Sunday, January 13, 2013

Looking into Aqueduct horse deaths

From the NY Times:

The New York State Racing and Wagering Board announced Friday that it would order necropsies for all horses that sustain deadly racing injuries on Aqueduct’s inner dirt track after four fatalities at the racetrack’s meet, which opened Dec. 12.

On Thursday, Pleasantfriday broke her right front leg while turning for home, sending jockey Cornelio Velasquez to the ground. Pleasantfriday, a 5-year-old mare, was taken away in a van and later euthanized.

Necropsies of horses that are fatally injured were among the recommendations of a task force requested by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to investigate the increase of fatal breakdowns at Aqueduct Racetrack last year.

The four-member panel concluded that more than half of the 21 racehorses that died might have been saved had racing authorities more closely monitored their health and the liberal use of prescription drugs intended to keep them racing for purses inflated with money from the track’s adjacent casino.

1 comment:

FluShing Rezident said...

Drugs!!!! This is such animal abuse!!!

I've personally known professional racehorse owners and was informed that whatever nasty business you can imagine - well, it's going on and it's much worse!

This is a really nasty business that should be shut down. Let humans entertain us - at least they can walk away - the poor horses are just worked into the grave!