The title of a BloodHorse article yesterday: “KHRC Vet: No Fatalities at Ellis Park After Six Days.” Imagine that. Six whole days, no dead horses – this is what qualifies as news, something, apparently, to be celebrated in the horseracing…
In advance of Saturday’s Belmont Stakes… Since the Gaming Commission began disclosing such things in 2009, 612 horses have lost their lives at Belmont Park – an average of almost 45 per year. At a minimum, this should give you…
Yesterday, I wrote of HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus’ reluctance to shut down Churchill or any death track for fear that livelihoods would be adversely affected. Later in the day, it was announced that “in an abundance of caution,” beginning June…
Beyond the obvious sadness involved, animal activism can be, to say the least, extremely frustrating work. Change, while it does happen, never comes quite fast enough. But I’m here to say that on this issue, while we obviously still have…
In its official response to the current catastrophe – five kills in six days – Churchill Downs, claimed, among other derisible things, that “transparency is an important component of our commitment to safety and accountability in horse racing.” Okay, here…
A statement from Churchill Downs today follows. While reading, bear in mind that two more horses – That Khenny, Loot the Moon – were “vanned off” this afternoon. So the disaster may have already gotten worse. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, May…
This week is the most anticipated of the U.S. Racing calendar, with the Kentucky Derby, the world’s most famous race, slated for next Saturday. It’s an even bigger deal, of course, in host state Kentucky, and most especially at Churchill…
As Laurel’s owner (the Stronach Group) and the horsemen who race there continue to bicker over who’s responsible for the four (possibly five) kills this month – spoiler: they both are; horseracing is – our perspective was covered by Baltimore…
Racing at Laurel has officially been canceled for the entire weekend. And now it’s beginning to make more sense. Bigmancan, who was a “pulled up lame, vanned off” Thursday, is confirmed dead, the second kill at Laurel that day –…
In the wake of at least one kill yesterday (Golden Pegasus; Bigmancan was “pulled up lame, vanned off”), Laurel Park canceled its full card today. Initially, the suspension of racing was open-ended, but according to the track’s website, racing will…
Vernon Downs, a harness track in western NY, opened its “season” yesterday. In a press release carried in HarnessLink, the track’s assistant GM said: “Vernon Downs is a historic venue, and we are thrilled to have the support of top…
Live racing at Laurel yesterday was canceled, says The Maryland Jockey Club, “out of an abundance of caution to do a full evaluation of the racing surfaces.” Left unsaid was that apparently (multiple sources), two yet-unidentified horses were injured during…
