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To paraphrase an old legal adage, if you have the facts on your side, pound the facts; if you have the truth on your side, pound the truth; if you have neither, pound the table and yell like hell. We – see this website – have the first two; they – the racing industry and its slow-witted apologists – are yelling, or distracting, like hell. With each passing day, as the desperation mounts, they search for something, anything, to hold on to; lately, it’s been all about “jobs,” or more specifically, what will become of all the hard-working folk of racing should we, the evil activists, get our wish and racing is defunded (has its subsidies stripped away) and/or outlawed. Well.

Here are some of the racetracks that have closed since the turn of the century and the redevelopment that has (is) followed (following). New jobs. New business. New tax revenue. New, in-demand replacing old, no-longer-viable – the American economic system as it was designed to function. And moral progress, to boot. Imagine that.

Hollywood Park, California, closed 2013
undergoing massive mixed-use redevelopment – jobs, lots of them

Bay Meadows, California, closed 2008
underwent a massive mixed-use redevelopment – homes, offices, retail, parks

Suffolk Downs, Massachusetts, closed 2019
plans for massive mixed-use redevelopment – commercial, retail, residential

Portland Meadows, Oregon, closed 2019
plans for industrial redevelopment – warehousing, distribution, light manufacturing

Hazel Park, Michigan, closed 2018
undergoing commercial redevelopment

Maywood Park, Illinois, closed 2015
undergoing major industrial and retail redevelopment with a projected 700 new jobs

Anthony Downs, Kansas, closed 2009
residential redevelopment

Rockingham Park, New Hampshire, closed 2009
undergoing massive mixed-use redevelopment – with a projected 6,000 jobs

Jackson Harness Raceway, Michigan, closed 2008
plans for a new convention center

Sportsman’s Park, Illinois, closed 2002
redeveloped as a shopping center

Garden State Park Racetrack, New Jersey, closed 2001
underwent a massive mixed-use redevelopment – homes, retail, restaurants

Playfair Race Course, Washington, closed 2001
underwent massive industrial/commercial redevelopment

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I compiled this list for a fellow activist in Maryland. It speaks for itself.

Horses killed on (racing or training) the Laurel Park racetrack since 2014:

2014
Trick the Queen, January 18, racing
Love Is Enough, January 31, training
Victory Unveiled, February 1, training
One to a Royal, February 1, training
Salt Block, February 6, racing
Marie B, February 20, training
Giant Indian, February 26, racing
Tropical Treasure, March 5, training
Bravo Romeo, March 7, racing
Spookorific, March 9, training
Cooper River, March 14 (euthanized March 29), racing
Pure Afleet, March 19 (euthanized March 24), racing
Diva On Demand, March 22, racing
Jump Two, September 5, training
Boastful Dancer, September 11, racing
Charliesirishpride, September 20, racing
Tenleytown, October 2, racing
Angel of Mercy, October 11, racing
Cactus City Road, October 13, racing
Magnificent Moon, October 23 (euthanized November 14), racing
Springs R Loaded, November 1, training
Seeyouinthecountry, November 11, training
Midnight Music, November 14, racing
Tip It On Back, November 19, racing
Boca Babe, December 4, racing
Born to Sail, December 17, racing
Very Potent, December 20, training
Mo Bagels, December 26, racing
Silent Appeal, December 27, racing
Bonnet Carre, December 27 (euthanized December 29), racing

2015
Pop Pop Kiss, January 2, training
Ear D’Rhythm, January 9 (died January 10), racing
Cattagirl, January 21, training
Wonderfella, February 14, racing
Cosmic Gold, February 14, racing
Mr. Flexible, March 13, racing
Second Round, March 19 (euthanized March 23), racing
Eltham, March 21 (euthanized March 26), racing
Cherokee Empire, April 6, training
Cyclone Warrior, April 11, training
Mytrack Marie, April 11, training
Prayer Cloth, May 5, training
Evelyn’s Colors, July 4, training
Passionate Concern, August 4 (euthanized August 5), training
Minescape, August 8 (euthanized August 11), racing
Hertzalot, August 9 (euthanized August 12), racing
Sharp Richard, August 14, racing
Storming Sixty, August 21, training
Blue Deep, September 12, training
He’s Not Bluffin, September 13, racing
Great Smile, October 6, training
Margaret High, October 12, training
Me Darlin Jackie, October 24, training
Tygra, November 9, training
Do It for Fun, November 27, racing
Kind of Silver, December 29, training

