New York has already recorded its fifth kill on the young year when the Standardbred That’s Official went down training at Monticello yesterday: “collapsed…died on track – suspected heart attack.” “Heart attack” – That’s Official was but seven years old.

This is horseracing.

Santa Anita Park has disclosed the death of Cali Caliente while training yesterday morning: “probable cardiovascular event.” Cali was but four year old – or still in puberty. And his heart gave way. But of course the apologists will say it had nothing to do with racing. Vile.

Spy Story, says Equibase, “took bad steps then was vanned off” in the 4th at Aqueduct yesterday. We now know (Gaming Commission) that, no surprise, he is dead. Spy Story was two years old, and this was his very first race. He is the fourth horse to die at a New York Racing Association track in the first eight days of 2021. This, after 84 kills last year. And yet, NYRA still has the chutzpah to boast of “the best proven safety practices” in the industry. Vile.

This morning at Belmont, says the Gaming Commission, All Mo “unseated the rider on the training track, ranned [sic] of [sic] the track and suffered a [sic] opened distal radial fracture – euthanized.” He was two and had been put to the whip once, at Aqueduct in November. He is already the third dead horse in NY on the young year.

The Equibase note for Private Union in the 7th at Parx yesterday: “PRIVATE UNION trailed early then suffered a catastrophic injury near the five sixteenths pole.” ‘Twas the 2-year-old’s 5th time under the whip.

This is horseracing.