All the pretty horses that have "died suddenly" this summer
All the pretty horses that have "died suddenly" this summer
A staggering toll reported (piecemeal) since we posted on this subject on June 10
My thanks to Amber Parsons for her excellent research.
Update on the twelve horses that “died suddenly” at Churchill Downs over a few weeks a few months ago:
Churchill Downs horse deaths: KHRC releases first 10 reports, including Parents Pride
June 5, 2023
Parents Pride collapsed on April 29, her sixth career start. She fell to her side with labored breathing and died on the track. Drug and toxicology tests detected no prohibited substances. A necropsy report revealed mild to moderate changes in the heart, brain and lung, but KHRC noted, "these were not thought to be significant enough to be the cause of the sudden death. The pathologist points out that many sudden deaths are 'autopsy-negative,'" which means no definitive cause of death is known.
Chasing Artie ,the 5-year-old gelding, was returning to the unsaddling area after a race when he began staggering and collapsed with labored breathing. KHRC said attempts to stimulate him were unsuccessful. Chasing Artie showed traces of two rodenticides (chlorophacinone and diphacinone) in a toxicology screen of liver tissue, but KHRC said the substances were not believed to be the probable cause of his sudden death because such a small amount, 50 parts per billion, was detected and because he did not exhibit abdominal hemorrhaging. There was some hemorrhage in the airways, but in the pathologist’s opinion it was not enough to be the cause thr sudden death.
The other eight horses had all experienced injuries, though all of them then passed pre-race exams, and most were coming off at least 30 days of rest.
On May 2, Take Charge Briana separated the fetlock, a joint between the cannon bone and the pastern, of her right front leg; and the decision was made to euthanize her due to the severity of the injury. A pre-race exam deemed Take Charge Briana "sound" and "consistent with horses at this stage of their careers," with no persistent gait abnormalities noted then or during the on-track warmup period. ... Drug testing detected no prohibited substances in the filly. The presence of therapeutic medication and all other substances were within their normal limits. She was coming off 32 days rest.
Freezing Point was running between horses when the 3-year-old colt pulled up at the 5-furlong pole due to a left forelimb injury and was later euthanized after connections were consulted. KHRC said Freezing Point "had no major issues to trigger closer scrutiny," and an evaluation of the dirt track "revealed no issues." Drug testing detected no prohibited substances, and the presence of therapeutic medication and all other substances were within their normal limits. The colt was deemed sound with no gait abnormalities noted during both pre-race exams and the track warmup period. He was coming off 30 days rest.
Chloe's Dream pulled up at the 3/4 pole with an injured right-front leg. Radiographs revealed multiple fractures in the carpus (knee). KHRC said connections made the decision to euthanize "due to a poor prognosis. Chloe's Dream and others running in the second race of the Derby undercard were deemed sound with no gait abnormalities noted during both pre-race exams. Drug testing detected no prohibited substances, and the presence of therapeutic medication and all other substances were within their normal limits. He was coming off 44 days rest.
Bosque Redondo was galloping out after finishing 10th in a race, when he became acutely lame in his left forelimb. Radiographs revealed a fracture "unusual in nature" and he received a poor prognosis "due to the complicated nature of the fracture" and was euthanized May 15. No gait abnormalities were noted during either of these periods. ... There were multiple small fragments associated with his fractured left forelimb, and its connective tissues were expended by a moderate amount of congestion surrounding the fetlock. Drug testing detected no prohibited substances, and the presence of therapeutic medication and all other substances were within their normal limits. He was coming off 53 days rest.
Rio Moon, just past the finish sustained an open, spiral fracture to his left forelimb, losing column support. He was sedated and euthanized due to the severity of the injury. The colt was deemed sound with no gait abnormalities detected during pre-race exams. He was coming off 38 days rest. Drug testing detected no prohibited substances, and the presence of therapeutic medication and all other substances were within their normal limits.
Swanson Lake went from the back of the field to a fourth-place finish when the 3-year-old filly pulled up near the 7/8 pole with an injury to her fetlock joint in her left hind leg. Radiographs revealed multiple fractures. Connections made the decision to euthanize due to a "poor prognosis," KHRC said. Swanson Lake was deemed sound with no gait abnormalities noted during pre-race exams. Veterinary records from the 60 days leading up to the race showed "very minimal and routine" work. Drug testing detected no prohibited substances, and the presence of therapeutic medication and all other substances were within their normal limits.
