Celtic Miracle was “vanned off” the track after the 5th at Los Alamitos Friday. We now know (CHRB) that the filly was vanned to her death. Los Alamitos, you might remember, was placed on “probation” back in July for what was, at the time, a toll of 30 kills since the first of the year. Since coming off that “probation” – when their “new safety plan” was approved – nine more horses have lost their lives. (The current 2020 tally is 41; two horses died whilst probation was going into effect.) That’s nine kills in just about three months. Boy, have they solved their problems, or what? Vile.

Golden Zapper was killed today while training at Belmont. He was but two years old and being prepped for his debut. This is horseracing.

In the 7th at Mahoning yesterday, “GIOVANTE…suffered a catastrophic injury…and was euthanized” (Equibase). This, remember, is the same day Absolutely Aiden went down at the Breeders’ Cup in Kentucky. But while the media – racing and mainstream alike – was flooded with stories of AA, there will be nary a mention of Giovante. For you see: Mahoning is a low-rent racino; Keeneland is one of America’s crown jewels. Giovante perished in a cheap ($4,000) “claiming” race, Absolutely Aiden in a $150,000 “stakes” race. Giovante was a 6-year-old gelding with but $34,000 “career” earnings; Absolutely Aiden was a 4-year-old colt (meaning he was being preserved for the post-racing breeding shed) who was averaging almost $20,000 every time out. What’s more, it’s “prayers and condolences” for the one, angrily discarded betting tickets for the other. Not here, however. Here, these poor, poor animals are equal in every way.

In the 2nd race at Keeneland today – part of the Breeders’ Cup weekend – Absolutely Aiden “suffered an injury and fell…then was vanned off.” The 4-year-old colt is, we now know, dead: “humane euthanasia was in the best interest of the horse,” said a statement from the track. By virtue of the setting – the richest two days in horseracing – and given what has befallen this industry over the past year – heightened scrutiny in the wake of Santa Anita – this kill will undoubtedly be all over the media. What won’t be mentioned, however, is that this happens to multiple horses on American tracks every single day. And that, in every way possible, is an outrage.