2016
Tsonga, January 1, racing
Minor Heir, January 3, racing
Whiskey Rock, January 13, training
Half Wed, January 29, racing
Rock Me Gently, February 12, racing
Carved in Stone, March 4, training
Tiz Stormy, March 7, training
Consistency, March 12, training
Personal Property, March 13, racing
Bruno and Me, March 14, training
Automagically, March 26, racing
Splitter, April 10, racing
Heather’s Rose, April 17, racing
Air Squadron, May 6, racing
Salsalito, May 7, racing
I.E. Flash, August 14, racing
Dannhauser, September 24, racing
Boston Strong, October 14 (euthanized November 12), racing
Cats Serenade, October 16, racing
Pauline’s Pride, October 26, training
Bluegrass Lady, October 30, racing
U.S.S. Boxer, November 6, racing
Arrogant Officer, November 13 (euthanized November 14), racing
Seeking the Sherif, December 20, training
Tactical Hero, December 23, racing
Beware the Fury, December 23, racing
Just Jack, December 31, racing

2017
Nancy’s Spider, January 22, racing
Mr. Winter, February 2, training
Trudys Lucky, February 19, training
She Spoke French, March 4, training
Paranapiacaba, March 4, training
Royal Saint, March 11, racing
Kay’s Finesse, March 13, training
Find Your Revenge, March 25, training
Ideal Behavior, April 2, training
Stalk, April 2, racing
Worthy One, April 3, training
Really Big Bird, April 9, racing
AJ’s Wolf, April 23, training
Stick Shaker, May 6, training
Supero, June 9, racing
Pinkie Blu, June 30, training
Papa Vinny, July 8, racing
Wonderman, July 29, racing
Credit Ready, August 20, racing
Angel’s Gabriel, August 30, training
Inspired Flight, September 2, training
Niigon Express, September 8, racing
Regal Note, September 15, racing
Gloria Patri, September 16, racing
Seventy Niner, September 22, racing
Texarkana Rose, October 3, training
Wicked Heat, October 20, racing
Jerandson, October 21, racing
Broad Surprise, October 29, racing
Bistro, October 30, racing
Leather Goods, November 3 (euthanized November 19), racing
Eyesfirst, December 4, racing
Sunset Arch, December 10, training
Sippy Cup, December 15, racing

2018
Not Above Love, January 7, training
D. K. Two Step, January 12, racing
No Love Lost, January 14, racing
Vua Saigon, January 26, racing
Vim, February 3 (euthanized February 4), racing
Arrivano, February 4, racing
Summer Gems, February 16, training
Gato Dolce, March 10, racing
Bandits Glory, March 23, training
Admiral Alexis, March 25, training
Little Jimmy B, March 29, training
Raging Regina, March 31, training
Sticksandbricks, April 14, training
Ice On the Severn, April 14, racing
Tango Delta, April 14, racing
Asian Trick, June 20, training
Royal Pass, June 24, racing
Minor Legend, July 14, racing
Kaitain, July 14 (euthanized July 21), racing
Defenestration, July 15, training
Markeesa, July 15, racing
Amigo, July 15, racing
Archie’s Revenge, July 22, racing
Menorah Lora, July 28, racing
Amplify, August 16, racing
Tiz a Trill, August 24, training
Crafty Estate, September 14, racing
Simpson, September 14, racing
Straight Tequila, October 5, racing
Rubys Fire, October 5, racing
Inorbit, October 14, training
Yankee’s Milestone, November 8, training
Reedini, November 9, training
Dove Dynasty, November 9, training
Whateverybodywants, November 14, training
Adversary, November 22, racing
Candlestick Nic, December 8, racing
Hazana, December 10, training

2019 (in progress)
Kimberly B., January 11, racing
Tuffy’s Way, January 11, racing
Rosuri, January 26, racing
She’s Stunning, February 1, racing
Doit for Spite, April 17, training
Let’s Blaze, May 3, training
Citi Party, May 5, racing
Hero’s Welcome, June 15, racing
Follow the Petals, June 16, racing
Hot Sriracha, June 29, racing

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4-year-old Rhode Island’s run in the 5th at Belmont Saturday, according to the Gaming Commission: “was placed in a protective hold at 1/2 mile…pulled up near the 7/16 pole; was vanned off in the best interest of the horse [so caring, these racing folks are] and was subsequently euthanized.”

Belmont Park, one of Racing’s crown jewels, has notched five kills in the first nine days of its Fall Meet – five in nine days. So you see, it wasn’t Santa Anita after all.