Kimberley Dream, a 7-year-old mare, pulled up near the 1/8 pole with an injury to her left-front fetlock. Radiographs were taken and the decision to euthanize was made "due to a poor prognosis," KHRC said. Medical examiners found the connective tissues of Kimberley Dream's injured forelimb were "expanded by a large amount of congestion, edema, and hemorrhage," with "severe tearing and marked fraying of the ligaments" and "an acute, hemorrhagic core lesion" thought to have occurred at the time of the breakdown. No gait abnormalities were noted during the pre-race exams. Drug testing detected no prohibited substances, and the presence of therapeutic medication and all other substances were within their normal limits. She was coming off 14 days' rest.
Lost in Limbo was examined by a KHRC veterinarian after unseating his jockey and permitted to enter the gate. He ran in the middle of the pack before falling to the ground inside the 1/16 pole with a "catastrophic" injury to his left-front fetlock. The decision to euthanize due to a "poor prognosis" was made. Lost in Limbo suffered "severe" tearing of the connective tissues in his left-front fetlock. Neither Santana nor the veterinarian who examined the horse after he got loose in the post parade had concerns over his ability to proceed with the race. Veterinary records from the 60 days leading up to the race showed "very minimal and routine" work. Drug testing detected no prohibited substances, and the presence of therapeutic medication and all other substances were within their normal limits. He was coming off 42 days' rest.
Necropsies Inconclusive For Both Saffie Joseph-Trained Horses Who Died Suddenly At Churchill
June 30, 2023
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has published the post-mortem review reports for both of the Saffie Joseph-trained horses who experienced sudden deaths at Churchill Downs this spring. The occurrence of two of the statistically unusual deaths within just a few days of each other prompted the commission to scratch Joseph's other horses from races at the track, and Churchill later announced a private property suspension of his entries. Joseph-trained Parents Pride collapsed after being pulled up near the 3/16ths pole during a race on April 29 and died before emergency veterinarians could evaluate her on-site. Chasing Artie trailed the field in his May 2 race and began to stagger, then collapsed while returning to be unsaddled. He was unresponsive to veterinarians' attempts to revive him, and they decided to euthanize him. Both horses passed their pre-race veterinary exams, and were described as having “very minimal and routine” veterinary work within the past 60 days prior to their starts, based on medical records. No prohibited or therapeutic substances were found in blood testing for either horse; no urine was collected from either horse for testing, as this becomes logistically difficult after death. In the case of Parents Pride, pathologists did note some mild to moderate changes in the heart, brain and lungs, including minimal myocarditis but none of those abnormalities were thought to be significant enough to prompt a sudden death. Dr. Laura Kennedy, the author of the mortality review for Parents Pride, reported that “Myocarditis can be identified in clinically normal racehorses that are euthanized for a variety of reasons, including non-catastrophic musculoskeletal injury.” An examination of organs from Chasing Artie did not reveal any abnormalities in the heart, but did make note of hemorrhage in the lungs, including evidence of previous EIPH. The pathologist did not believe this was significant enough to prompt a sudden death. Hemorrhage or congestion in the lungs and spleen are common findings on horses who have undergone chemical euthanasia soon after exercise, and it's often difficult to tell whether the bleeding was a result of the euthanasia drug, normal exertion, or whether it's something acute that preceded the horse pulling up or stumbling. Neither the report for Chasing Artie or Parents Pride establishes a definitive cause of death, which is common in instances of sudden death.
A Horse Died In Final Race After Belmont Stakes
June 10, 2023
Just when we thought we could get through the final day of Triple Crown racing without a horse death, we saw one more lose its life in the final race after today's Belmont Stakes. Per Daily Racing Form's David Grening: "Spirit of St. Louie (4/5) pulled away in stretch to win BEL Saturday finale. Unfortunately, Excursionniste was pulled up midway on far turn by Flavien Prat and the horse's injuries were not salvageable and he was euthanized on the course. Prat is fine." Racing fans across social media reacted to the horrible news out of Elmont, New York. “Very sorry to hear this," a user said. "Thoughts go out to Little Blue Bird Stables and Hennig Racing."
