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
12-Year-Old Killed at Monticello
The NYS Gaming Commission reports this for Arch Credit in the 1st at Monticello Tuesday: “equine death, on track.” Pretty succinct, huh? This poor boy was 12 years old.
"Unfortunately, things happen when horses run."
According to the chart for the 3rd at Fair Grounds Mar 14, Guaguarero, although the “winner,” “lost action late” and was subsequently “transported off via ambulance.” Turns out, that “lost action” was a snapped ankle and, well, I’ll let the Thoroughbred Daily News take it from there: “Somehow, well in front of the field at…
Death at Penn, Death at Santa Anita
According to the chart, Hay Hay Paula was “pulled up and departed in an ambulance” in the 1st at Penn Wednesday. In fact, I have learned, she is dead. She would have turned eight next month, and this was her 45th turn under the whip. Her loving caretaker, owner/trainer Steven Chircop, also had her For…
2-Year-Olds Killed in Back-to-Back Races at Sunland; Another Kill at Los Alamitos
As relayed in our weekly ambulance report, A Streakin Prada went down and was carted off in a race at Sunland Saturday. I have since learned that she is indeed dead. But that’s not all. In the very next race at Sunland that day, Flower Peach was killed. Both of these girls had just turned…
Everyday Cruelty
64 Horses Injured or Sick at Turfway Over Just 10 Racedays
Over the course of just 10 days at Turfway (Feb 18-Mar 5), 30 horses were scratched by the regulatory vet – i.e., their exploiters had every intention of racing them – for being “injured” or “unsound,” and another 34 by private vets for being “injured” or “ill.” In addition, say the stewards: “Saki Bomb was…
Manhandled at Aqueduct
If This Doesn't Move You to Tears, I'm Not Sure What Will
The Arizona report is yet to come, but I wanted to give what happened to a horse named Public Appearance special attention. According to the Arizona Dept. of Gaming, Public died at Turf last Feb 17: “This horse was euthanized after it collapsed in its stall and couldn’t rise.” But that surely wasn’t all. Here…
Animal Abuse as Fodder for a Laugh
Tropical Racing posted the following after one of their horses, Time for America, “won” a race at Laurel Feb 27: “Tongue out like he’s tasting victory. Congratulations to [trainer] Michelle Nihei and the team.” Here is what that “tongue out like he’s tasting victory” looked like (watch to the end). Not that it matters, but…
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
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…
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…
Giving Voice
Giving Voice at Gulfstream
This past Saturday, “Pegasus Day,” Horseracing Wrongs once again partnered with SoFlo Animal Rights for a protest at Gulfstream Park. Thank you all for standing for the horses!
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…