Word from Kentucky is that former superstar racer turned breeding machine Havre de Grace died yesterday at a farm in Lexington, the result, says BloodHorse, “of multiple hemorrhaging episodes after producing a colt two days earlier.” Those internal bleeding “episodes,”…
The breeding shed is its own kind of servitude, creating its own kind of suffering. With zero control over his own wants and needs, a “stud” is but a machine whose sole purpose is to produce successful – as defined,…
The Stronach Group is one of U.S. Racing’s major powers, with five Thoroughbred tracks under its umbrella, including marquee venues Santa Anita, Gulfstream, and Pimlico. This week (which is not yet done) has been, to put it generously, a public…
Late last year, Kenton County (Kentucky) Animal Services began an investigation of the extreme neglect of nine horses owned by exercise rider Brandie Hart (aka Brandie/Brandi Wood). Disgustingly, even after finding that neglect, Hart was initially allowed to keep the…
From the “right from their mouths” department… In a recent Harness Link letter to the editor, a United States Trotting Association (USTA) director, David Siegel, took his industry to task for not signing on to HISA. In it, he writes:…
Yes, we all know horseracing kills (HW estimates six deaths at U.S. tracks every single day), but what makes my hatred that much more intense is the attitude toward that killing. The occasional torrent of prayers and condolences – though…
In a recent “Open Letter to the Racing Community,” two Breeders’ Cup execs decried anyone in racing still trying to thwart the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA). I for one don’t care about either side’s position or the reasons…
As I’ve written regarding California’s missing “vanned off” horses: Much is being made of California’s lower kill numbers. One of the things the industry, led by The Stronach Group (TSG), is supposedly doing is more surgical repairs. But history says…
Sunday, The Maine Monitor published a piece on that state’s harness industry. It’s good work, and I encourage you to take a look (and not just because I am quoted in it). As usual, the other side gives us plenty…
Back in August 2021, trainer Orlando Noda was fined $5,000 for an incident at Saratoga earlier that month. After a subsequent hearing, Noda was also suspended 90 days and ordered to complete an anger-management course. He is currently fighting those…
Last week, the Wyoming Gaming Commission made a rulings dump for the past year. Amid a slew of drug violations – mephentermine, phentermine, clenbuterol, albuterol, et al. – various incidents of “obscene language,” connections skipping out on the post-race urine…
Saturday afternoon, Norman Cash will race Beverly Park at Fair Grounds in Louisiana. It will be the 5-year-old’s 47th race – but 30th just this year. That’s 30 races, one year (all under Cash). To make matters more abhorrent, after…
