Going into its big day of the meet (six stakes races) yesterday, Fair Grounds in Louisiana had this to boast: four – yes, four – kills in the previous six days of racing:

J Rob – who “won,” had celebratory pics taken, then was euthanized – on the 9th
Big Shanty on the 11th
Jim’s Silverbullet (in a “spill”) on the 16th
Take Charge Cece on the 17th

Four kills in six days. Where’s CNN? Where’s that Santa Anita outrage?

And another. In the 1st race at Santa Anita today, Uncontainable “took a bad step,” says the chartwriter, and is dead. Officially (CHRB): “Fractured right front ankle; per recommendation from the attending veterinarian, the horse was humanely euthanized.” Uncontainable was four and under the whip for the 11th time. He is the second horse killed in a race at Santa Anita in as many days, and 8th fatality statewide since January 1. Nothing has changed. And nothing will.

So the question for Governor Newsom, for Senator Feinstein, for Senator Harris, for each and every member of the California Legislature, for PETA and other advocacy groups working for reform, and for the good citizens of the state of California: How many more? How many more intelligent, sensitive beings must die – for, I remind, $2 bets and frivolous entertainment – before you understand that this can’t be fixed. Horseracing is inherently cruel and inevitably deadly. Horseracing must end. Period.

Thus far, at least three horses have died at Los Alamitos this month. According to the CHRB, Eyell Be Back is dead of an injury suffered in the 7th January 10. He was two. Ruby Roundhouse (Jan 1) and Jest Famous (Jan 7) succumbed in their stalls to what the Board is calling “gastrointestinal” issues. They were two and three, respectively.

Having just reported on Santa Anita’s third kill (of the current meet) this morning, we can now make it four. The CHRB says that Buckstopper Kit died on January 7 from an undisclosed cause. Buckstopper was four and had been put to the whip 21 times.

This is horseracing.

In the last race yesterday afternoon at Santa Anita, Harliss, a 5-year-old under the whip for the 12th time, “weakened in the final furlong and was vanned off” (Equibase). In fact, he is dead – euthanized, says the track’s website, for a snapped right front ankle. Harliss becomes the third kill in the current meet – Truest Reward Dec 26, Golden Birthday Jan 1 – and 46th, yes 46th, in a little over a year.

Please don’t allow yourselves to be duped by their supposed reforms (or, for that matter, their newfound “transparency”). First, where was this zeal for “equine safety” in 2018, 2010, 1995? But more to the point, as long as human beings whip-force horses to “race,” death is inevitable. Don’t believe it? Spend a few minutes on this site.

The (Recent) Carnage at Santa Anita Park:

Psychedelicat, killed racing at Santa Anita December 30, 2018
Tank Team, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 4, 2019
Unusual Angel, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 4, 2019
Secret Street, killed training at Santa Anita Jan 8, 2019
Derby Treasure, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 11, 2019
Henry, dead at Santa Anita January 14, 2019
Noise Mandate, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 18, 2019
Amboseli, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 20, 2019
Like Really Smart, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 21, 2019
Last Promise Kept, killed racing at Santa Anita Jan 21, 2019
Ponchito, dead at Santa Anita January 22, 2019
Dancing Harbor, killed training at Santa Anita Jan 23, 2019
Spitfire, killed training at Santa Anita Jan 25, 2019
Mongolian Hunter, dead at Santa Anita January 28, 2019
Kid Cantina, killed racing at Santa Anita Feb 2, 2019
Comegowithme, killed racing at Santa Anita Feb 3, 2019
Jager Time, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 17, 2019
Unusual Rider, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 18, 2019
Hot American, killed racing at Santa Anita Feb 22, 2019
Battle of Midway, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 23, 2019
Just Forget It, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 23, 2019
Charmer John, killed training at Santa Anita Feb 24, 2019
Eskenforadrink, killed racing at Santa Anita Mar 2, 2019
Cooney, dead at Santa Anita March 4, 2019
Lets Light the Way, killed training at Santa Anita Mar 5, 2019
Princess Lili B, killed training at Santa Anita Mar 14, 2019
Arms Runner, killed racing at Santa Anita Mar 31, 2019
Rolling Shadow, dead at Santa Anita April 4, 2019
Commander Coil, killed training at Santa Anita May 17, 2019
Spectacular Music, killed racing at Santa Anita May 19, 2019
Kochees, killed racing at Santa Anita May 25, 2019
Current Times, dead at Santa Anita May 27, 2019
Derby River, killed training at Santa Anita June 5, 2019
Formal Dude, killed racing at Santa Anita June 8, 2019
Truffalino, killed racing at Santa Anita June 9, 2019
American Currency, killed training at Santa Anita June 22, 2019
Zeke, killed training at Santa Anita September 16, 2019
Emtech, killed racing at Santa Anita September 28, 2019
Ky. Colonel, killed training at Santa Anita October 5, 2019
Satchel Paige, killed racing at Santa Anita October 19, 2019
G Q Covergirl, killed training at Santa Anita October 25, 2019
Bye Bye Beautiful, killed racing at Santa Anita October 27, 2019
Mongolian Groom, killed racing at Santa Anita November 2, 2019
Truest Reward, killed training at Santa Anita December 26, 2019
Golden Birthday, killed racing at Santa Anita January 1, 2020
Harliss, killed racing at Santa Anita January 17, 2020

In the 7th at Fair Grounds yesterday afternoon, Jim’s Silverbullet “broke down” and was subsequently euthanized. In its report, the Daily Racing Form called the fatal event a “spill” and noted that two other horses “went down in avoiding the stricken horse.” Vile. Jim’s Silverbullet was two and under the whip for the 2nd time.