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
Dead Horse Earning
How did Valid Connection fare in the 2nd at Mountaineer last night? Well, here is what the box score says: “Valid Connection rallied into upper stretch, [took] a bad step nearing the wire, suffered a catastrophic injury and was euthanized on track.” And that’s that – just another young (four) athlete dying in the arena.…
Complicit Trainer on Claret Beret's Death: "May she rest in peace."
Claret Beret collapsed and died from an “apparent cardiac event” following a training session at Palm Meadows yesterday. She was five – “cardiac event.” This one was widely covered in the racing rags because Claret was a million-dollar-plus earner who was coming off a Grade 1 “win” at Oaklawn in April. Said her complicit (in…
Instant Impact Dead, and a Bunch of Injured/Sick Horses at Churchill
Over the course of just 11 days (Apr 25-May 10) at Churchill, 35 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 10 horses who were “claimed” (bought) prior to…
"Appeared in Distress," Dead at Finger Lakes
According to the chart for the 2nd at Finger Lakes Tuesday, Diamondinthedark “dropped back suddenly, appeared in distress, pulled up and was vanned off.” In fact, the 3-year-old is dead, as confirmed by the Gaming Commission. Her exploiters: Dennis and Deborah Petrisak, Langpap Stables, Anthony Ferraro, Joel Cruz.
Everyday Cruelty
Three Fall in Same Lone Star Race
The chart for the 4th at Lone Star Sunday: “Perdido Star…was forced out further by the drifting leader clipping heels and falling near the 16th pole. It’s Time for Zima…ran into a stricken foe nearing the 16th pole and fell. Lady Q…ran into other rivals and fell in deep stretch.” Here’s how that looked. (All…
Instant Impact Dead, and a Bunch of Injured/Sick Horses at Churchill
Over the course of just 11 days (Apr 25-May 10) at Churchill, 35 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 10 horses who were “claimed” (bought) prior to…
Criminal Animal Cruelty Caught on Video
The following video was put out last week by Canadian nonprofit Animal Justice. It speaks for itself. (Although the incident took place in Jul 2023, a whistleblower just recently came forward.) At the time, the victim, Scarlett’s Flower, was but four years old. She has not been raced since Sep 2024; who knows where she…
Stanley Brewer Jr. Is a Horrible Human Being
Despite our best efforts (thanks to all who took the action), Big Hearted Factor was indeed put to the whip last night at Miles City – two days after his most recent race, his fourth race this month (that would be May 3-17), and his 107th overall. Surprisingly, the Racing Board did get back to…
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
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…
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…
Giving Voice
So Long, Light Up Racing, We Hardly Knew You!
Earlier this month, word came that “Light Up Racing,” a grassroots org launched in 2024 to “drive positive change” in the horseracing industry, is shutting down for good this fall due to a lack of funding and an “alignment” problem with other racing orgs. As Nicole pointed out back when LUR debuted, it was but…
What a Successful Protest Looks Like…
Led by our indomitable Maryland coordinator (and board member) Jen Sully, HW was out in force for the Preakness Saturday. What’s more, we garnered great coverage – which, of course, amplifies our message exponentially – starting on Friday with the death of Hit Zero. Among the outlets were The Baltimore Sun (front page in Sunday’s…
About as Bad as It Gets; He Needs Our Voices
After being tipped off yesterday, I immediately sent the following email to the executive secretary of the Montana Board of Horse Racing. I have yet to hear a response and fear I may not until Monday. That said, I encourage all who read this to call the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds, where the Miles City races…
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…