Why do racehorses die?

The humans failed the horses The New York Times | by Joe Drape | 5th May 2024 | Excerpted Last year, 12 horses perished at Churchill Downs in the days surrounding the famous race. It only got worse. Two weeks later, a horse trained by one of the sport’s most recognized trainers died at Pimlico…

As Kentucky Derby nears, last year’s deaths cast long shadow

Via NEW YORK TIMES By Joe Drape reporting from Louisville, Ky & Lexington, Ky; Melissa Hoppert reporting from New York. THE Kentucky Derby has been run through two World Wars, the Great Depression, civil rights unrest and, most recently, a life-paralyzing pandemic. Now, on the 150th anniversary of America’s most famous race, the Sport of…

Animal venom seized by customs agents likely headed for horse trainers ahead of Derby

by Tyler Madden, WKRC CINCINNATI (WKRC), May 1, 2024 — Venom from snakes, spiders, and scorpions were intercepted, and customs agents said it was likely headed for horse trainers. The timing is no coincidence with The Kentucky Derby coming up on Saturday. Since the beginning of the year, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents…

Baffert must transfer horses by Jan. 29 or they cannot run in Derby

Horseracing Nation writes: With trainer Bob Baffert still under indefinite suspension by Churchill Downs Inc., the owners of his Kentucky Derby 2024 prospects have only 17 days to transfer them to eligible trainers or find themselves shut out of qualifying for the May 4 classic. “Horses under the care of any suspended trainer may be transferred to…

Baffert, racehorses and betamethasone

Dead horse’s medical records cast light on Baffert’s evolving relationship with betamethasone Source: Paulick Report by Natalie Voss » After the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert prohibited the use of the corticosteroid betamethasone for joint injections of horses in his barn. Or did he? The racing industry has heard Baffert run…

Tax Court Judge suggests owner send retired racehorses to slaughter

The Paulick Report tells us: Perhaps best known for his work on the Michael Jackson estate, Tax Court Judge Mark Holmes is often regarded as eloquent in his appraisal of cases before him.  However, when creating a bench opinion on the case of Joseph G. Bucci, his writing became a bit uncouth. Bucci, the owner…

New federal authority probing 12 horse deaths at Saratoga

Five of the 12 deaths this season were a result of catastrophic injuries during races, with another suffering a fatal heart attack during a race SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new federal authority that was created to regulate horseracing is examining a spate of recent equine fatalities at Saratoga Race Course, which has had 12 horses perish during the season…

Opinion: HISA charting path toward decreasing care of racehorses

Oh, now they are feigning surprise and concern about HISA. You can't make this horse **** up. — Tuesday's Horse Horse racing faces many problems, but the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) and its resulting Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (the Authority) is not the solution and, in fact, is exacerbating the complex problem…

Racehorse ‘Art Collector’ provisionally suspended

Art Collector on list of horses provisionally suspended for violating intra-articular injection rule Bill Finley, reporting for the Thoroughbred Daily News on 18th July, writes: The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) has issued a new list of horses that have been provisionally suspended for violating the rules regarding intra-articular injections and it includes Grade…

Bob Baffert has become an Enemy of the State

Updated 07/05/23, 5.20pm EST. Meredith Cash, speaking in 2021, stated, "The death of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit was at least the 75th under Bob Baffert and illuminates the dark underbelly of horse racing". We do not mean to dwell on the evils of Bob Baffert. We would like to forget him and never hear…