https://thespun.com/more/top-stories/a-horse-died-in-final-race-after-belmont-stakes
Video of the misstep and injury prior to being euthanized on the track:
https://twitter.com/worldanimalnews/status/1668690118566367232?s=46&t=Gko8hP2TNbcAOVvXfG3jUw
Horses die in consecutive races at Belmont Park after history-making event
June 11, 2023
Horses died in consecutive races at Belmont Park, dealing more untimely blows to the beleaguered sport, which had little time to celebrate its most uplifting events of the year. Mashnee Girl, trained by Mark Hennig, broke down in the first race Sunday, suffering a catastrophic injury to her left front leg at the storied racecourse in Elmont, just outside New York City, before she was put down. "Despite the immediate response and best efforts of on-site attending veterinarians, the horse was humanely euthanized due to the severity of the injury," New York Racing Association Vice President Patrick McKenna said in a statement. About 17 hours earlier, in the 13th race Saturday, a similar fate befell Hennig-trained Excursionniste, who also suffered a fatal injury to the front left ankle. Both incidents happened on Belmont's turf course as the field was nearing the top of the stretch. "I'm not holding up very well," an emotional Hennig told NBC News, sniffling throughout the conversation. "It's been very emotional. I just can't fathom this ever happening, two horses you run in a row. I mean, I've run over 10,000 horses and have never had anything close to this."
Mashnee Girl was in third place before taking a bad step and tumbling throwing her rider at about the 1:20 mark:
Officer Crescent, a Wilmington police horse, died Saturday after a brief illness
June 18, 2023
Officer Crescent, a horse with the Wilmington Police Department's Mounted Unit, has died. According to a news release, Officer Crescent died Saturday after a brief illness. The release stated he was transported to N.C. State University's Veterinary Clinic Saturday morning where veterinarians determined the colic he was suffering from "was worse than originally believed." In an earlier release, the department said Crescent's illness was discovered after officers checked on him. "Our officers check on our horses every single day, even when they are not on duty," the release stated. When officers determined that something was "not quite right," they contacted the local veterinarian who referred him to N.C. State Veterinary Clinic for treatment. He was suffering from colic, a condition that causes severe abdominal pain, impaction, and is usually caused by problems in the gastrointestinal tract. The department said Crescent had suffered from a mild case of colic before, and Elton, another horse in the department's Mounted Unit, was treated at N.C. State University's Veterinary Clinic and was able to recover.
Investigation underway after deadly day at Wyoming horse track
June 20, 2023
EVANSTON, Wyo. — Three horses were injured and put down all in one day while racing at Wyoming Downs this past weekend. This comes one month after 12 horses died at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs Inc. has since suspended all racing as they investigate the cause of the deaths. “I had never actually been to a horse race before and I did not expect to see what I saw that day,” said Marina, who was at the race this past weekend. Marina said she is still losing sleep over what she witnessed at the track in Evanston, Wyoming. “The second race, the first horse went down and he actually broke his leg,” she described, “And then the next race, the second horse went down, but this horse did not get back up, jockey flew off, also did not get back up.” She said it was too tragic to watch and she got up to leave. “Just as I look up, the third horse in a row goes down and also doesn’t get back up," Marina said. "This was not just an accident where three horses collided. These were three separate incidents.” Veterinarian Dr. Bruce Connally who works for Wyoming Equine hasn’t treated racehorses before but has been healing horses across Colorado and Wyoming for 45 years now.He said he is curious if there was a common denominator in the horses’ injuries. “You start looking for something in common and certainly track footing would be one of the first places I would look at,” he said. "This becomes so complex, it becomes medicine, it becomes the training regimen, it becomes the structure of the track.”
THE NETHERLANDS:
KWPN-recognized Easy Game (20) passed away unexpectedly
July 11, 2023
Holland- The KWPN-recognized stallion Easy Game has died unexpectedly, Joop van Uytert reports. Easy Game, father of Olympic- and European champion TSF Dalera BB (Jessica von Bredow-Werndl) and Dinja van Liere's World Cup bronze Hermès N.O.P., among others, has only turned twenty years old. Particularly many successful offspring have emerged from relatively few matings. 81 offspring of Easy Game are registered with the KWPN, the most famous of which is the KWPN stallion Hermès. Easy Game itself was active in the sport to Light Tour level. He was ridden by Theo Hanzon and John Thijssen.
https://www.kwpn.nl/nieuws?itemId=NewsItem:28104
AUSTRALIA:
Mystery as 10 horses suddenly die in Melbourne’s outer suburbs
July 17, 2023
Mystery surrounds the reason at least 10 horses have suddenly died on different properties in Victoria.
