“Collapsed, sudden death”; “Suffered catastrophic injury”; and much more from PA – Mistakes in Horse Racing

Through a FOIA request to the PA Department of Agriculture, I confirmed the following murders on that state’s tracks last year (this is part 2; part 1 here). As always, the package included the following: “Your request has been granted in part and denied in part. The PDA has withheld data related to necropsy reports because they are exempt from disclosure by law.” So details are missing (I have supplemented with map notes where possible).

Echo Echo, March 12, Penn T – “injured, euthanized” (only one year old)

Jw’s third Mischie, May 20, Parx T – “injured, euthanized” (ridden 96 times already)

Can’t Stop a Chub, July 22, Parx R – “suffered catastrophic injuries… euthanized”

Bella Artiste, July 24, Penn R – “injured, taken away, euthanized”

Promiseland A, August 11, Pocono R – “sudden death”

Neapolitan, August 16, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”

Supreme Mind, August 20, Parx R (euth August 21) – “injured, euthanized”

Yes, Mr. Colonel, September 20, Parx R – “collapsed – sudden death” (66th race) (video here)

Annieworkstoomuch, September 23, Parx R – “severe stumbling – sudden death”

Civil Notion, October 14, Parx R – “injured during the turn… euthanized”

Motion Potion, October 14, Presque Isle T – “injured, euthanized” (prepared for first race)

Merrychill, October 15, Parx R – “injured, pulled up, euthanized”

Day of Days, October 21, Parx S – “disease, euthanized”

Tik Or Tak, October 21, Penn T – “injured, euthanized” (two years old)

Red Lite District, October 27, Presque Isle S – “disease, euthanized”

Bucks Some, December 1, Parx R – “injured, taken away, euthanized”

Awesome Harry, December 4, Penn R – “injured, taken away, euthanized” (video here)

Practice coach, December 10, Parx R – “taken away in ambulance, euthanized”

Quilling, December 12, Penn T – “injured, euthanized”

Track of My Tears, December 17, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”

Omey Island, December 23, Parx R – “injured during the turn, pulled up, euthanized”

Patronus Star N, December 26, Meadows T – “injured, euthanized”

Bobby the Tank, December 26, Parx T – “injured, euthanized”

Since January 1, 2014, when Horseracing Wrongs began the unprecedented work of reporting murders in the American horse racing industry, 1,028 (that we know of) horses have died on PA tracks. That is 1,028 beautiful, intelligent, sensitive beings sacrificed for nothing more than $2 bets and frivolous entertainment. Aren’t we better than this, America?

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