Belmont’s 2019 carnage – 27 dead, and counting:

Doyouknowsomething, Jan 8, stall – “sustained left elbow injury in stall”
Speke, Jan 19, training – “suffered a fracture to his right shoulder”
Catpsalm, Jan 29, stall – “protozoal myeloencephalitis”
Miss Marion, Feb 3, training – “fractured cannon bone…euthanized on track”
Chronos, Feb 3, training (euthanized Feb 4) – “fractured right front leg”
For Pops, Feb 26, training – “collapsed and died” (four years old)
Queen Bode, Mar 3, training – “euthanized at hospital”
Mighty Zealous, Mar 10, stall – “severe respiratory distress…euthanized”
Miss Marilyn, Mar 23, training – “leg injury…euthanasia on the track”
Miss Mimosa, Mar 28, training – “cardiovascular collapse” (three years old)
Pretty Enuff, Apr 1, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
Luz Mimi, Apr 4, training – “suffered a leg fracture…euthanized”
La Manche, Apr 11, training – “suffered a fracture…and was euthanized”
Noble Cause, May 11, racing – “injuries necessitating euthanasia”
Anne’s Song, May 24, racing – “ambulanced off, euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Successful Mission, Jun 9, training – “sustained fractures while breezing”
Inflection, Jun 9, racing – “euthanized due to poor prognosis”
Ro Bear, Jun 16, stall – “died in the barn from an apparent impaction colic”
With Caution, Jun 28, training – “P1 fracture…died complications from anesthesia”
Fancy Persuasion, Jun 30, racing – “cardiovascular collapse” (two years old)
yet-to-be-named, Jul 11, training – “fractured sesamoids…euthanized”
La Fuerza, Jul 27, training – “fractured humeral, ambulanced to barn, euthanized”
Royal Inheritance, Sep 6, training – “collapsed and died” (five years old)
Passporttovictory, Sep 6, racing – “bad steps”
Mo Moxie, Sep 7, training – “sustained a fracture and was euthanized on track”
Deft, Sep 12, racing – “broke front leg and was euthanized on the track”
Rhode Island, Sep 14, racing – “was vanned off…subsequently euthanized”

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While NYRA and Saratoga Race Course are busy celebrating “another successful season,” here was the cost of that success, courtesy of our own Linda Rydant. (The Borough Boy replay – 1:45 mark – alone should be enough for all Americans of good conscience and compassion to forever forswear this vile business.)

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Forced (by the media – thank you) to answer for the nine dead horses so far at Saratoga – on pace to easily outstrip its historical average of 14 per summer – NYRA propaganda czar Patrick McKenna, according to the Times Union, “said the Saratoga meet has been safe [and] points out that of the nine horse deaths, only one [italics added] was during racing.” In other words, the other eight dead horses – five training, three back in their stalls – are not germane to the topic of “equine safety,” even though McKenna goes on to cite “the daily inspection and testing of racing and training [bold added] surfaces and inspections of equine athletes [bold added]” as the primary reasons for the “demonstrably safer” NYRA tracks.

Last year, I compared 2013 – the year of NYRA’s supposed safety overhauls – with 2017; the results speak for themselves. And while the numbers dropped a bit in 2018 – only 59 deaths at the three NYRA tracks – here we are in 2019 sitting at 35 – with almost five full months to go. And no, Mr. McKenna, it matters not a whit where or how an active racehorse dies. Every death in the industry is by the industry.

The Saratoga ’19 victims:

Golden Julia, May 30, stall, “found distressed in stall; referred to Rood & Riddle, whereafter horse died from acute blood loss”; Golden Julia was two years old and coming off a training session (at Saratoga) just five days prior

Investment Analyst, Jun 7, training, “sustained leg injury necessitating euthanasia”; Investment Analyst was two years old; he was being prepped for his first race

Gattino Marrone, Jul 3, training, “fractured sesamoids, euthanized”; Gattino Marrone was three years old and had been put to the whip 6 times

Fight Night, Jul 12, racing, “fell heavily after the wire, euthanized on track”; Fight Night was three years old, and this was her 5th time under the whip

Total Fidelity, Jul 14, training, “suffered fracture to LF sesamoids, euthanized”; Total Fidelity was two years old; she was being prepped for her first race

Overlord, Jul 15, stall, “developed post-op complications (colonic rupture), euthanized”; Overlord was three years old and coming off a training session (at Saratoga) just one week prior

Verravanni, Jul 25, stall, “diagnosed with pleuropneumonia 7/11, euthanized on 7/25 due to lack of positive response to treatment”; Verravanni was two years old and coming off a training session (down in Kentucky) just eight days before diagnosis

Misspent Youth, Jul 27, training, “cardiovascular collapse breezing on Oklahoma turf course”; Misspent Youth was five years old and had been put to the whip 13 times

Umetuka, Jul 31, training, “injured galloping on main track, vanned off for x-rays, euthanized”; Umetuka was four years old and had been put to the whip 9 times