(If you click on the horses name you will be taken to the RVL website to see the horses history)
Silver Bonanza was killed on March 11, 2008. He was entered into a 3,450m (3.5km) steeple race at Warrnambool (total prize money $10,000). There were 14 horses in the race. This was his second ever steeple race. His first steeple was in Warrnambool 15 days earlier where he plced 11th of 12 and was run over 3.2kms. He was 8 years old at the time of death.
From the Stewards report:
On jumping the 18th fence SILVER BONANZA made a faulty jump and fell dislodging C. Durden, the gelding’s rider. C. Durden was taken to Hospital for observation. Subsequently SILVER BONANZA was euthanized.
Victory Sweep was killed on April 8, 2008. He was still a baby, just 5 years old at time of death. The prize money for this race was $10,000 and was held at Packenham. As far as I can see this was his first jumps race....ever. He had only qualified to race 4 days previously. On the RVL website his result is still "Failed to finish".
From the Stewards report:
Near the 500m on the first occasion Victory Sweep broke down badly in its near fore leg and was euthanased.
Shades of Dane was killed on April 12, 2008. He was 6 years old and died at Hamilton in a $10,000 race. This horse is not as clear cut as the previous ones. In April 2007 he ran a hurdle race in Terang and came 2nd. However, after this he "spelled" for 44 weeks. In Feb and March 2008 he was entered in 5 flat races. In each of these he consistently came last, or in the back of the field. In sequence his form was 9th of 9, 8th of 8, 6th of 7, 11th of 12, 12th of 14. Prior to being killed on the track, his second last race was on the flat on 6/04/2008 in which he came 12th of 14. To me this was clearly a struggling horse. Previous to the 44 week spell mentioned above he was coming first, or at least placing fairly often.
From the Stewards report:
Subsequent to the race a veterinary examination of SHADES OF DANE revealed the gelding had ruptured its off fore flexor tendon and as a result was euthanased.
From the Stewrads
POKER FACE (NZ) fell at the last fence and suffered a significant injury to it’s near fore leg and was subsequently euthanised.
Force Nine was killed on May 4, 2008 at Sandown being forced over a hurdle race. He came first as a hurdle race on 8/03/2008. And was then freshened for about 6 weeks. After this he was in two flat races that he came last and then second last, there was obviously some problem here. Five days later he was entered into a race that would be his very last. Please note S Pateman was the jocky on Force Nine.
From the Stewards report:
S Pateman pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding, careless riding being that approaching the second hurdle near the 200m the first time, Classic Benbara was tightened for room between Pure Malt and Force Nine (S Pateman) which shifted in. As a result Classic Benbara and Pure Malt were hampered approaching and jumping over the obstacle. S Pateman’s licence to ride in races was suspended for a period to commence at midnight Sunday 4th May 2008 and to expire at midnight on Thursday 8th May 2008, a total of two jumps races (1 metropolitan, 1 country). In assessing penalty, Stewards took into account that the interference was the low end of the scale and S Pateman’s guilty plea.
For some distance passing the winning post the first time, Classic Benbara raced tight on the inside of Force Nine (S Pateman). S Pateman was severely reprimanded and notified to exercise more care in future.
Near the 1000m Pure Malt and Classic Benbara were tightened for room by Badger’s Retreat which shifted in slightly away from Ashkadaad (NZ).
At the second last hurdle near the 400m Force Nine fell and as a result severely hampered Badger’s Retreat and hampered Classic Benbara. In this incident Force Nine was fatally injured.
Rhythm Stick was killed on June 1, 2008. This horses participated in both flat and jump races and was 9 years old. He seemed to be coming in the tail end of the fields for a while.
From the Stewards:
At the 10th jump near the 700 metres RHYTHM STICK (NZ) made a faulty jump and fell. RHYTHM STICK (NZ) broke down badly and was euthanized.
Crying Storm was killed on June 14, 2008. This horse had won some hurdles races previous to his death. This race he died in was a major race (prize $101,500) at Sandown. If you want to see what really happend with his death, click here, but please be aware it is not nice and not many people have been able to watch this footage through, please do not show to children.
From the Stewards
Crying Storm which fell at the fifth fence sustained a serious injury to its off fore leg and was subsequently euthanased.
Turbo Charged was a 4 year old who was killed on June 22, 2008 at Casterton. A baby. In his first jump race he came first, this was run 21 days before he died. In his second race he came 5th of 8. Four days before he was killed he had been trialled over the steeples in an attempt to make him both a hurdle and steeple horse.
From the Stewards:
TURBO CHARGED fell at the second last obstacle and suffered a fatal injury.
(This is so depressing constucting this page)
Eveready was killed on June 28, 2008. He was 6 years old and died at Flemington at the most hideous day I have ever seen at the races. It looks like he qualified to enter hurdle races in April, 2008. Subsequently, he was entered in 6 hurdle races. Interestingly, he fell at Flemington in a hurdle race in late May, 2008. The race he was killed in was a major race with prize money of $250,000, thus the jockey who was riding a horse which won the race received over $16,000 (Brett Scott). Thirteen horses started this race only 4 completed it. (I will link this to another article about this race).
From the Stewards:
Eveready, which broke down on the flat and was eased out of the race prior to the second last fence, sustained a significant injury and was subsequently euthanized.
From the stewards;
Charted, which fell at the fence near the 1400m on the second occasion, sustained a serious injury to a hind leg and was euthanized.
Spanish Symbol died at Moonee Valley July 26, 2008. This horse won the Hiskens Steeplechase in 2007, (Jockey received $13,000 for that win). In 2008 he was killed in the same race. Ironically, on that day (26/06/2008), a Melbourne newspaper, was advertising the race using his picture. This horse, in my opinion, should not have been allowed to race in this race. On the 21st of June, 2008 (one month earlier) he raced at Moonee Valley and fell. On the 12th of July (two weeks previous to him being killed) he ran a race, on on his first jump totally misjudged the first jump which dislodged his jockey (see for yourself). Bright and early on July 23, 3 days before the Spanish Symbol attended a trial at Monnee Valley, more for schooling. He jumped exceptionally poorly and did not complete the trial (see for yourself) (even though on the RVL website it indicates he did). He was killed in a race that was nearly 4km.
From the Stewards:
At the second fence near the 1300m second time Spanish Symbol and Father Patrick both made a faulty jump and fell dislodging their riders. Sissano which was following was severely hampered and War Dancer (NZ) was hampered. Spanish Symbol suffered a fractured off fore leg and subsequently had to be euthanased.
In Detention died, was killed, August 27, 2008. He was 5 years old. In July, 2008 he qualified at trials which allowed him to race in hurdle races. In his first (27/07/2008) race he won. In his second race (13/08/2008) he came third. On his third race he was killed.
From the Stewards:
Near the 1600m, In Detention (NZ) broke down severely on the flat and was later euthanased.
