|
|
Post by Ætheling on Apr 16, 2022 18:07:32 GMT -5
 How very sad |
|
|
|
Post by Twinkle (My Sweet Angel) on Apr 18, 2022 7:33:54 GMT -5
Courier Journal: Court Battle Over Laoban’s Death Reveals Mistakes In Vitamin Administration
The Louisville Courier Journal's Tim Sullivan reported this week that an injectable vitamin treatment given to the stallion Laoban could be to blame for the stallion's death at the age of eight last year. Cypress Creek Equine LLC filed a civil suit in Fayette County Circuit Court in Kentucky in March against four insurance companies that allegedly denied a payout of mortality insurance on the horse.
Sullivan gained access to documents prepared by an attorney hired by North American Specialty Insurance Company last year to investigate the horse's death. According to those reports, Laoban died minutes after getting an intravenous shot of a vitamin cocktail called “Black Shot.” A document authored by attorney Harvey Feintuch in August noted that expired B12 was given at five times the recommended dosage, and that iron dextran, one of the vitamin components, had expired in 2012. One or more of the vitamins were supposed to be given intramuscularly but instead were given intravenously.
According to Sullivan's reading of Feintuch's report, Laoban's death was captured on video and the horse could be seen going into distress 58 seconds after receiving the shot from veterinarian Dr. Heather Wharton. (It is not unusual for larger breeding operations to have cameras in stallion barns.) Wharton returned to the stall and attempted to treat the stallion but was unsuccessful. A necropsy report later revealed a “presumptive diagnosis of anaphylactic shock can be made with a reasonable degree of medico-legal certainty.”
Laoban had shown a decreased interest in breeding at the time of his death, and the shot was supposed to boost his energy and breeding interest.
Sullivan also reported that the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners has “declined to investigate in the absence of a filed complaint.”
Principal owners in Laoban, along with WinStar Farm, declined to be interviewed for the reporting. WinStar CEO Elliott Walden released a prepared statement to the Courier Journal that read, “WinStar has been in the thoroughbred business for over 20 years,” Walden said. “Laoban's passing was a traumatic experience and felt by everyone at the farm. As we stated at the time, insurance companies in general have a self-serving interest in denying claims and blaming others. We resolved by mutual agreement any concerns that were brought to us and closed the chapter of this tragic loss a long time ago.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Twinkle (My Sweet Angel) on Apr 20, 2022 11:37:56 GMT -5
Report: Midnight Bourbon dies at his Churchill Downs barn
Midnight Bourbon, a four-time runner-up in Grade 1 races of the highest profile, died at his Churchill Downs barn stall Sunday, according to a report Wednesday.
Trainer Steve Asmussen told Daily Racing Form the 4-year-old colt experienced “an acute gastrointestinal situation” that proved fatal.
“It’s beyond sad,” Asmussen told DRF’s Marty McGee.
Midnight Bourbon’s death came 22 days after he finished fifth in the Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan. He chased pacesetter Life Is Good around the track before they faded and lost to Country Grammer.
That loss came after Midnight Bourbon’s third-place finish a month earlier in the Saudi Cup (G1), where he challenged Country Grammer for the late lead before both were caught by eventual 113-1 winner Emblem Road.
Even though he lost his last 11 starts after winning the 2021 Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds, the 4-year-old Tiznow colt was held in high regard by bettors. He carried odds shorter than 6-1 in seven of those races. His best performance might have been his neck loss to eventual 3-year-old male champion Essential Quality in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga.
When he took a late lead only to be caught by 11-1 long shot Rombauer in last year’s Preakness, Midnight Bourbon confirmed Asmussen’s believe that he could compete with anyone in his division.
“He has proven he is more than worthy of consideration for the best 3-year-old races in the country,” Asmussen said at the time. “He’s always been that horse. Anybody that’s ever been around him didn’t doubt that he would put in the effort.”
Midnight Bourbon also held the lead in the stretch last summer in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth Park. As he began to lose ground, he clipped heels in the deep stretch with Hot Rod Charlie, buckling and throwing jockey Paco López. Hot Rod Charlie was disqualified from his victory, López was riding again the next day, and Midnight Bourbon suffered some scrapes and bruises before racing again six weeks later in the Haskell.
“The last thing you want is something catastrophic to happen,” Asmussen said. “It was a near miss in that regard, so your heart skips a beat.”
Midnight Bourbon’s final U.S. start came Jan. 22 at Fair Grounds, where he finished second by three-quarters of a length to Mandaloun in the Louisiana Stakes (G3).
