And maybe the title should be changed to two horses dead in 14 races at Pimlico. (And it was technically in 3 races as it was the 1st and the 3rd).
Gulfstream and Monmouth also had rain and soft going and not sure any deaths at either of those tracks. Or Belmont.
Didn’t she have some problems at the gate beforehand (breaking through it?) and then was okayed by the veterinarian? Perhaps that had something to do with it, or perhaps not.
Kind of gruesome since it is the 10th anniversary of Barbaro’s Preakness.
[QUOTE=MoonWitch;8672943]
I have 3 OTTB’s, including one who ran at one of the races leading up to the Belmont, with jockey John Velaquez. Watching them in the field, running down hills, spinning, bucking and just being TB’s takes my breath away and makes my heart stop at times.
Is this sport any different than eventing, fox hunting, grand prix jumping, etc? What about trail riding? I had a boarder who took a bad step on a pace event and broke a leg and was euthanized on the spot.
It’s tragic whenever any horse suffers a catastrophic injury that results in death. But to say the sport is cruel or should be eliminated, opens the door to conversation about all other horse sports, that put both horse and human at risk.
Prayers to all those that suffered losses today…[/QUOTE]
Perfectly stated.
I had an ottb just off the track filly as my first broodmare. She was a hoot and she missed racing. She used the run in shed as a starting gate - would blast out and lap the field, hit the brakes at the run in shed, walk in and do it again, sometimes 5 or 6 times in a row. I was riding my gelding in the field next to hers and she came up beside us a couple times and blast off. My husband was watching from the deck and he hollered at me to look at my mare. He was laughing because she was in definite serious POUT mode that we weren’t racing her.
[QUOTE=minnie;8673152]
I had an ottb just off the track filly as my first broodmare. She was a hoot and she missed racing. She used the run in shed as a starting gate - would blast out and lap the field, hit the brakes at the run in shed, walk in and do it again, sometimes 5 or 6 times in a row. I was riding my gelding in the field next to hers and she came up beside us a couple times and blast off. My husband was watching from the deck and he hollered at me to look at my mare. He was laughing because she was in definite serious POUT mode that we weren’t racing her.[/QUOTE]
That’s so cute!
I also think many used up school horses meet bad ends.
[QUOTE=MoonWitch;8672943]
I have 3 OTTB’s, including one who ran at one of the races leading up to the Belmont, with jockey John Velaquez. Watching them in the field, running down hills, spinning, bucking and just being TB’s takes my breath away and makes my heart stop at times.
Is this sport any different than eventing, fox hunting, grand prix jumping, etc? What about trail riding? I had a boarder who t
ook a bad step on a pace event and broke a leg and was euthanized on the spot.
It’s tragic whenever any horse suffers a catastrophic injury that results in death. But to say the sport is cruel or should be eliminated, opens the door to conversation about all other horse sports, that put both horse and human at risk.
Prayers to all those that suffered losses today…[/QUOTE]
Is the sport any different than others? Yes
Look at the age they start these horses, look how they break down. Anybody that starts horses at the age they start TB race horses does not care about the well being of the horse. It is all about where the big money is and how quick can I start to recoup it. 90% of trainers are the lowest of low and 99% of owners don’t have a clue.
I bred a mare and got the baby to the track, never again, knowing what I know now. DW deals with these scum bags everyday and knows what they do to these horses. Trainers that are chemists by trade, come on, horse racing is a disgusting business. You meet an honest, good, caring person in the business it is a big deal.
Funny we were discussing the young horse classes in Dressage the other day and we think they are asking to much from 4 and 5 year olds in the young horse classes.
I did not want to go down this road and get in this discussion but to late now.
Somebody saying a filly broke both it’s legs on a perfectly good track. Imagine that a FILLY breaking down.
Nobody that starts horses at that age cares anything for the well being of the horse.
[QUOTE=minnie;8673152]
I had an ottb just off the track filly as my first broodmare. She was a hoot and she missed racing. She used the run in shed as a starting gate - would blast out and lap the field, hit the brakes at the run in shed, walk in and do it again, sometimes 5 or 6 times in a row. I was riding my gelding in the field next to hers and she came up beside us a couple times and blast off. My husband was watching from the deck and he hollered at me to look at my mare. He was laughing because she was in definite serious POUT mode that we weren’t racing her.[/QUOTE]
My bet is she was a brood mare because she was broke down from racing and that’s what she was good for.
[QUOTE=Jim R;8673161]
Is the sport any different than others? Yes
Look at the age they start these horses, look how they break down. Anybody that starts horses at the age they start TB race horses does not care about the well being of the horse. It is all about where the big money is and how quick can I start to recoup it. 90% of trainers are the lowest of low and 99% of owners don’t have a clue.
