe respiratory distress…euthanized”
Miss Marilyn, Mar 23, training – “leg injury…euthanasia on the track”
Miss Mimosa, Mar 28, training – “cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Pretty Enuff, Apr 1, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
Luz Mimi, Apr 4, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
La Manche, Apr 11, training – “suffered a fracture…and was euthanized”
Noble Cause, May 11, racing – “injuries necessitating euthanasia”
Anne’s Song, May 24, racing – “ambulanced off, euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Successful Mission, Jun 9, training – “sustained fractures while breezing”
Inflection, Jun 9, racing – “euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Ro Bear, Jun 16, stall – “died in the barn from an apparent impaction colic”
With Caution, Jun 28, training – “P1 fracture…died complications from anesthesia”
Fancy Persuasion, Jun 30, racing – “cardiovascular collapse” (two years old)
yet-to-be-named, Jul 11, training – “fractured sesamoids…euthanized”
La Fuerza, Jul 27, training – “fractured humeral, ambulanced to barn, euthanized”
Royal Inheritance, Sep 6, training – “collapsed and died” (five years old)
Passporttovictory, Sep 6, racing – “bad steps”
Mo Moxie, Sep 7, training – “sustained a fracture and was euthanized on track”
Deft, Sep 12, racing – “broke front leg and was euthanized on the track”
Rhode Island, Sep 14, racing – “was vanned off…subsequently euthanized”
Coffee Crush, Sep 19, training – “cardiovascular collapse”
Have Another, Sep 20, stall – “severe laminitis”
Meet Me in L A, Sep 21, racing – “went wrong…euthanized”
E Z for You to Say, Oct 10, stall – “severe laminitis [both front] feet” (two years old)
Mo Fun, Oct 14, training – “suffered a cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Kid Robin Hood, Nov 2, training – “sustained a fracture at the 5/16 pole”
Darken a Day, Nov 10, training – “sustained injury to leg requiring euthanasia on track”
Long Haul Bay, Nov 21, stall – “severe colic”
Goneonamission, Nov 24, stall – “found deceased with apparent head injury”
Sweet Timing, Nov 29, stall – “pelvic injury…fever and pleuropneumonia”

And another: 3-year-old Koa “broke down,” collapsed, and was euthanized while training at Del Mar yesterday morning. He is the 5th dead horse in the ultra-short “Bing Crosby” Fall Meet (which ends today) and 11th on the year.

In an interview with the San Diego Reader back in July – when the Santa Anita crisis was still red-hot – Del Mar CEO Joe Harper boasted the following: “Del Mar is one of the safest, if not the safest, racetrack in North America. I can point to a Fall meet where we didn’t have a single breakdown.” First, if he’s referring to last year, which I assume he is, that last statement is categorically untrue. As to the rest, if this is what the “safest racetrack in North America” looks like, good luck.

Charge a Bunch, killed training at Del Mar Jul 18
Carson Valley, killed training at Del Mar Jul 18
Bowl of Soul, killed training at Del Mar Jul 29
unidentified, died in stall at Del Mar Jul 31-Aug 4
unidentified, died in stall at Del Mar Aug 5-Aug 11
Bri Bri, killed training at Del Mar Aug 12
Princess Dorian, killed racing at Del Mar Nov 10 (euth Nov 18)
Ghost Street, killed racing at Del Mar Nov 10
Prayer Warrior, killed racing at Del Mar Nov 10
Slewgoodtobetrue, killed training at Del Mar Nov 17
Koa, killed training at Del Mar Nov 30

As a postscript, in that same article, Harper praised PETA as “more reasonable” than “those folks with the signs who protest outside [his] gates.” When asked if he believed that those protesters’ ultimate goal is to end horseracing, Harper replied, “I seriously doubt whether an animal rights person will back off.” No we won’t, Joe. No we won’t.

Here’s what we know: Indy’s Quick Image was raced at Parx October 12; he finished last, some 71 lengths back. Yes, 71. After that race, the 5-year-old was shipped to Delaware Park. At some point early the next morning (the 13th), according to the Delaware Racing Commission, he was “found dead in the barn area.” Apparently, the Commission is conducting an investigation, though with Indy’s Quick Image having been a cheap claimer (and still “maiden,” at that), I can’t imagine it’s much of a priority.

For many within U.S. Racing the problem is U.S. Racing. Drugs, mostly – Lasix, a lack of uniformity, etc. – but also dirt surfaces, claiming races, and the like. The clear suggestion being that if only we could emulate clean, well-run jurisdictions like Hong Kong, France, or England, all would be right with the world. Because you know, horses don’t die over there, at least not like they die here in the States.

I recently received the following video of a horse – Voyage King – breaking down in a race at Happy Valley in Hong Kong November 20. The Hong Kong Jockey Club subsequently confirmed that Voyage King’s fracture was “irreparable” and he was “humanely euthanised.” But there’s more: According to the JC itself, just this past May the 4-year-old VK was diagnosed “lame left front leg [yes, same one that broke] on the day after racing, [with] osteoarthritis in both front fetlocks.” Then in September, “substantial blood in trachea after racing.” How’s that for “doing things the right way”?

The reader and person who took the video, Oliver Kemsley, was attending his first horserace. Fair warning: it is difficult to watch.