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Last week in U.S. Horseracing (Thoroughbred and QuarterHorse only)

Confirmed Killed
Maddie’s Revenge, Finger Lakes (“appeared in distress…euthanized”)
Irish Spring, Del Mar (“clipped heels and fell” – died without euthanasia)
Your Flys Down, Wyoming

“Vanned Off” – many, if not most, will resurface on my year-end FOIA kill-reports
Parapente, Delaware (“in distress”)
Lawton Blue Devil, Mountaineer (after being “hard ridden”)
Appealing Miss, Parx
Ms. D’s Last Storm, Louisiana
Platoon Leader, Delaware
Mairis, Delaware (“pulled up in distress”)
Pino Mammone, Finger Lakes
Croc Star, Indiana
Double Rainbow, Presque Isle (“hit the gate hard”)
Raising Rumors, Retama
Ferrad’s Party, Saratoga
Soul of the Hero, Arlington
In Donna’s Court, Canterbury
Love Is All, Penn
Smooth Stone, Presque Isle (“pulled up in distress”)
Bardstown, Albuquerque
Chloe Belle, Del Mar
Dallon’s Gold, Emerald (“went wrong”)
Gibby’s Spot, Evangeline
Vicky Queen, Gulfstream
Majestic Warhorse, Gulfstream
Paradise, Los Alamitos
Crimson Secret, Penn (“took a bad step”)
Judy’s Givenangel, Ruidoso
Sweet Betty, Ellis
Fortune’s Freude, Emerald
Victory Shout, Evangeline
Moreno Mojo, Gulfstream
OP Royal Corona, Retama (“fell over fallen rival”)
CRB Eyes, Retama (“fell over fallen rival”)
Royal Chachingalinga, Retama (“rival” from above)
Cruizin in Style, Emerald
Taramundi, Ruidoso
Rewired, Santa Rosa (“took a bad step”)
Sandy’z Slew, Saratoga (“pulled up in distress”)
Uncle Leo, Suffolk

(source: Equibase)

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Irish Spring was killed at Del Mar yesterday in what The San Diego Union-Tribune called a “horrific accident” – apparently so horrific that euthanasia was not required. Dead on the spot. Imagine that. And imagine we will have to, for Del Mar has conspicuously excised the ugliness from its official replay.

Adding insult to kill, the Del Mar Twitter account extended “deepest sympathies to the connections,” which prompted this from an apologist: “…so very sorry for your loss. Enjoy your wings in God’s Racing Stable Irish Spring.”

“Enjoy your wings in God’s Racing Stable” – positively contemptible.

Also, the NYS Gaming Commission has disclosed the death – after “appearing in distress” – of Maddie’s Revenge in the 2nd at Finger Lakes Monday. She was six.

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From the California Horse Racing Board:

On July 25, Oso Strong died training at Golden Gate: “cardiac electrical interruption.” “Cardiac electrical interruption” – Oso Strong was three years old, a pubescent.

Four days later, Skidazzle “broke down” while training at that same track. She, also, was three; she was being prepped for her debut.

This is horseracing.

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The NYS Gaming Commission has disclosed the death of Frosty Gal at Saratoga yesterday: “got away from handler…ran loose and subsequently sustained injuries…that necessitated euthanasia.” Frosty Gal was four and had been put to the whip 14 times. While this has been filed (by the Commission) as a “non-racing” death, make no mistake, when you own an animal, when you utterly and absolutely control every moment of that animal’s life, then you are wholly responsible for what happens to that animal. Frosty Gal is a casualty of the racing industry. Full stop.

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From the most recent Los Alamitos Stewards Minutes: “Post-time favorite Bookofmatches locked up behind and bobbled badly with an eighth of a mile before the finish [of the 5th race July 14]…humanely euthanized.” Bookofmatches was two; this was her fourth time under the whip.

In the very next race that day, Jockey Cesar Franco “used his riding crop ten consecutive times in the final eighty yards.” The “rule” in California, of course, is no more than three lashes in succession “without giving the horse a chance to respond.” For striking his horse TEN straight times, Franco was fined but $100 – and this was his second offense within 60 days. Wow, but not really.

The following week, the Los Alamitos stewards declare, “one equine death was reported due to racing injuries.” That dead animal, however, was left unidentified.

This is horseracing.