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Dead Saturday:

In the 9th at Keeneland, Bullards Alley “went wrong” and was subsequently euthanized. He was six; this was his 40th time under the whip.

In the 5th at Santa Anita, Ten Blessings “took a bad step” and was subsequently euthanized. He was five; this was his 8th time under the whip.

The above kills came in stakes races, worth $250,000 and $200,000, respectively. Hence, they garnered (Racing) press coverage, and social media was awash in “prayers and condolences” and repellent statements like this from Bullards’ trainer, Tim Glyshaw (on Twitter): “Bullard meant the world to us. He was a cool horse that always gave his all. He was our first horse to win graded races for us and a grade 1. No words can describe how I and my barn feel right now. RIP BULLARD”

This is horseracing.

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Xten, three, was killed Friday during morning training at Santa Anita. According to Blood-Horse, the colt suffered “neurological issues” following a collision with another horse. Apparently, Xten remained on the track for some three hours as “[a] dozen or so people attempted to encourage [him] to get to his feet.” Eventually, unable to “get upright,” he was carried onto the ambulance and “vanned” away to be euthanized. Trainer Tim Yakteen had this to say: “It’s an inherent risk we all take every day.”

At Golden Gate April 12, Maydaymaydaymayday “was injured while training near the quarter pole…and was euthanized” (Stewards Minutes). The filly was not yet three and had been raced eight times. Also at that track, jockey Juan Hernandez was fined $500 for “causing welts [with his whip]” on his “mount” Aotearoa on April 7. That’s $500 for patent animal cruelty – the sham of “equine welfare” on full display, again.

Finally, two “fatalities” are listed in the Santa Anita Minutes for the week April 9-April 15. We know (from other sources) that one was My Sweet Emma in the 5th April 15; the other, however, remains unidentified.

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Yesterday…

At Parx, North Ocean, nine years old and under the whip for the 55th time, “went wrong leaving the backstretch [of the 2nd] and was euthanized” (Equibase).

At Laurel, 5-year-old Tango Delta “took a bad step” in the 6th and, according to a reliable source, was euthanized.

At Keeneland, Hazel Ann I Am, a 2-year-old being raced for the first time, “broke down” – an industry euphemism for dead – in the 11th. The Daily Racing Form’s Byron King said the fall “marred the nightcap.”

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According to the Equibase chart, Milo Milo’s run in the 4th at Aqueduct Saturday was “choppy” and he “displayed poor action.” Ultimately, he was “vanned off” the track. Two days later, says the NYS Gaming Commission, he was euthanized for a broken leg. Beyond the kill, a question – to which I’m quite sure no answer is forthcoming – remains: Why was this poor animal made to suffer for two days with a broken leg? Milo Milo was an import from Argentina. He was six years old. Trainer, Naipaul Chatterpaul; owner, EV Racing Stable.

In the 8th at Buffalo Raceway last night, Clooney Drummond “took a bad step,” says the Commission, suffering a comminuted (multiple pieces) fracture. He was euthanized back in the barn. Clooney Drummond was 14 – yes, 14 – years old. Beaten, pounded into the ground (in fact, he had just been raced a week prior) – and, at last, killed. For $2 bets. Driver, Billy Davis Jr; trainer, Steve Andzel.