Exaggerator Upsets Nyquist, Two Horses Die At Pimlico [VIDEO]

While I'm happy for Exaggerator and the Desormeaux brothers, the early races at Pimlico on Saturday underscore the fact that horse deaths on the racetrack, while alarming, are surprisingly common. Homeboykris collapsed and died after a come-from-behind victory in the first race and Pramedya broke her leg during the fourth race and fell to the muddy track.

According to the Huffington Post racehorse deaths are not an anomaly. The cardiovascular strain of the sprints and the susceptibility of horses’ delicate legs result in many injuries. Twenty-four horses die each week at US racetracks, according to a 2012 New York Times report.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has demanded the release of the horses’ medical records. “Studies — and our own investigations — have shown that most breakdowns and deaths occur because horses have pre-existing injuries that are masked by the excessive use of legal medications” said PETA. “We want to know if that is what happened in the cases of Pramedya and Homeboykris,” PETA senior vice president Kathy Guillermo said in a statement. “In today’s racing drug culture, at least three horses are dying every day on U.S. tracks. The foolish use of muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and other medications must end now.”

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