The horses have unexpectedly died across three separate properties on the Mornington Peninsula, in southeast Melbourne and southwest Victoria since July 4. The state’s chief veterinary officer believes there could be more than the 10 confirmed deaths and is calling on owners to report any sudden deaths to Agriculture Victoria or their local vet to help the investigation.“The investigation is in the early stages,” Dr Graeme Cooke said. “It is not yet known what has caused these deaths and to date common links are not evident.” All ten horses are believed to have died quickly with short term non-specific signs of illness. Dr Cooke said early testing for some known diseases in horses had been negative. “Comprehensive testing for a range of disease, and importantly, non-disease causes, is underway,” he said. John Russell, a specialist equine surgeon at the Woodgrange Equine Hospital in Bayles, urged concerned owners to check their horse’s rectal temperature and contact their vet if it is above 38.5 degrees. Symptoms in the sick horses have included lethargy or diarrhoea. Dr Russell told news.com.au there was initial concern there could be an outbreak of an exotic disease but that doesn’t seem to be the case, and it also appears whatever the horses have been struck with is not contagious. He said a toxin in feed was being considered as a cause of sudden illness but some of the horses that died were just on pasture.
Report: Horse euthanized following race at Ellis Park
July 18, 2023
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has released a report saying that a horse was euthanized following a race at Ellis Park on June 24. According to the Steward’s Report, the horse “I’m a Modest Man” finished ninth in a race and appeared to be suffering from an injury. The report says the horse had suffered a “catastrophic injury” to his right foreleg, and had to be euthanized. Ronald Keith Kinmon, owner and trainer of the horse says he spoke with the jockey when she came off the track and she told him the horse showed no signs that anything was wrong during the race. Kinmon said initially when the horse didn’t come off the track immediately he figured the horse was either having a heat stroke or was internally bleeding but when he was told the horse had to put down it was a “gut wrenching” feeling. Though injuries are a part of the sport, DeRosa says the number of euthanized horses this year is up.
Two More Horses Die At Wyoming Downs In Evanston
July 19, 2023
After three horses went down on the same day in June at Wyoming Downs horse racing track in Evanston two more have died in the weeks since, all after being injured while running the track. It’s been a rough summer at Wyoming Downs horse racing track. Five horses have been euthanized as a result of injuries sustained at the Evanston racetrack during the 2023 racing season. Two horses died earlier this month, just weeks following a single day in June when three horses were also put down after suffering injuries while racing. The more recent horse deaths happened on the weekends of July 1-2 and July 8-9. Wyoming Downs owner Eric Nelson told Cowboy State Daily neither of these two horses fell to the ground while racing, and one still crossed the finish line. The three horses that had to be euthanized in June had all fallen while running the track. The Wyoming Gaming Commission addressed the horse deaths at a special meeting held Wednesday morning in Casper, questioning track authorities about what’s causing the spate of fatal horse incidents. An investigation was already underway into the three horses that died June 17. Wyoming Gaming Commission Executive Director Charles Moore said Wyoming Downs also is bringing in its own consultant to investigate. As of Wednesday’s meeting, there were no clues into or explanations for the horse deaths.
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/07/19/two-more-horses-die-at-wyoming-downs-in-evanston/
Report: Monmouth Park Sees Equine Fatalities Rise For Third Straight Year
July 21, 2023
A report from NJ Advance Media revealed Friday that the number of equine fatalities at Monmouth Park has risen for a third straight year, averaging 2.05 deaths per 1,000 starts in 2022. The national average, reported by The Jockey Club, was 1.25 over the same period. A total of 22 Thoroughbreds died at Monmouth in 2022, including six which occurred off the racetrack, outside of racing or training: Kershaw, a 7-year-old , suffered a cervical fracture and was found with a three-centimeter-deep laceration on his forehead on Oct. 28. The Jose D'Angelo-trained gelding won a starter optional claiming race on Sept. 30 at Laurel in his final career start. Classic Escape, a 3-year-old gelding, finished last in a race Aug. 29 after being “fractious just prior to the start” and hitting the gate, endured a broken tail and could no longer defecate before being euthanized days later on Sept. 4. (trainer Luis Carvajal, Jr.) Hi Millie, a 3-year-old gelding, was discovered laying in his stall on July 26. Owner/trainer James Frangella, Jr. said that it was an adverse reaction to medication under a doctor's care. Road to Meath, a 7-year-old gelding trained by Jack Abrams, was listed as a “Sudden Death @ rest” on Aug. 19. The pathologist listed respiratory distress and the ingestion of an anticoagulant rodenticide as possible causes of death. Annas Candy, an insured 4-year-old filly, was found dead in the barn of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer on July 17. The fatality report said she flipped in the stall; her skull was fractured. A note added, “This horse attached to hoist.” Miss Margaret Ann, a 6-year-old mare, died on June 25 with her cause of death listed as “colic.” (trainer John Pimental). Additionally, four Standardbreds died at Meadowlands Racetrack, and one Standardbred fatality was reported at Freehold Raceway.