In spite of a 16: 2-6-5 record that included no Grade 1 or Grade 2 victories, Midnight Bourbon still ran up $3,557,970 in race earnings.
“I always tell people when you look at his Ragozin Sheets and the numbers he’s running, if you erase his name or cover up his name and say how many races has this horse won in the last year, you would never say zero,” owner Ron Winchell said last month before the Dubai World Cup. “His numbers and his performances are great. He just hasn’t put it together to find the winner’s circle.”
Bred in Kentucky by Barbara Banke’s Stonestreet Farms, Midnight Bourbon was out of the Malibu Moon mare Catch the Moon. Winchell Thoroughbreds bought him for $525,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
In an interview at Fair Grounds last month for the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Asmussen summarized Midnight Bourbon’s ability to stand his ground against the toughest competition he could face.
“Midnight Bourbon is an unbelievable, durable horse that had a very productive 3-year-old year without winning,” he said. “What hasn’t he seen at this stage? He hasn’t batted an eye at it.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Ætheling on Apr 20, 2022 15:13:14 GMT -5
Oh no Midnight Bourbon, too And so sad about Laoban reaction to the shot |
|
|
|
Post by Athena (In Memory) on Apr 22, 2022 19:47:12 GMT -5
OH NO!!! Our favorite horse!!! We always pick Midnight Bourbon to win!!!  Colic is an extremely painful way to die. Odd that they didn't catch it in time. |
|
|
|
Post by Athena (In Memory) on Jun 4, 2022 18:47:36 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Twinkle (My Sweet Angel) on Sept 4, 2022 9:15:47 GMT -5
I had to post a video of Zenyatta doing her dance moves. She's a once in a lifetime horse. I've never seen a horse dance like this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Athena (In Memory) on Sept 16, 2022 19:33:44 GMT -5
It's great to see a horse that is happy and loved her work!
|
|
|
|
Post by Athena (In Memory) on Feb 25, 2023 13:36:49 GMT -5
Watching the 2023 Saudi Cup race and all those millions for the winner, I can remember back to the first One Million Dollar race -- The Arlington Million, 1981. I lived in my hometown Chicago then and still think that race announcer, Phil Georgeff, is the best race caller ever. He called the harness races too and was known for his "here they come, spinning out of the turn," wording as they entered the homestretch. (He had to change it to "here they come, racing out of the turn") when he called thoroughbred races. Anyway, here's the first Arlington Million. Be sure to watch after the race for the slow motion replay. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ2ByoMBq6k |
|
|
|
Post by Twinkle (My Sweet Angel) on Feb 27, 2023 13:36:46 GMT -5
The Arlington Million has such rich history. I remember that first one too. What a finish! John Henry is the only horse to have ever won it twice. I am including a photo of the photo finish & photo of the Against All Odds statue with The Bart & John Henry.   |
|
|
|
Post by Athena (In Memory) on Mar 3, 2023 20:35:12 GMT -5
The Bart was running strongly down the stretch, too. And, if you watch Willie Shoemaker on John Henry, he wasn't hitting him -- swiching his stick, but more in time with John Henry's stride. Shoe was THE best. They said he could get more out of a horse without hitting the horse, than anyone.
Beautiful statue!
|
|
|
|
Post by Twinkle (My Sweet Angel) on Jun 1, 2023 19:27:13 GMT -5
Churchill Downs Moves to Keep Unsound Horses Off the Track
After the deaths of a dozen thoroughbreds at the Louisville, Ky., track, officials are changing policies that may have incentivized trainers to race vulnerable horses.
Churchill Downs, under scrutiny after 12 horses suffered fatal injuries in the past five weeks, on Thursday put in place measures meant to discourage trainers from running unsound horses.
The home of the Kentucky Derby will no longer offer incentives to trainers who start horses in its races or pay purse money for first place through last place, according to a statement from the company. Payouts instead will be limited to the top five finishers.
Horses also will be allowed only four starts during a rolling eight-week period and horses that are beaten by more than 12 lengths in five consecutive starts will be ineligible to race until the equine medical director approves their return to racing.
The changes suggest Churchill believes its bonus policies, which were intended to provide fuller fields for the betting public, may have affected the decision making of horsemen.
On Saturday, for example, a 7-year-old mare named Kimberley Dream was making her 61st start in a $40,000 claiming race with only five starters. She had not been competitive in her five most recent starts, losing by margins of 19 to 33 lengths. Kimberley Dream broke down in the upper stretch and was vanned off and euthanized.
