Title: "Tragic Insights: A Report on Horse Fatalities in California Racing"

Through a FOIA request to the California Horse Racing Board, I have obtained the following details on some of that state’s kills last year (previous installments here).

Fearless King, May 23, Los Alamitos S
“Found dead in stall – body [was] in severe rigor mortis state.” Necropsy: “This horse had a volvulus associated with a twist deep into the mesenteric root that involved most of the jejunum.” And: “skin abrasions with hematomas over the eye sockets and temples; pneumonia; gastric ulcers.” Fearless was just two years old – “found dead in stall.”

Zees Empire, May 30, Los Alamitos S
“Collision [after] multiple horses got loose: catastrophic humeral fracture – complete, displaced, comminuted; torn muscles; extensive hemorrhage.” And: “deep stomach ulcers [listed as ‘incidental’]; myriad 1-2 cm in length, white to pink, live (with undulant movement) worms free in the stomach contents as well as attached to the mucosa.” Zees was seven years old. That poor, poor boy.

Jayarebe, Nov 2, Del Mar R
“Horse pulled up, became ataxic, collapsed, and died spontaneously – cause not determined.” Also: “osteochondral disease [three of four limbs]; history of RH lameness; moderate number of stomach ulcers [listed as ‘incidental’].” Jayarebe was three years old.