Horseracing – A Sport to Die For?

As part of NYSHA’s efforts to focus attention on the cruelties involved in horse racing, we are listing the 99 known horse deaths on NY tracks in 2014.

Sadly, all these animals died for the sake of providing gambling and entertainment to the public.

Many of the dead were young horses who should not have been running at all; others were older animals who simply could not survive the treatment they were receiving at the hands of trainers and jockeys. All of them were subjected to the needless suffering that is inherent in racing.

This following list includes on-site deaths only. What the industry refers to as “non-racing” fatalities — colic, laminitis, “found dead in stall” — have not been included. And, of course, this list says nothing of the “athletes” who were bled-out and butchered in foreign abattoirs after they were no longer profitable to keep. Maiming and destruction are but a part of the story. There are also the routine cruelties these animals endure: the damage done to young, underdeveloped bodies and legs from the relentless pounding of hooves on hard surfaces; the extreme confinement of naturally free-roaming animals; the painful whipping; the drugging and doping; and perhaps worst of all, turning them into commodities to be bought and sold, traded and dumped, as though they were used cars. These endless cruelties inflicted on such magnificent creatures who played a key role in building our country, transporting our people across the land, and winning our wars, need to stop and they need to stop now.Where known, the list specifies the age, name, date of death, track and race — of each horse who pointlessly died.

