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Mondays and Tuesdays are this industry’s quietest days, with but a handful of tracks running. Still, the Killing Machine takes no breaks. Yesterday, this (Equibase):

In the 6th at Mahoning, Major Drama “dueled for the lead along the rail into the stretch, suffered a catastrophic injury to his left front leg, pulled up and was euthanized.” Major Drama was five; he was “For Sale” the day he died.

In the 7th at Parx, Warrior Lake “hustled to the front inside, stopped on the turn and was eased in the stretch. He subsequently returned to the paddock, collapsed and died.” Warrior Lake was only four – an adolescent. “Collapsed and died.”

This is horseracing.

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Last week in U.S. Thoroughbred and QuarterHorse Racing

Precious Intent “vanned off” at Mahoning
Midevil Hero “vanned off” at Zia
Another Dandy “vanned off” at Zia
Magic Carpet Run “vanned off” at Zia
La Relampago “took a bad step…euthanized” at Mahoning
Revolving Storm “eased…when bleeding profusely from the nostrils” at Parx
Wait for It “eased…when lame” at Parx
Coming in Hot “vanned off” at Portland
Angel Tears “vanned off” at Turf
Brandys Pride “vanned off” at Turf
Wind Rain and Fire “vanned off” at Zia
Stella Nova “was fatally injured shortly past the wire” at Charles Town
Vidrine’s Choice “vanned off” at Delta
Bourbon Sense “was pulled up in distress, vanned off” at Remington
Weekend Liberty “experienced a catastrophic injury…euthanized” at Charles Town
Sailor Brodee “vanned off” at Hawthorne
Miss Dialed “fell, vanned off” at Los Alamitos
The Last Factor “went wrong, fell, vanned off” at Turfway
Bluegrass Flash “vanned off” at Aqueduct
Take Your Chances “suffered a fatal injury shortly after the start” at Charles Town
Pacific Ridge “bled from both nostrils” at Laurel
Dude Cowboy “pulled up lame, vanned off” at Mahoning
Mountain Party “fell, DNF” at Zia
Silver Token “vanned off” at Aqueduct

Many if not most of the “Vanned” will resurface on my year-end FOIA Kill-Reports.
“Bled/Returned Bleeding From Nostrils” typically indicates pulmonary hemorrhage.

(source: Equibase)

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Charles Town, again. Take Your Chances in the 8th last night, as relayed by Equibase: “suffered a fatal injury shortly after the start and had to be euthanized.” The 4-year-old is the third horse to be killed at the “Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races” this week. Which reminds, if you care about animals, if you do not wish to be a party to cruelty and murder, do not patronize racinos (combination racetrack/casino) like this one, for a seemingly innocent night at the slots or poker tables (without so much as a glance toward the racetrack) still goes to support this awful industry – indeed it’s the only thing keeping it alive in much of the U.S., including West Virginia. By all means, gamble if you’re so inclined – just not at racinos.

Say what you will about chartwriters (yes, they are very much a part of the industry), but at least the one(s) at Penn National is honest – brutally so. From yesterday:

race 3 – “MR. TALENT had the early lead while running in the two path, stopped at the three eighths pole and was whipped sixteen times in the stretch despite being well behind the next horse.” Mr. Talent finished last, 17 lengths back.

race 4 – “BOLD STROKE…was able to pass tired rivals down the lane while being hit by the whip eighteen times in the stretch. MY ONLY SUNSHINE…was taken up a bit at the seven sixteenths pole and faded steadily from there, was kept to task [was whipped] through the finish.” My Only Sunshine finished last, 17 lengths back.

race 6 – “SPEAKER JOHN…lacked a rally despite being hit by the whip seventeen times in the stretch.” Speaker John finished second-to-last.

This is horseracing.

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Charles Town, again. In the 7th last night, Weekend Liberty “experienced a catastrophic injury approaching the three-eighths pole and was euthanized” (Equibase). Weekend Liberty was five; ’twas his 29th time under the whip.

Then this: In a single day (Monday) at Musselburgh Racecourse in Scotland, four – yes, four – horses were killed: Kensukes Kingdom, Sierra Oscar, Leather Belly, and Smart Ruler. Three, it appears, suffered “catastrophic” leg injuries, while one simply collapsed, indicating a cardiac issue of one kind or another. Robin Mounsey of the British Horseracing Authority had this to say (Independent):

“The incidents at Musselburgh were extremely distressing for everyone involved in the sport, not least for the owners of the horses and the trainers and stable staff who cared for them through their lives.”

Yes, thoughts and prayers to the people responsible for the kills. Obscene.

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From the most recent Minutes at Los Alamitos…

November 23, race 1: “Maddie Jane’s Bay clipped the heels of Heaven In Her Eyes and fell after which Heaven In Her Eyes appeared to be injured and was pulled up. Heaven In Her Eyes was euthanized on the track.”

November 23, race 4: “Rebel On The Run, while racing in the clear, was injured and fell. Fandarel Dancer could not avoid the fallen horse and also went down. Rebel On The Run was euthanized on the track.”

November 25, race 9: “Holy Schnikes, while racing in the clear, appeared to become injured, and fell. Holy Schnikes was euthanized on the track.”

November 25, race 13: “Special Walk, while racing in the clear, appeared to suffer an injury. Special Walk was euthanized on the track.”

Yes, that’s right, four kills – all in plain view – in two days. Californians, end this barbarity: https://www.change.org/p/lieutenant-governor-gavin-newsom-outlaw-horse-racing-in-california

Heaven in Her Eyes, 2/21/15-11/23/18
Rebel On the Run, 5/14/15-11/23/18
Holy Schnikes, 1/23/16-11/25/18
Special Walk, 4/11/16-11/25/18