LETTER: Tim Finley on dead and euthanized horses

I am an animal fanatic! When animals hurt, I hurt with them. Also, I love the sport of harness racing, and if there is anything that tarnishes its image, I become pro-active to correct it – especially if it involves a horse being injured or killed.

One of my latest missions is to convince the leaders of the Standardbred racing industry (whoever and wherever they are) to begin immediately posting on their websites (preferably the USTA), in a conspicuous place, the names of each and every Standardbred that falls dead or that is euthanized on a public racetrack while in competition.

To further my cause, on Facebook and on my website, I have been posting pictures and/or videos of the dead or dying horses falling and laying on the racetrack in my effort to raise public awareness and to encourage our leaders (whoever and wherever they are) to provide the public with information regarding our deceased heroes. Why? Because: (1) They deserve the recognition. (2) The wagering public deserves the information. (3) The lack of transparency in our sport makes us look sleezy.

I have been widely criticized for posting these photos/videos on social media. Let it be known, I do not enjoy doing this, but I will continue until our leaders (whoever and wherever they are) give our heroes the recognition they deserve.

This information should include, as follows:

• The registered name of the horse, age, and sex.
• The name of the track where the incident took place, including the date and race number.
• The attending veterinarian’s name.
• The circumstances regarding the tragedy.
• The place to which the body was sent for a necropsy and toxicology (cause of death tests).
• The anticipated date the results regarding the cause of death will be available.
• The results of the tests.

We are in a historic time when Standardbred racing is suffering extreme scrutiny. For decades, the sport has had suspicious overtones, but because of the recent arrests and convictions of veterinarians and trainers, the previous minimal credibility of the sport has been destroyed. Dead horses do not further our cause of upgrading a wonderful sport.

Why am I making this my business? I have been involved in Standardbred racing for fifty years and have spent a lot of time and money to participate in a sport that has become an embarrassment to the sport’s participants and in the eyes of the general public. Furthermore, because horses are an instrument upon which the general public can wager their money, I believe they deserve the transparency offered by other sports. There are few wagerers left, but perhaps with complete transparency we can bring them back and also grow the sport. I am making it my business because I care.

Many Standardbred participants accuse me of snooping where I do not belong. These horses are not backyard pets. They are animals who, under the regulation of the various states, are approved to compete at a licensed location where patrons can place wagers. Therefore, what takes place in the sport is subject to public scrutiny. If there is cheating, it is the business of the public. If drivers are allowed to compete while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, that is the business of the public. If horses compete while under the influence of drugs, that is the business of the public, as well.

To reiterate, I will continue to post the pictures of dead racehorse until I am able to go the USTA website (preferably), the OHHA website, the Meadowlands website, the various racing/gaming commissions, etc. and effortlessly locate the results of the necropsies of dead horses. I insist on knowing how corrupt the sport, my sport, is, if it is.

If the trainer of a subject horse is not guilty of anything illegal, he or she, should welcome the results being prominently posted to clear his or her name.

Although I have always been concerned about the deaths of horses that die on the racetrack, I first became dreadfully concerned about the cause of death of a horse named TWICE AN ANGEL (Dragon Again) who suddenly fell at Monticello Raceway during the 3rd race on 3/22/2021. TWICE AN ANGEL did not finish and was euthanized after breaking down. The trainer of record was Philip “Bo” Sowers.

What caused my concern was that Mr. Sowers who was a licensed trainer of the NYSGC had been found to be in violation of Rule # 4120.6 which states no person shall be in possession of any equipment which may be used for hypodermic injection or other infusion into a horse, or any vial, bottle, or cartridge designed for such purposes. State Investigators conducted a random barn search on 2/24/21 and this was the result of that search. Mr. Sowers has waived his right to an appeal therefore, he has been suspended from participation for (30) days, beginning 5/3/21, reduced to (15) and been fined $1000.00 reduced to $500.00.

I asked myself if TWICE AN ANGEL could have been given an illegal substance that caused her to break down.

So, my quest for answers began. I wanted to see a copy of the necropsy for my own satisfaction. I made it my business because I am a horse lover and have been involved in Standardbred racing for five decades and I want to know what good and bad is taking place. In writing, I contacted every racing and gaming agency in NY, including the Governor’s office, but yet to have received a copy of the necropsy.

As usual there were other horses that died or were euthanized on the racetrack, but because those seemed to happen because of wrecks, I kept quiet.

I was stunned the night FOX VALLEY ADELE (Lazarus), trained by $100,000,000. winning trainer Erv Miller, fell to her death at the Meadowlands on July 22, 2022. Although in her prior race she had paced home in 25 4/5, trainer Miller chose to put this two-year-old pacing filly on Lasix for the first time. In that race she finished second in 1:52. In my humble opinion, a two-year-old filly with a line like that should have been turned out to mature and raced at three. In writing I contacted every racing and gaming agency in NY but have not received a copy of the necropsy as of the date of this writing.

NEVERMIND, a two-year-old Trixton colt, Yannick between the shafts, dropped dead in the post parade at Lexington on September 19, 2022, at the Red Mile. Upon my investigating the horse’s owner, Nicholas Roussel, I discovered he was fined for “excessive or indiscriminate use of the whip” when he drove NEVERMIND on June 27, 2022, at Oak Grove. Why would a horse fall over dead in the parade. Was it something natural, or was it caused by an illegal substance in his body? In writing, and via telephone, I contacted several racing big shots in Kentucky to try and get a copy of the necropsy but have not heard back from them.

CABERNET (Cam’s Card Shark) is the last, but not least. On November 1, 2022, as I was watching the races at Hollywood Dayton, in Race 8, I noticed a horse struggling when leaving the gate. It was #5 Cabernet, driven by Mitch Cushing and trained by Larry Finn. A few yards later she fell over – dead. A five-year-old, CABERNET had 83 starts (11-8-10) with earnings of $100,108. Too tired to research, I am using this article to ask the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Ohio Racing Commission, Hollywood Dayton, the USTA, etc. what caused this horse’s death. The betting public and those involved in Standardbred racing deserve to know.

Although Cabernet was the last horse, I visually saw die on the track, on November 10, 2022, Z’S DREAM, trained and driven by Michael Greene, DNF caused by profuse bleeding. Since then, I have seen nothing regarding this horse.

by Tim Finley