Facts, as the great John Adams once declared, are stubborn things.
And facts are what we present here. We firmly believe that if those coming to this site do so with an open mind, a fresh lens, they will see horseracing not for how it has been sold – as sport, “The Sport of Kings” – but rather as the cruel and deadly (gambling) industry that it is.
Everyday Obituaries
4-Year-Old Brody Confirmed Killed at Turfway
Brody, said the chartwriter at Turfway Dec 20, “suffered an injury and was transported off the track in an ambulance.” We now have this followup from the Racing Commission: “The horse [was] transported to a Lexington clinic for further evaluation where he was humanely euthanized due to his poor prognosis.” “The horse” was four years…
Three More Kills at Oaklawn for Our List
Although Arkansas (along with Florida) no longer honors our FOIA requests, I have still been able to confirm the following kills at Oaklawn this year: Hired Gun, broke down in the 1st race Feb 23. He was 2. Colosi, broke down in the 6th race Apr 24 (chart said “in apparent distress”). He was 10.…
Santa Anita Notches 19th Kill in 2025
The CHRB has just disclosed (five days later) that Chosen Son died training at Santa Anita last Sunday. It was “non-musculoskeletal,” so this was likely a “sudden death” of one kind or another (heart, lungs, etc.). He was three years old and coming off his debut. He becomes the 19th horse killed at Santa Anita…
“Breakdowns” on Consecutive Days at Monticello
The NYS Gaming Commission reports kills on back-to-back days at Monticello this week. Monday, it was 10-year-old Meadowbranch Ricky – “broke down at 1/4 pole”; Tuesday, 4-year-old Within The Wild – “broke down prior to race 4.” While the poor Standardbreds typically endure much longer tenures of abuse than their Thoroughbred cousins, for a couple…
Everyday Cruelty
The Daily Toll Outside the Killing
Over the course of just 9 days at Turfway (Dec 3-18), 20 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet – i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them – for being “injured” or “unsound,” another 28 by private vets for being “injured” or “ill,” and 2 horses who were “claimed” (bought) prior to races…
Just a “Tumble,” Huh?
Another Long-Abused Horse Needs Us
Two days ago, we asked you to speak in behalf of Mo Dont No, who was slated to go under the whip for the 96th time, and so many of you did. Thank you. As it turned out, Mo’s race was canceled due to weather (we will keep you updated). Today, we have another action…
Be His Voice, Please
In October, I posted about Mo Dont No twice – here, and here. At the time of the second, the 12-year-old was about to be raced for the 93rd time. That race, at Mahoning, happened – and two more followed at that same track. Today, at Mahoning, Mo is scheduled for the whip again -…
Recommended
Pro-Racing Journalist: “One fact you can’t escape is that horses will die in racing, despite all efforts.”
I have always held a special disdain for racing fans who, doubling as journalists, are gifted tremendous forums for spewing their deceptions, and thus are extremely influential in the court of public opinion. Exhibit A has always been Joe Drape of The New York Times. A close second for a long time was the LA…
CHRB Says They’ve “Done All the Work on the Animal Welfare Piece”; 83 Dead Horses This Year Says Otherwise
A Christmas Eve article by John Cherwa in the LA Times is at its core an exercise in hand-wringing, as made clear by its title, “California horse racing is at a crossroads. Can it survive?” With Golden Gate Fields having begun its final-ever meet, which will leave the whole of Northern California without a single…
Vet: “I feel that Rockinhippiechick suffered tremendously in her final moments.” And The Stronach Group Is to Blame.
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 that the equine post-surgery survival rate is very low (think Barbaro). Problem is, the injured…
The Disgusting Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance
In a press release earlier this month, the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) gushed over a risible $50,000 donation from The Stronach Group on Pegasus Day at Stronach-owned Gulfstream Park. Risible not only because the day featured two million-dollar-plus races, but, more important, because Stronach is a multi-billion-dollar corporation. $50,000 for aftercare. But back to the…
Racing’s Corporate Welfare
Despite Being “Placed to a Protective Hold” and “Expertly Pulled Up,” Horse Is Dead
According to the chartwriter at Aqueduct Thursday, The Golden Gorilla (quite a name, huh?) “suffered an injury to the left front leg near the half-mile pole and was placed to a protective hold…before being expertly pulled up…and transported off the course via ambulance.” One man’s hero – “protective hold,” “expertly pulled up” – is another’s…
Progress: B.C. Shuts the Subsidy Spigot Off; Hastings Likely to Close
Friday, the province of British Columbia posted a public letter announcing an end to the subsidies for Hastings Racecourse as of Jan 31, 2026. Apparently, the decision was precipitated by the industry’s request for even more public money than it has been receiving (millions annually). The joyous upshot: This, coupled with the announcement in August…
New Racetrack – Very Old Horses
A few years back, Nebraska green-lit racinos partly to save the light, moribund horseracing industry there. Although there are six racing licenses, save for Fonner Park the tracks have been running a bare minimum of races – just enough to keep their licenses intact with the promise of casino gaming (and sports betting) on the…
Less Breeding on Horizon in Cal; 103 Lengths Back at Delaware (a Racino) Still Means a Payday
From an article in Horse Racing Nation last week: “California’s already reeling breeding industry will take a big hit starting next Thursday when Harris Farms sells off 90 horses after last month’s death of legendary breeder John Harris. … The 330-acre Harris Farm will be converted to vegetable land by next summer…. What remains of…
Giving Voice
Former Owner: “As I became more involved…I was sickened.”
Longtime HW supporter Rick Bowman has posted the following to his LinkedIn account. It serves to remind that we should never miss an opportunity to advocate. Thanks, Rick. “I’ve been called a lot of names because of my passion for the welfare of animals. I’m especially vocal in my concern for horses. There is a…
Tell These Politicians That Animal Cruelty Is Neither Fun Nor Funny
Follows is a guest post from our indefatigable leader, HW Executive Director Nicole Arciello. Please read through, and most important, take the action. On October 8th, a group of New York State legislators gathered for an annual event called the Legislative Pace at Yonkers Raceway. If the subsidies that allow the continued abuse and death…
Great LTE on Subsidies; and Breathalyzers?
The following LTE was published in the Des Moines Register yesterday. It serves to remind that no matter who or where you are, you can be a voice for the horses. (If you think you need help putting a letter together, please reach out to me: patrickjbattuello@gmail.com.) Thank you, Ray. “Prairie Meadows and its regulators…
Be His Voice
Mo Dont No was born (made) in 2013 and first raced two years later. 90 more races and over $1.3M in “earnings” followed. And yet, they’re not done with him. Mo’s current (there have been plenty) exploiters – Samuel Klein and Jeffrey Radosevich – have entered Mo to be raced tomorrow at Thistledown. 12 years…