The carnage continues at the self-styled “oldest sporting venue in the nation.” Sunday, the Gaming Commission has belatedly reported, Closed Caption was killed while training at Saratoga. She was just three years old. The complicit: Javier Martinez, Harold Lerner, Kenneth McPeek, et al. This makes it five kills in five days at Saratoga, 10 on the “season.”
The Saratoga ’23 Victims
Kaon, May 26 – “yet-to-be-raced horse euthanized”
Ami’s Curlin, Jun 10 – “laminitis in all four feet, euthanized”
Frigid Lady, Jul 15 – “broke RF leg, euthanized”
Winter Son, Jul 20 – “injured, vanned off, euthanized”
Blame It On Mary, Jul 23 – “injured, vanned off, euthanized”
Lawful, Aug 2 – “suffered injury, euthanized”
Sopran Basilea, Aug 3 – “injured on gallop-out, euthanized on course”
Maple Leaf Mel, Aug 5 – “fell, euthanized on track”
Closed Caption, Aug 6 – “pulled up, vanned off, euthanized”
Ever Summer, Aug 6 – “fell, euthanized on course”
Meanwhile, on the same day that Warrior Nation was killed, Finger Lakes also claimed 4-year-old Racing Queen, who, says the Commission, was euthanized for colic. RQ had just been raced at that same track Jul 31. Also of note: In her final five races, including the one on the 31st, RQ finished a combined 94 lengths back – almost 20 per race. Perhaps she was trying to say something? Her abusers: Nirka Huertas, Yireh Racing.