New York Horse Magazine

06/10/2025

In the universe of great racing finishes, there are two beyond compare: Secretariat's Belmont and the 1944 Carter Handicap.
The what?
Run on June 10 -- 81 years ago today -- the grainy black-and-white photo captures what has become a racing legend: Three Thoroughbreds, nose-to-nose-to-nose, hitting the finish line as one. It was the first, and is still the only, triple dead-heat finish in a stakes race in America.
The horses - Brownie, Bossuet and Wait a Bit - battled down the stretch at NY's Aqueduct Racetrack, charging through mud and fetlock-deep water.
They hit the line as one: Brownie on the rail, Bossuet in the middle, and Wait A Bit on the outside. In the eight decades since, time and technology have failed to separate them.

06/02/2025

Barn 85 at Saratoga Race Course is under a 14-day official quarantine after a 2-year-old Thoroughbred c**t was diagnosed with strangles. The afffected horse, trained by Jeremiah Englehart, was shipped to Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital with a respiratory infection and received immediate treatment after testing confirmed strangles.
NYRA said the horses under quarantine will not be permitted to enter races or train among the general horse population. Afebrile/asymptomatic horses stabled in Barn 85 will have isolated training hours at the Oklahoma Training Track.

05/22/2025

Since it is currently cloudy, rainy and cold for the 1,000,000th straight day in upstate NY, we could all use a wee bit of Fergus for our mental health. Thanks Fergus! Considering the size of the clouds, we should have a large silver lining heading our way…

04/29/2025

Be still our horse-and-ice cream loving heart. NYRA is partnering with Stewart's Shops to offer “The Bel-Mint Stakes” -- green mint ice cream with a chocolate cookie crumble swirl -- in honor of the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
The third leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown will be run Saturday, June 7. Ice cream fans will have an extra day to indulge in their own Test of the Champion: The Bel-Mint Stakes gallops into the sunset on June 8.
(Photo courtesy of NYRA)

04/26/2025

A horse competing at the reining show at the Erie County fairgrounds was euthanized Friday after being diagnosed with equine herpesvirus. Five other horses who trailered in with that horse were quickly removed from the show grounds and are quarantined at their home barn.

Equine herpesvirus (EHV) is a family of equine viruses named by numbers including EHV-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 with EHV-1,3,4 posing the most risk for domestic horses. EHV is a common DNA virus that occurs in horse populations worldwide. The two most common species are EHV-1 and EHV-4.

04/26/2025

A tip of the tricorn today to New York horse girl Sybil Ludington, the female Paul Revere.
Yes, Revere may have a leg up in the history books, but our vote for best midnight ride goes to 16-year-old Sybil who, on April 26, 1777, rode 40 miles through a driving rainstorm -- from her home in Putnam County to the Continental Army weapons depot in Danbury, CT -- to warn the militia the British were coming.
A bronze statue in Carmel honors her heroism and serves as a permanent reminder that – as fine a rider as Revere may have been – Sybil can say something he cannot: She made her ride sidesaddle.

04/17/2025

Around 70 wild horses and b***os from western rangelands will be up for public auction May 30-31 at the SUNY Morrisville Western Training Arena.
The Bureau of Land Management, which is running the auction, will will be onsite to help with the adoption process. Bidders must have an approved application to participate.
A few things to know ...
You must be at least 18 years old with no record of animal abuse. to qualify to adopt a wild horse or b***o.
Homes must have a minimum of 400 square feet of corral space per animal, with access to food, water, and shelter.
Corral fences must meet height requirements: Adult horses, 6 feet ;
Yearlings, 5 feet; Burros, 4.5 feet .
Questions? Contact Krystal Johnson with the Eastern States Office at (202) 329-4728 or at [email protected].

04/10/2025

A true legend. Every carrot was well earned.

04/07/2025

Justice.

DA Hoovler Announces Conviction in Fatal Beating of Horse

Frederick Bourgault Convicted of All Charges After Trial

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, April 7, 2025, Frederick Bourgault, age 27, of Canada, was convicted of all charges against him in connection with the beating death of a racehorse on July 17, 2023, at the Pine Bush Training Facility in the Town of Crawford. The indictment charged Bourgault with Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree for having “damaged” a racehorse named “Finish Line,” that had an estimated value of at least five thousand dollars. It was alleged that Bourgault struck the horse with a hard object causing a linear depressed skull fracture, which resulted in the horse having to be euthanized. The indictment also charged Bourgault with Interference with or Injury to Certain Domestic Animals, a felony under the New York State Agriculture and Markets Act, for willfully and unjustifiably injuring or destroying a racehorse. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2025.
The New York State Police, aided by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and New York State Gaming Commission, engaged in an investigation into the death of the horse. The investigation included having the horse’s remains exhumed and examined by experts at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. The New York State Gaming Commission provided expert witnesses and assisted in coordinating the arrest of Bourgault by the New York State Police.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police, BCI Middletown, for their investigation and the arrest of Bourgault, and the New York State Gaming Commission for their assistance and support of the arrest and prosecution.
“The beautiful horse that was the victim of this defendant’s senseless act of violence deserved the justice that was delivered on his behalf,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “We will not, as a civilized society, allow abusers to bring harm to helpless animals. My Office will continue to utilize all legal resources available and work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that crimes like these are investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent under law.”

“The New York State Gaming Commission is proud to work closely with law enforcement to protect horses and hold those who abuse them accountable,” said Sarah Klein, Director of the Gaming Commission’s Division of Horse Racing. “We are grateful for the work of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Police in delivering justice for Mr. Bourgault’s crimes.”

District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Borek and Assistant District Attorney Roger Dean who prosecuted the case.
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

03/14/2025

The NYPD's horse vet has a history of writing improper prescriptions. Camilo Bravo Sierra, once a horse racing veterinarian at Aqueduct Race Track, has more violations with the state Gaming Commission than all but one other veterinarian in the last 40 years, the agency said.

Camilo Bravo Sierra has been fined by the New York State Gaming Commission at least seven times and ordered suspended from racing twice.

01/24/2025

More than 50 animals, including horses, dogs and cats, were removed from a property on Mudge King Road in the town of North Norwich on Wednesday following an investigation into possible animal neglect.
State police said 30 horses were in need of immediate medical care and were transported to animal rescue locations throughout the area. Multiple dead animals were also found on the property, Troopers said.
The investigation is ongoing and State Police said the landowners -- who have not been identified -- are cooperating at this time.
(Photos: State Police, Troop C, Sidney))

01/15/2025

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