Trainer Motion Remembers Sopran Basilea
August 4, 2023
The mood was somber at Barn 82 on the Oklahoma Training Track as a sprinkle of rain fell early on the morning of Aug. 4. Trainer Graham Motion stood outside his shedrow and remembered a brave filly named Sopran Basilea . The day before, the 4-year-old filly was euthanized on the inner turf course at Saratoga Race Course following the running of the Glens Falls Stakes (G2T). She had finished fourth, but on the gallop out, Sopran Basilea fell. And then she was gone. Dr. Sarah Hinchliffe, the senior examining veterinarian for the New York Racing Association, said the filly incurred a catastrophic injury to her right front leg according to NYRA. "It's terrible, just no way around it," Motion said. "Manny (Franco, jockey) said she felt great all through the race, and, galloping out, she suddenly took a funny step." Sopran Basilea, a daughter of Night of Thunder , was bred in Ireland. She had six wins, six seconds, and a third in 18 career starts.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/270693/trainer-motion-remembers-sopran-basilea
Sopran Basilea came from last place to take second before beginning to stumble at the 2:20 mark. While she finished the race fourth she collapsed and died on the gallop out.
‘Hard not to break down’: Racing world heartbroken after two horses pass away in tragedy
August 5, 2023
Smart sprinter I Am Me’s strong Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) victory was marred by a shocking incident that resulted in the death of comeback sprinter Big Parade on Saturday at Rosehill Gardens. Top riders Josh Parr and James McDonald were lucky to stay in the saddle after Parr’s mount Big Parade unfortunately went amiss midway down the straight. Parr had Big Parade travelling outside I Am Me when disaster struck. Under duress the gelding laid in, nearly putting the James McDonald-ridden Golden Mile through the fence. Both Parr and McDonald did amazing jobs to stay aboard and took no further part in the race with Big Parade was sadly euthanized. Meanwhile, there was another tragedy at Flemington when First In Line collapsed soon after winning the VRC Barbara Stephens Trophy (2530m) in a tight finish over Alhambara Lad. Vets rushed to treat First In Line but the gelding had already died of a suspected heart attack when they arrived on the scene. First In Line was transported to the University of Melbourne veterinary clinic for an autopsy in line with Racing Victoria procedure.
3-year-old filly injured in stakes race at Saratoga is euthanized and jockey gets thrown off
August 5, 2023
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Maple Leaf Mel was leading the field in the $500,000 Test at Saratoga when she sustained a catastrophic injury to her leg just before the finish line and was later euthanized on Saturday. Jockey Joel Rosario was unseated and went to a hospital in Albany for further evaluation and to have stitches for facial abrasions, according to the New York Racing Association. Trained by Melanie Giddings, Maple Leaf Mel was 5-0 in her career. She was owned by August Dawn Farm, which includes Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells. The filly was drawing away from the field when she injured her right front leg. On-site veterinarians tended to Maple Leaf Mel, but she was euthanized because of the severity of the injury, NYRA said.
Maple Leaf was in the lead to win the race when she suddenly stumbled and went down for no apparent reason.
Filly euthanized after racing incident at Saratoga track
August 6, 2023
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- A 4-year-old filly broke down in the fourth race at Saratoga and was euthanized on Sunday, the second consecutive day a racing death occurred at the track in upstate New York. Ever Summer sustained a catastrophic injury to her left front leg in the final turn of the turf race and was euthanized, according to the New York Racing Association. Irad Ortiz Jr., the leading rider at the summer meet, was unseated. He was later cleared to ride the rest of the card. Frivole, a 4-year-old filly, was pulled up early in the same race. Trainer Graham Motion told the Daily Racing Form that Franco made the move "out of an abundance of caution" after she took an odd step. Motion said Frivole returned to her stall. Ever Summer passed the required prerace veterinary inspection, according to the NYRA.