Under the new rules, which are effective immediately, the mare would have been ineligible to enter the starting gate. The horse was owned and trained by Freddie D. Winston. He could not be reached for immediate comment.
The measures come after an emergency summit of veterinarians in Lexington, Ky., which was called by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority to examine the spate of horse deaths — two of which occurred on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby on May 6. The deaths have cast a pall over the Triple Crown season, the few weeks each spring when casual sports fans have a heightened focus on horse racing.
Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, the authority’s director of equine safety and welfare, met with veterinarians from Churchill Downs and the state of Kentucky to review necropsies, toxicology reports and veterinarians’ and trainers’ notes on the deaths.
On Thursday, shortly after the first race was run on Churchill’s twilight card, the authority said that beginning on Saturday Dr. Durenberger would conduct an additional layer of post-entry screening to identify horses that might be at increased risk for injury. The review would include examining past performances and horses with more than 60 days without a timed workout or race, as well their medical histories for the last 30 days.
On Wednesday, Dennis Moore, a longtime California track superintendent, examined the racing surfaces at Churchill Downs and offered an independent analysis of the dirt and turf courses’ suitability for racing. That review is ongoing, according to the authority, and his findings will be made public once it is concluded.
On Tuesday, Lisa Lazarus, the chief executive of the authority, said she was weighing whether to recommend to Churchill officials that they suspend racing to allow for further investigation. Lazarus was not available for comment.
Kentucky-based trainers and veterinarians also met on Thursday with Dr. Ryan Carpenter, an equine surgeon from California who briefed them on advanced interventions that could be considered for certain injuries.
“We feel a duty to provide the latest information on surgical interventions from an expert who experienced the challenges in California a few years ago that we currently face today,” said Dr. Will Farmer, the equine medical director for Churchill Downs Incorporated. “Any decision must be made first and foremost with the long-term well-being of the horse in mind.”
|
|
|
|
Post by Athena (In Memory) on Jun 3, 2023 1:34:32 GMT -5
Well, it's a start. The problem is all the racetracks and/or all the states have to have the same rules otherwise people will take their horses to other states/tracks. Like Jerry Bailey pointed out, there is no "commissioner" in racing; not like the National Football League, Major League Baseball or National Hockey League and National Basketball League. Each one of those has a commissioner to set and enforce the rules for ALL.
|
|
|
|
Post by Athena (In Memory) on Jun 3, 2023 1:44:37 GMT -5
Oh, this popped up on mom's Facebook page regarding Sham running against Secretariet in the Triple Crown races: www.facebook.com/buddy.hassell/videos/546789050497097/It's an interview with Laffitt Pincay, Sham's jockey. He pulled Sham up in the Belmont because he "felt something wrong". After the race Sham walked out fine, no limping or anything and Pincay got a balling out from Sham's owner for pulling him up when there was nothing wrong. Two days later he called Laffitt to apologize: Sham had broken his cannon bone during the race! Sham was operated on successfully and retired. |
|
|
|
Post by Twinkle (My Sweet Angel) on Jun 3, 2023 12:45:50 GMT -5
Churchill Downs announced it is suspending all racing as safety measures are re-examined following the deaths of a dozen horses at the famed track in the past month.
The track's parent company, Churchill Downs Incorporated, said in a statement Friday that the remainder of its Spring Meet would be moved to another Kentucky venue it owns, Ellis Park Racing & Gaming in Henderson. The season ends July 3.
On June 10, the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, will wrap up the Triple Crown races for 2023.
Racing at Churchill Downs was expected to cease after the weekend's races and then continue at Ellis on June 10, the track said.
The track, home of the Kentucky Derby, reported on May 27 that two more horses had died. They were the 11th and 12th horses to die during the spring season.
The venue probed track surface conditions but found no red flags. There have also been probes conducted by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.
"No single factor has been identified as a potential cause and no discernable pattern has been detected to link the fatalities," Churchill Downs Incorporated said in its statement.
The parent company said it wanted to suspend racing in order to see if safety measures are working.
"Even though the investigations and expert reports have indicated no surface issues, CDI has elected to relocate the meet in order to conduct a top-to-bottom review of all safety and surface protocols," it said.
Animal welfare organizations decried the deaths and urged tracks to improve conditions.
"It should be a top priority for Churchill Downs and all other tracks to make horse welfare their top priority," Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action, said in a statement just ahead of the Kentucky Derby in May.
|
|
Nov 22, 2023 21:02:17 GMT -5
Nov 25, 2023 2:00:16 GMT -5
