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For the second time in a week, an active racehorse has been felled by “colic without resolution” at Finger Lakes. According to the Gaming Commission, Field Sense, six, was “humanely euthanized” yesterday – a mere six days after he brought up the rear in a $5,000 claiming race at that same track. Owner/trainer, Kevin McCarthy.

I have also confirmed that Lazy Daisy May is indeed dead after “[taking] a bad step, falling” and being “vanned off” at Mountaineer Wednesday. She was seven; ’twas her 51st time under the whip.

Finally, this from Equibase for the 5th at Penn last night: “ARCTIC MIA broke in the air…bore out on the turn while falling back, was put to whip through the lame [sic] despite appearing lame, pulled up shortly after the wire and was vanned off.” “Put to whip despite appearing lame.” Abuser atop, Stephanie Sheroski.

This is horseracing.

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And they keep dying. Saratoga Race Course claimed its 13th victim of 2018 with the training kill of St. Barts Saturday. Officially, this one goes down as one of those proverbial “cardiac events”: “collapsed while galloping on training track.” St. Barts was two – on the maturation scale, the rough equivalent of a 1st grader. “Collapsed” and died. But worry not, for the Gaming Commission vows to “investigate.”

The Saratoga 13:

Presumptuous, July 7
Heartspoke, July 25
Macho Citizen, July 28
Frosty Gal, August 1
Master Manipulator, August 6
Biz Boss, August 17
Indifference, August 20
Bowie, August 26
Royal Blessing, September 4
Business Expense, September 13
Hard Study, September 16 (euthanized September 18)
Forbade, September 24
St. Barts, October 6

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In the 6th at Zia yesterday, “TIZA FINE FELLA…was stricken with what appeared to be an injury to the left front about the five-sixteenths pole, pulled up, euthanized on track and vanned off” (Equibase). Euthanized, then vanned off – for of course, how else to clear a 1000-lb dead horse? TFF was two; ’twas his first time under the whip.

The NYS Gaming Commission reports that 4-year-old Carradine was euthanized for “colic without resolution” at Finger Lakes Sunday. Exploited horses, racehorses obviously included, are at a higher risk of developing colic than their wild cousins. Not opinion, fact. So, Carradine is no less an industry casualty than Tiza above.