Just disclosed by the NYS Gaming Commission (why the delay?): Gattino Marrone “fractured sesamoids” training at Saratoga July 3 – dead. The 3-year-old becomes Saratoga’s third victim on the season – a season that officially opened yesterday.

Also, a yet-to-be-named 2-year-old broke down training at Belmont yesterday morning – “ambulanced to barn, euthanized.” He/she is the 21st dead racehorse at Belmont since the 1st of the year. NYRA’s vaunted safety program exposed – again.

From the NYS Gaming Commission: “Dash For The Cash died following 2nd place win [at Monticello Tuesday] in route to the barn.” No other details were given, but Dash was 11 – prime of life for a horse, old (because of the incessant grinding) for a racehorse. He is the 7th kill at Monticello this year – extraordinary for a harness track.

The end for a horse named Metallic came in the 4th race at Monmouth yesterday afternoon: “METALLIC vied outside for the lead, was badly injured entering the far turn and fell, euthanized after.” The Equibase writer also reports (in a decidedly loathsome manner) that another horse, The Best Candy, “fell over [his] fallen rival and was vanned off.” His “fallen rival,” of course, was the mortally injured Metallic.

This is horseracing.

Just a few days after the director of racing for California county fairs strongly implied in a CBS article that the problem rests with Santa Anita and that the fair circuit is a pretty safe affair, we have this for Pleasanton, Alameda County:

In the 5th Sunday, No New Friends was said by Equibase to have “went wrong,” one of Racing’s favorite euphemisms for dead. Indeed, I have confirmed (CHRB) that the 3-year-old was euthanized for an ankle injury.

In the just-released Stewards Minutes (June 23), Joy of the Saints is reported “euthanized/died” while training.

Over the past five fiscal years, 45 horses have died at Pleasanton, this in but a few weeks of racing each year. Here are the kill numbers for all fairs since 2013:

2013-2014: Sacramento 4 dead racehorses; Ferndale 1 dead racehorse; Fresno 3 dead racehorses; Pleasanton 12 dead racehorses; Santa Rosa 2 dead racehorses; Stockton 1 dead racehorse; Fairplex 4 dead racehorses

2014-2015: Sacramento 1 dead racehorse; Ferndale 1 dead racehorse; Pleasanton 18 dead racehorses; Santa Rosa 1 dead racehorse; Stockton 3 dead racehorses; Fairplex 8 dead racehorses

2015-2016: Sacramento 2 dead racehorses; Ferndale 1 dead racehorse; Pleasanton 7 dead racehorses; Santa Rosa 1 dead racehorse

2016-2017: Sacramento 1 dead racehorse; Fresno 1 dead racehorse; Pleasanton 5 dead racehorses; Santa Rosa 3 dead racehorses

2017-2018: Pleasanton 3 dead racehorses; Santa Rosa 1 dead racehorse

“Safe horseracing” is impossible. Always has been, always will be.

The 4th at Parx yesterday afternoon, as relayed by the Equibase writer: “Daybreaker, unruly in the post parade and fractious in gate, suffered a catastrophic injury to his right hind and was euthanized.” So, this young (adolescent) 4-year-old horse was “unruly and fractious” – indicating he didn’t want to be there – prior to being whipped to “race,” then “suffered a catastrophic injury” and is dead. A sincere question to all within, and all who support, this vile business: How do you sleep at night?

How do you sleep at night?