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The 7-year-old mare Lookin Kinda Crazy was raced in a $5,000 claimer (all horses “For Sale,” cheap) at Parx yesterday. It was her 41st time under the whip; there is a high likelihood it was also her last. The chart says she “took a bad step and fell at the sixteenth pole.” As you watch, you’ll see that Lookin was hopelessly bringing up the rear throughout the entire race – right up, that is, till she “made a move” about twenty seconds prior to going down. What propelled this sudden burst? Multiple whip strikes, of course, from jockey Joel Cruz.

At a minimum, it is apparent that Mr. Cruz violated 5533 in Pennsylvania’s cruelty statutes: “A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly or recklessly illtreats, overloads, beats, abandons or abuses an animal.” But if in fact Lookin is dead, 5534 – a felony, by the way – should apply: “A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly…violates section…5533 causing serious bodily injury to the animal or the death of the animal.” Perhaps a bit of edification/pressure is in order?

Office of the District Attorney, Bucks County (Matt Weintraub)
Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania (Josh Shapiro)
Bensalem Police Department: 215-633-3719

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The CHRB has disclosed the death of a Standardbred at Cal Expo January 14, although they got the name wrong. 13-year-old Hi (not “High”) Fidelity was scratched (apparently because she was either dead or dying) from the 1st race that day. The Board did not give an immediate cause. Rick Cisco is the complicit trainer.

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Better Tomorrow finished 2nd in the 7th at Golden Gate January 7, but, says Equibase, he “lost action in the final strides” and was “vanned off.” Today, we learn the 3-year-old is dead, apparently euthanized Saturday – eight days after being injured.

In the 8th Sunday at Golden Gate, Mugaritz also was a “lost action, vanned off”; he, too, has been confirmed dead. Mugaritz was six.

This is horseracing.