5 yr Uncle Smokey, 1/2, Aqueduct 7
8 yr Caixa Eletronica, 1/4, Belmont, training
3 yr Six Drivers, 1/4, Belmont, training
3 yr Go Canes Go, 1/13, Belmont, training
3 yr Dixie Sparkle, 1/26, Aqueduct 7
2 yr Valar Dohaeris, 1/30, Belmont, training
4 yr Flashy in Pink, 2/1, Belmont, training
3 yr Andromeda’s Coming, 2/22, Aqueduct 3
Standardbred Scottie C, 2/22, Buffalo 3
Standardbred Pay Tribute, 2/26, Buffalo 7
5 yr Sound of Drums, 3/1, Aqueduct 7
2 yr Changeinaction, 3/5, Belmont, training
Standardbred Hickory Louie, 3/12, Monticello 8
4 yr Concept, 3/15, Aqueduct, training
7 yr Itsagoodtendollars, 3/15, Belmont, training
2 yr Jojonotjoelowe, 4/3, Aqueduct, training
4 yr American Iron, 4/15, Finger Lakes, training
3 yr Recovered, 4/18, Finger Lakes 3
Standardbred Southwind Tabor, 4/21, Yonkers 12
6 yr Aussi Austin, 4/25, Aqueduct 8
3 yr Handstand, 5/1, Belmont 6
9 yr Boston Chief, 5/3, Finger Lakes, training
Standardbred Liberty Cruise, 5/5, Yonkers 5
3 yr Lucky for You, 5/16, Saratoga, training
Standardbred KZ Too, 5/20, Monticello 8
3 yr See the Music, 5/21, Belmont 7
3 yr Intense Holiday, 5/25, Belmont, training
4 yr Kingston Jamaica, 5/29, Belmont, training
5 yr Kissinginthedark, 5/30, Finger Lakes 1
Unnamed Dam, 6/4, Aqueduct, training
5 yr Samuels Blond Lady, 6/5, Belmont 2 (euth. 6/8)
5 yr Lemon Sundae, 6/7, Finger Lakes 1
Standardbred Faith N Moon, 6/8, Buffalo 5
5 yr Bear’s Spirit, 6/12, Aqueduct, training
2 yr Fran’s Kid, 6/18, Belmont, training
Standardbred Dalglish, 6/18, Monticello
4 yr Rock and Roll Star, 6/30, Finger Lakes, training
4 yr Roses for Romney, 6/30, Belmont 8
7 yr Elsaroarin, 6/27, Finger Lakes 9
4 yr Western Grit, 6/28, Finger Lakes, training
3 yr Michonne, 7/4, Finger Lakes 9
3 yr This Guy Is Blue, 7/6, Belmont 9
4 yr Music Maid, 7/13, Belmont 2
4 yr Indomitable Woman, 7/17, Finger Lakes 5
3 yr Missy Zelliott, 7/20, Belmont, training
4 yr Lifeguard On Duty, 7/24, Saratoga, training
3 yr Double Gold, 7/25, Saratoga, training
3 yr Chichita, 7/26, Finger Lakes 1
7 yr Gimmeanotherwink, 7/28, Finger Lakes 2
3 yr Father Johns Pride, 7/28, Saratoga 7
5 yr Quorum, 7/29, Finger Lakes 6
3 yr Lavender Road, 7/30, Saratoga (prior to race 7)
2 yr Sir William Bruce, 8/2, Saratoga 5
4 yr Regretless, 8/11, Saratoga 4
2 yr Cashion, 8/16, Belmont, training
3 yr M B and Tee, 8/21, Saratoga 7
2 yr Kamarius, 8/23, Saratoga, training
2 yr Ludicrous, 8/23, Saratoga 4
3 yr Elena Strikes, 8/23, Saratoga, training
7 yr Makari, 8/23, Saratoga 1
3 yr Vanessa Halo, 8/26, Finger Lakes, training
2 yr Divine Guidance, 8/27, Saratoga 5 (euth. 8/29)
3 yr Major Battle, 9/5, Belmont, training
3 yr Gerryland, 9/7, Finger Lakes, training
3 yr Kitt’s Kool Katt, 9/7, Finger Lakes, training
4 yr Ego Friendly, 9/10, Belmont, training
5 yr Mulheb, 9/10, Belmont 1
3 yr Freddie Freud, 9/13, Belmont, training
4 yr DJ’s Hope, 9/13, Finger Lakes 5
2 yr Tale of the Spa, 9/13, Saratoga, training
2 yr Here in a Hurry, 10/1, Belmont, training
4 yr G W’s Hammer, 10/3, Finger Lakes 5
3 yr Stenson, 10/8, Belmont 1
4 yr Endearing, 10/9, Belmont, training
3 yr Grand Arrival, 10/10, Belmont, training
2 yr Giant Hearted Lee, 10/13, Belmont 5
4 yr Zaikov, 10/23, Belmont, training
2 yr Chase This Bandit, 10/24, Belmont 10
2 yr Saint Kris (sic?), 10/25, Belmont, training
5 yr Summer Sunset, 10/31, Aqueduct 2
4 yr Jesses Giant Dunk, 10/31, Aqueduct 3
3 yr Zo Sophisticated, 11/3, Belmont, training
5 yr Antone Suavey, 11/3, Finger Lakes 2
3 yr Pete, 11/11, Finger Lakes, training
4 yr Knockher Off, 11/12, Aqueduct 5
Standardbred Santa Baby, 11/16, Yonkers 9
5 yr Threetimes a Saint, 11/26, Finger Lakes 2
9 yr Cherokee Artist, 11/28, Aqueduct 6
4 yr Princes On Thelake, 12/3, Aqueduct 5
4 yr Carla Sweetrevenge, 12/3, Finger Lakes 7
3 yr Warrior’s Hero, 12/4, Aqueduct 3
7 yr Quick Money, 12/5, Aqueduct 8
5 yr Half Nelson, 12/5, Aqueduct 8
5 yr Sage Valley, 12/10, Aqueduct 8
5 yr Ludo Bagman, 12/11, Aqueduct 1
2 yr Deckers, 12/15, Belmont, training
4 yr Celebrate We Will, 12/26, Aqueduct 1
5 yr Wicked Irish, 12/27, Aqueduct 2
3 yr Soldier Inthe Rain, 12/31, Belmont, training

What you can do:

Do NOT go to the race track or casino.
Do NOT go to an OTB.
Read the material on the website Horse Racing Wrongs.
Make people aware of the cruelty in horse racing.
Continue to support NYSHA’s work.

New York State Humane Association Humane Review, Vol. XXIX No. 1, Spring/Summer 2015.