Horse Racing Deaths

I came across this information in the SF Chronicle and am shocked at how many horses are killed in the course of horse racing and betting.

Here is a bit of the story that I took off of sfgate.com:

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Halfway through Golden Gate Fields' first season with its Tapeta Footings synthetic surface, ... the reviews are almost universally positive.

There have been four fatal injuries during races from 2,159 starters in 32 days compared to seven from 1,907 starters during Golden Gate Fields' 31-day season in similar weather Dec. 26-Feb. 11. Horse safety is the major reason the California Horse Racing Board mandated that all of the state's major tracks replace their dirt ovals with synthetic surfaces.

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That means one horse death every eight days with the new track; one horse death every 4 1/2 days with the old dirt track.

New track, old track -- I had no idea that so many horses die at the race track! And I assume that during training the same thing happens -- but probably more often.

Wow, I had no idea the number was that high! What usually causes the fatality? Do they break a bone and fall?

They have not disclosed the reason / cause as far as I know -- but my guess is the same as yours, an injury that the horse can not recover from.

Where is PETA?