Ever Summer was coming around the outside in a bid to take the lead when she “took a bad step” and stumbled, though she was near no other horses:
Wyoming Ranch Owners Believe Someone Poisoned And Killed Four Horses
August 8, 2023
Four horses turned up dead on a Converse County ranch last week, and the owners believe they were poisoned with a "neurological toxin," but are uncertain how the drug was administered. [Three guesses—MCM] However, outside of a Facebook post that has generated close to 1,500 mostly sympathetic comments, it's an alleged crime that nobody wants to talk about. The owners of the horses, Joe and Lindsay Bright, are adamant that someone entered their private property and poisoned their horses July 31. The Brights claim five horses were poisoned. One was treated by a Colorado State University veterinarian and saved. Converse County Undersheriff Nate Hughes said the case was turned over to state investigators. He declined to confirm the date of the alleged crime or any further details. Wyoming Livestock Investigator Chris Strang also declined to provide any details. "I'll tell ya, it's an ongoing investigation, so I'm not going to talk about it," Strang said. "The owners can say what they want." The post goes on to say that the horses were not shot, but were given a "neurological toxin" that has yet to be determined. Several veterinarians in Converse, Niobrara and Platte counties contacted by Cowboy State Daily said drugs used to euthanize large animals are not available over the counter. A law that went into effect in July requires livestock owners to have an established relationship with their veterinarian before most drugs can be prescribed.
According to the University of Wyoming, there are five plants that grow naturally in Wyoming that can kill livestock. They include water hemlock, sorghum hay, milkweed, Death Camas and locoweed.
Another horse has been euthanized after an injury at Ellis Park
August 9, 2023
For the second time in about a month, a horse had to be euthanized after suffering an injury during a race at Ellis Park. According to a steward's report from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, a 3-year-old named Holy Moly Abraham was running in the eighth race on July 30 when he "appeared to suffer an injury approaching the three furlong pole and unseated his rider. The horse ran another 1/16(th) of a mile before being caught, and required the assistance of the KHRC veterinarians and the horse ambulance," the report reads. "After evaluation, it was determined that the horse had suffered a catastrophic injury to his right foreleg and he was humanely euthanized." The Courier & Press has reached out to Ellis Park for comment.
Another horse dies at Nebraska vet clinic under investigation
August 9, 2023
GAGE COUNTY, Neb. —Just more than a week after KETV Investigates was alerted to several dead horses at a Gage County veterinary clinic, another has died. State and county investigators noticed the dead horse in a lot near a feed trough, according to the sheriff's office. They were on scene Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing investigation. A search warrant is being obtained to remove the animal and take it to Lincoln for a necropsy. More than a dozen horses have died at the Blue Valley Veterinary Clinic in the last two months. KETV was first alerted to the situation by concerned neighbors. The owner of the clinic, Dr. Jennafer Glaesemann, talked with KETV last week. She believes she got a batch of toxic hay, which led to the deaths. However, no lab tests have turned up toxins in the hay. On Wednesday, she declined to comment about the latest horse and referred us to her attorney. The attorney did not respond. When KETV followed up on the initial investigation last week, we could not see any bales of hay. On Wednesday, there was hay in the pens.
https://www.ketv.com/article/another-horse-dies-at-nebraska-vet-clinic-under-investigation/44778706
Horse dies, rider fractures skull during polo match
August 15, 2023
CROZET, Va. — A horse died and a rider fractured her skull during a polo match on Sunday in northern Virginia.The female horse, named Fortuna, died after experiencing an aortic aneurysm at the King Family Vineyards in Crozet, The Daily Progress newspaper of Charlottesville reported. “She (the horse) collapsed just as she got onto the field,” Ali King, a trainer at the Roseland Polo Club at King Family Vineyards, told the newspaper on Monday. “It is so unlucky there was a rider on her when this happened.” The horse collapsed during a match between Team Roseland and Team Jamaica, WCAV-TV reported. Officials with Team Roseland said the horse died from a preexisting condition and was not related to the weather in the area, according to the television station. The injured rider was a member of visiting Team Jamaica, The Daily Progress reported. King said the woman received a minor skull fracture and was released from an area hospital on Monday morning. She is expected to make a full recovery, according to the newspaper.