I bred a mare and got the baby to the track, never again, knowing what I know now. DW deals with these scum bags everyday and knows what they do to these horses. Trainers that are chemists by trade, come on, horse racing is a disgusting business. You meet an honest, good, caring person in the business it is a big deal.
Funny we were discussing the young horse classes in Dressage the other day and we think they are asking to much from 4 and 5 year olds in the young horse classes.
I did not want to go down this road and get in this discussion but to late now.
Somebody saying a filly broke both it’s legs on a perfectly good track. Imagine that a FILLY breaking down.
Nobody that starts horses at that age cares anything for the well being of the horse.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. They start those horses young, drugged up, and fast. My BO used to work on the track (tbs and stbds) and she hates tbs now because of all the bad experiences with them. I don’t blame the horses though, I blame the environment and culture.
I mean, what other equine sport is so notorious for dumping its rejects to the kill pens in such high numbers like horse racing does?
Or breeds a new batch of some 18,000 horses a year, 10,000 of which yearly get sent to slaughter? Some 300 out of every 1,000 actually race, but lord knows how many actually earn a soft landing? Or get a retirement?
Another 1,000 a year die on the track.
It’s not the same as very other equine sport.
[QUOTE=Jim R;8673165]
My bet is she was a brood mare because she was broke down from racing and that’s what she was good for.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, but you’re way off base. I bought her off the track and she was sound as a rock. Her last race was 2 weeks before I brought her home.
I owned her for a year before I bred her.
[QUOTE=Jim R;8673165]
My bet is she was a brood mare because she was broke down from racing and that’s what she was good for.[/QUOTE]
You accuse someone up thread of conjecture and then this?
ETA glad the poster was able to clarify.
Anyone else think it was odd when Nyquist gave up the rail in the stretch to go outside of Exaggerator? I’ve watched several times and I can’t figure it out.
He just looked really tired and came off the rail while switching leads to me.
I guess that may be it. It looked to me that the jockey checked him a little to take him outside.
[QUOTE=Jim R;8673161]
Look at the age they start these horses, look how they break down.[/QUOTE]
You both do realize that statistically 2 year olds suffer less catastrophic breakdowns than 3 year olds, don’t you?
Just watched it again and no, Nyquist didn’t change leads.
[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;8673210]
You both do realize that statistically 2 year olds suffer less catastrophic breakdowns than 3 year olds, don’t you?[/QUOTE]
That doesn’t mean they don’t start them too young. I feel the same way about horse racing as I do about futurity horses. I don’t like it.
Three is still a baby to me, so there you go.
Last figures that I saw had AQHA horses as the highest numbers in kill pens. They breed, and register, many more AQHA every year than they do TBs.
[QUOTE=minnie;8673152]
I had an ottb just off the track filly as my first broodmare. She was a hoot and she missed racing. She used the run in shed as a starting gate - would blast out and lap the field, hit the brakes at the run in shed, walk in and do it again, sometimes 5 or 6 times in a row. I was riding my gelding in the field next to hers and she came up beside us a couple times and blast off. My husband was watching from the deck and he hollered at me to look at my mare. He was laughing because she was in definite serious POUT mode that we weren’t racing her.[/QUOTE]
I have a TB who does that, and she never raced. In fact that’s why I bought her when she was six months old; she’s gone racing alone all her life.
I was down to feed them this evening, and all three of my TBs bolted from the run in, raced to the bottom of the pasture and then raced back. My only OTTB came in last. They frequently do this around sunset. Only after do they eat.
They are SO beautiful.
[QUOTE=RodeoFTW;8673179]
Exactly. They start those horses young, drugged up, and fast. My BO used to work on the track (tbs and stbds) and she hates tbs now because of all the bad experiences with them. I don’t blame the horses though, I blame the environment and culture.
I mean, what other equine sport is so notorious for dumping its rejects to the kill pens in such high numbers like horse racing does?
Or breeds a new batch of some 18,000 horses a year, 10,000 of which yearly get sent to slaughter? Some 300 out of every 1,000 actually race, but lord knows how many actually earn a soft landing? Or get a retirement?
Another 1,000 a year die on the track.
It’s not the same as very other equine sport.[/QUOTE]
You forget that well-bred American TBs are sold all over the world to race and breed. Those horses are not drugged.
Quite a few racing people are against drugging–even against Lasix. Drugging seems to be just as prevalent in human sport as in racing. Perhaps we shoudl just abolish ALL sport because it’s dangerous and people will do almost anything to win.
I seem to recall that I’ve seen statistics that the vast majority of horses in kill pens are QH and Paint types. The Amish certainly don’t have any compunction about sending their used up horses to killer auctions. TB Racing probably puts more effort into retirement options than any other horse sport.
If you have an unbiased set of numbers, I’d like to see them.
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