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
Confirmed Killed at Monmouth: Best Deal, Mind Boggling
Best Deal, said the chart, “was injured and pulled up and transported off the track in the ambulance” in the 6th at Monmouth Saturday. In fact, I have confirmed, he is dead – at the tender age of two. The responsible: breeder Bella Creek Stables, owner Trin-Brook Stables, trainer Uriah St. Lewis, jockey Francisco Martinez,…
"Euthanized Humanely on the Track" at Presque Isle Yesterday
This for Laughing Fit in the 3rd at Presque Isle yesterday: “Laughing Fit trailed the field through the turn, took a bad step nearing the quarter pole, breaking down, and was euthanized humanely on the track.” She was five; ’twas her 30th time under the whip. Her final owner (she had several), Julia Mauro, also…
2-Year-Old Felled Training at Saratoga Yesterday; 9th Kill There This Summer
This from the Gaming Commission on Top Shelf at Saratoga yesterday: “suffered a RF injury during her morning workout; was transported to Rood & Riddle where she was euthanized due to the extent of her injury.” Top Shelf was two and being prepped for her first race. She becomes the 9th kill at Saratoga this…
A Racing Kill at Saratoga
This just disclosed for Marvelous Madison in the 9th at Saratoga Aug 30: “became lame in LH [after] returning to barn; evaluation revealed displaced ileal fracture – euthanized.” Marvelous was four; this was her 7th time under the whip. Her final exploiters: Lawrence Goichman, Jorge Abreu, Jose Lezcano. As an aside, at present the Commission…
Everyday Cruelty
A Long List of Injured or Sick Horses in Indiana
Regulatory Vet “scratches” – i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them – at Horseshoe in August: Scripted Love, “unsound” Slink, “unsound” Low Bid, “unsound” Misty Moon Song, “unsound” Lookatmybuckle, “unsound” Amani’s Music, “unsound” Ap Lovely Corona, “unsound” Mi Sargento, “unsound” How About Abby, “unsound” Rapido Rosa, “unsound” J David, “unsound” Royal Sapphire, “unsound”…
More Injured/Sick Horses at Ellis
Over the course of just 5 days (Aug 16-23) at Ellis, 10 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet – i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them – for being “injured” or “unsound,” another 14 by private vets for being “injured” or “ill,” and 3 horses who were “claimed” (bought) prior to races…
This Serial Abuser Should Be in Jail
Some recent harness rulings… Scioto, Aug 15: “While driving Lakeside Buddy, Koltin Noble did use the whip which resulted in blood being on the stifle.” Fined $750, but “penalty will be reduced to $500 if not appealed.” Guess what – no appeal. So, $500 (and no suspension) for drawing blood. Topsham Fair, Aug 15: “While…
The Videos Tell the Stories
Recommended
The GoFundMe for the Trainers of the 17 Horses Who Were Burned Alive Is Abhorrent
Every time these mass-killing barn fires occur – here, here, here, here – what makes me most sick (besides the obvious, of course) is the rhetoric that immediately flows from industry exploiters and fans alike. Case in point, this from ex-trainer Amy Dowd: “Oh, Robyn’s [one of the two affected trainers] phenomenal, takes great care…
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…
Racing’s Corporate Welfare
TDN Article: "Record purses while the handle declines is not a sign of a healthy industry. It is the signature of a subsidized one."
At the risk of stating the obvious, horseracing is at its core a gambling business. For decades, the proverbial $2 bet funded this industry. As competition – lotteries, casinos, sports betting – began to arise at the end of the 20th Century and into the 21st, the wagering on racing was no longer enough to…
Could Maryland Lose the Preakness?
The Yonkers Times recently published an article on how to bet the Belmont Stakes; the article had nary a word on the treatment of the horses. So, I wrote this LTE in response. Also: Friday, Kentucky Sports Radio ran a piece on the mess that is Maryland Racing. From poor decisions, to cost overruns, to…
Prominent Owner: "The industry is thriving in Kentucky and surviving in other places solely because of subsidies."
While New York has the most tracks, I think it fair to call Kentucky the heart and soul of American horseracing. From breeding to tracks like Churchill and Keeneland to the Kentucky Derby itself, KY is ground zero. In fact, the title of a Louisville Public Media piece just ahead of this year’s Derby laid…
Injured, Sick Horses at Turfway, Santa Anita; Great Boston Globe Editorial on Subsidies
Over the course of just 7 days at Turfway (Feb 5-14), 13 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet – i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them – for being “injured” or “unsound,” another 17 by private vets for being “injured” or “ill,” and 5 horses who were “claimed” (bought) prior to races…
Giving Voice
A New Poem: "The Terror. The Horror."
Back in June, I excerpted from a new book of poetry by Kaaviya Elangkumarabahu. Kaaviya followed that up with a poem on Completeness, and today I present yet another on the horrific fire that killed 17 horses at Saratoga Harness. Thank you, Kaaviya. “The Terror. The Horror.” by Kaaviya Elangkumarabahu As I lay, Settle in…
Elegy for a One-Year-Old
Back in June, I excerpted from a new book of poetry by Kaaviya Elangkumarabahu. The book is wonderful, and, as I wrote then, all the more impressive for Kaaviya’s age: 12! Today, I present a new poem by Kaaviya on one of the deceased from Arizona. Completeness, you might remember, died at Turf when she…
Nicole on the Mess That is U.S. Racing – and Why We Must Never Let Up
This morning, a guest post from our indomitable executive director, Nicole… “‘Horseracing News’ this week is as much about us as it is about them” by Nicole Arciello The Horseracing Industry found a way to elevate itself to the top of news cycle this week with misleading and at times nonsensical headlines like: “Horse racing’s…
HW on Northeast Public Radio, in The New Yorker
This week, Northeast Public Radio afforded us a half-hour interview – here. The gracious host, David Guistina, has had me on several times over the years. It’s a wonderful forum with a fantastic reach (parts of 7 northeastern states). Also, our work was cited (and I was quoted) in a recent New Yorker article -…