10 Horses Have Died At Wyoming Racetracks This Summer
August 15, 2023
At least 10 horses have died while racing at Wyoming racetracks this season, and all but one of those at the Wyoming Downs racetrack in Evanston. The other death was at Energy Downs in Gillette. The death numbers were part of Wyoming Gaming Commission data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request that was shared with Cowboy State Daily. Ten horses also died at Wyoming racing venues during the 2022 season, but there is still more than a month of racing left in this year’s season. The public records request was made and shared by Horseracing Wrongs, a nonprofit with a mission of eliminating all horse racing in America. Over the past three racing seasons, including the still-unfinished current season, there have been 28 horse deaths in the Cowboy State. Horseracing Wrongs presents the data, going back to 2014-2016 when there were seven deaths total, as a huge increase in horses dying at Wyoming racetracks. But there are a few caveats to that claim. One is an increase in overall racing. According to the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Practice Association, in 2015, 32 races were scheduled across four tracks in Wyoming. This season, 52 races were scheduled across three tracks, a nearly 63% increase in racing activity. Battuello speculated that the lower number of past injuries could simply be a result of poor record keeping. The fatality statistics do not include horses that are hurt at a track and later brought to different private property to die, or horses that were brought to a recovery center and unsuccessfully treated, if there have been any. When the Wyoming Gaming Commission met last month, a safety committee was reestablished that had gone dormant for a few years. Battuello said safety hasn’t improved within the horse racing industry and actions like these amount to meaningless gestures. “That’s just the standard response that they give when they’re under intense scrutiny,” he said. The Wyoming Gaming Commission questioned Wyoming Downs leadership about what was causing the cluster of fatal horse incidents at that special meeting in July. At that time, only five horse deaths had been publicly announced. According to the FOIA request, all 10 deaths had already happened by that meeting. Members of the commission were provided no clues or concrete explanations for why the horses died. Five of the horses that died were 2-year-olds. In July, Wyoming Downs started prohibiting all rookie 2-year-old horses from racing in reaction to the deaths.
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/08/18/10-horses-have-died-at-wyoming-racetracks-this-summer/
Saratoga: 3-year-old gelding is fatally injured in turf race
August 16, 2023
Wisecraken, a 3-year-old gelding, was euthanized Wednesday after suffering an injury in the fifth race at Saratoga. According to the Equibase chart, he was pulled up near the five-sixteenths pole of the 1 1/8-mile turf race with an injury to his right hind leg. New York Racing Association spokesperson Keith McCalmont said in a social-media post, “despite the immediate response of on-site veterinarians, the horse was humanely euthanized due to the severity of the injury.” It was the fifth start for Wisecraken, a son of McKraken. He broke his maiden in his prior start on July 2 at Belmont. He was owned by Ironhorse Racing Stable and trained by Michelle Nevin. In a social-media post, Ironhorse Racing said, "he was a big, lovable favorite" in Nevin's barn. "He always gave his all and was doing it today."
Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino to add safety measures leading up to All American weekend
August 18, 2023
Changes are being implemented at Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Casino after a series of equine fatalities. Last weekend there were six horses that died at the track and overall there have been just more than 30 deaths, according to New Mexico Racing Commission officials. The changes come as the biggest weekend of racing nears at the racetrack, which is home to the top quarter horses in the country. The All American Oaks (3-year-old quarter horse fillies) and All American Derby (3-year old quarter horses male or female) will be contested on Sept. 3 and the All-American Futurity for 2-year-old quarter horses will be held on Sept. 4, Labor Day. The New Mexico Racing Commission held a special meeting on Thursday afternoon to address the changes. "We have to work in unity to help solve the issue," NMRC Executive Director Izzy Trejo said. "The safety of the horse is most important. We're not here to point fingers or pass judgment, we are focused on solutions." The NMRC is implementing more pre-race examinations by the veterinarians and closer monitoring of horses between race days. Ruidoso Race Track and Casino officials proposed several changes for the upcoming big races that they can implement without commission approval but that the commission supports and is hopeful of them working.
Horse Euthanized After Suffering Injury During Del Mar Workout
August 20, 2023
A 3-year-old filly has died after suffering an injury while working out at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, state horse racing officials confirmed Sunday. “Vagabond Prayer suffered an injury while exercising Saturday morning at Del Mar (and) required euthanasia,” California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Marten told City News Service. Media reports indicated that the filly suffered a shoulder injury. Vagabond Prayer, which had three career races, is the fourth horse to die from a racing or training injury at Del Mar this year. The track had canceled its race card for Sunday as Hurricane Hilary approached San Diego.
