Citing California Horse Racing Board and Daily Racing Form data, The Washington Post reported on June 18 that at least 74 horses have died in trainer Bob Baffert’s care in California since 2000, trailing only two other trainers in the state.
The Post’s analysis concluded that Baffert trainees have died at the highest rate per starts of the 10 trainers with the most horse deaths there, an occurrence rate of 8.3 deaths per 1,000 starts. The figures include deaths from illnesses in addition to breakdowns.
The Post acknowledged the potential for some inaccuracy in the figures it collected from the CHRB, writing that at least one death of a Baffert horse identified by the publication was not included in the regulator’s statistics.
Washington Post: The Dark Side of Bob Baffert’s Reign
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“No horse-loving person like Bob or his entire team accepts the reality of a horse death with anything other than sadness and despair,” the lawyers said in their statement to the Post. “In each instance, the death is investigated. Every investigation over the past 20 years has reached the same conclusion: no rules or regulations have been violated nor has there been any improper activity on Bob’s part.”
Pass the sick bag.
Tuesday's Horse 
The article written by Garcia-Roberts and Rich of The Washington Post is excellent. A piece of investigative journalism at its best.
Did not have to subscribe to read it.
Compelling reading.
As for the statements by Craig Robertson, Baffert’s lawyer, it just beggars belief. Apart from the untruths in what Robertson says, any person of minimal intelligence, having read Baffert’s outrageous long history of the use of banned substances, overages, etc. in his stables and the ‘mysterious’ deaths of all of those horses, would see how pathetic this lawyer’s statements are. Agree, Fund for Horses, ‘pass the sick bag’.
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Vivian was able to read it all the way through before they put the pay window up. She said it was riveting reading, and she has been following Baffert for 15 or so years. Masterful piece of journalism. 👌
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I’m not even gonna read the comments. I know the clueless treehuggers are gonna have a field day bashing Bob and horse racing.. The truth is THE HIRSES LOVE TO RUN, PERIOD.! They are bred for speed. In doing so, over the years, the breeding has produced some traits that I find less desirable, yet more speed production.. one being finer legs. Bones like toothpicks on bigger or taller bodies. This is a recipe for breakdowns.. Back in the old days, when horses were used and worked for a living, u could take one horse( a single horse) plowed the fields, pulled the family to town, saddle him up and go gather your cattle, the kids would learn how to ride on that same horse.. Fast forward 200 years. Now horses are athletes. Bred for spacifics and speed. The average race horse is born into a lap of luxury. The are fed properly, exercised properly, handled with care, and vetted regularly.. My only argument is they are broke to ride too young. If they would wait til these babies are 4 or 5 years old, they would be more mature. Their bones would be knitted, knees be closed and I know they would not be as fragile. But that is never gonna happen in today’s fast paced world.. So if u do not like the sport of horse racing, u certainly do not have to watch not participate.. Go find u a hobby or a husband or a job.. Something to focus on besides other folks business.. Love or leave it.. It’s not for everybody.. I have a small herd myself. And love them all. But they are very expensive to care for. If a horse can have a job and make a good living, GREAT! I wish mine could!
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To Tonya:
Some of what you say is accurate. But not much.
In the meantime, we know plenty about racehorses and horse racing. Several of the staff at the Fund for Horses, whose blog this is, have hands-on experience with racehorses and the world of horseracing in the US
Our Editor, Mrs Farrell, was raised alongside Thoroughbred racehorses from birth, both in England and the US. She worked as a horse racing photographer in both countries as well. Mrs Farrell lasted only a few months in the US as a racing photographer because of what she saw going on, and declared she would never set foot on an American racecourse again.
In the meantime, keep your judgments — about what you think we know about horses — to yourself. If you don’t like our views here, please stay away. Far, far away. Thank you.
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Clearly Tonya you are clueless about what goes on in horseracing, especially in the USA. Have another read of the Fund for Horses response to your comment and in particular take note of Mrs Farrell’s lifelong experience with horses, her involvement in the racing industry and then the crushing realisation as to what goes on with the racehorses in the USA. An organisation like this Fund came into existence due to Mrs Farrell and her team speaking out for the voiceless horses. Another organisation in the USA is Horseracing Wrongs (check out their blog and look at the undeniable facts on racehorses dying on a daily basis). Here in Australia there is the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses and in the UK there is Animal Aid. So Tonya, why do you think these organisations (who are gaining global recognition with significant mainstream media also becoming involved) are so successful in exposing what goes on with these horses in the racing industry?
I can answer that for you.
The truth is told.
One cannot argue the undeniable facts.
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👏👏👏 Brava Carolyn. Thank you.
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Spot on Carolyn. Thank you for speaking out.
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Don’t piss Carolyn off :-)
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👌💛
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Clueless with no racing education.
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..soulless heartless murderer of beautiful living beings..
“..horse-loving person”/my buttox..
..greed driven soulless sociopath..
throw away the keys..
☻☻
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