Art Collector gone
August 21, 2023
Every horse death is a tragedy, it’s just that some deaths seem like bigger tragedies than others. Among the toughest to take are those that occur when a horse who is nearing the close of a long, successful career is struck down a race or two from the end. Art Collector was one of those horses. The six-year-old son of Bernardini raced at most of the major tracks in the eastern half of the country, winning eight stakes, including the 2021 Woodward (G1) and 2023 Pegasus World Cup (G1), and banking $4,231,290 while competing for owner/breeder Bruce Lunsford. In his last start on May 5, Art Collector was runner-up behind Smile Happy in a loaded field in the G2 Alysheba Stakes. His victories also included the 2020 Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and back-to-back editions of the Charles Town Classic (G2). Art Collector developed laminitis that soon spread to all four feet after developing what appeared to be a small foot abscess. He was euthanized on Aug. 17. “He had a magnificent career,” Lunsford told Horse Racing Nation. “I’ve been in the game a long time, and he’s one of the best I’ve had the fortune of being associated with. He took me to great lengths and moments in this game. He was a member of the family, and obviously we’re heartbroken.”
On the same day, it was reported that a second horse had to be euthanized after coming down with laminitis:
Cave Rock, a 3-year-old colt trained by Bob Baffert, dies of laminitis
August 21, 2023
LOS ANGELES — Cave Rock, runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile and trained by Bob Baffert, has died from complications of laminitis that developed after surgery in July. The 3-year-old colt who died Friday had not raced since last year's Breeders' Cup at Keeneland. His second-place finish to Forte in the BC Juvenile had placed Cave Rock among the early favorites for this year's Triple Crown. He recorded six workouts this year, his last coming on April 2. Cave Rock won three of four career starts and had earnings of $748,000 for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. Veterinarian Dr. Vince Baker at San Luis Rey Equine Hospital in Bonsall, California, said Cave Rock showed signs of colic after a morning workout on July 28. After being treated with a tranquilizer and an anti-inflammatory, the colt didn't improve and went to the hospital. Baker said tests showed Cave Rock had a congenital inguinal hernia. Surgery was done to re-section 18 inches of small intestine and the recovery went well, according to Baker, until signs of laminitis developed six days later. Laminitis is inflammation that affects a horse's feet and can lead to the inability to stand up, which requires euthanasia. Barbaro, the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, developed the condition in both his front feet, which led to his death. “We are deeply saddened by the sudden illness and irreversible medical condition which led to the death of Cave Rock,” Baffert posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “He was a talent at the top of his class and adored by our entire team. Learning of his death from the caring team at SLR Equine Hospital was like a gut punch to everyone who cared for this special horse. We are left with the great memories with which he graced us but we will miss him dearly.” Baffert and owners Pegram, Watson and Weitman lost another 3-year-old colt earlier this year. Havnameltdown broke down in the Chick Lang Stakes ahead of the Preakness in May at Pimlico and had to be euthanized on the track.
Statement on horse deaths at Saratoga Race Course
August 21, 2023
WASHINGTON—Following the recent spate of horse deaths at the Saratoga Race Course this summer, Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States released the following statement: “In a tragic and disturbing summer at the Saratoga Race Course, 11 horses have died. Many of these deaths were likely preventable, and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority should hold the New York Racing Association accountable for the safety of horses. Visitors to the Saratoga Race Course reject the notion that horse deaths are a cost of doing business—nobody wants to attend an event where they routinely see these majestic animals die on the track. We call on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to exert its power under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act and recommend a suspension of any further races until there is an extensive safety review conducted at Saratoga, because horse racing should not be a matter of life or death.” According to the Albany Times Union, 11 horses have died at the Saratoga Race Course since May 26, including six in August.
https://www.humanesociety.org/news/statement-horse-deaths-saratoga-race-course
Five-year-old Trakehner stallion Hollister suddenly dies
August 21, 2023
The Hollister approved by the Trakehner Verband in 2020 showed a good second year and had a successful breeding season on Karl-Friedrich Peters' company. The stallion was fit and healthy and there were no omens of his sudden death. Hollister comes from the same dam line as influential stallions Herzruf, Hirtentanz and Hibiskus.
https://www.horses.nl/fokkerij/trakehnen/vijfjarige-trakehner-hengst-hollister-plotseling-overleden/
This reminds me of all those zoo animals that were vaccinated and then died suddenly.
Would be helpful to know if there's any idea the level of injections these poor horses have been subjected to - are they getting Covid shots? Or other ones?