Horse killed in Suicide Race practice

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Horse killed in Suicide Race practice

By K.C. Mehaffey
World staff writer

Monday, August 6, 2012

OMAK — A horse trying to qualify for the Omak Stampede’s World Famous Suicide Race died Friday when it was unable to get out of the Okanogan River after injuring its leg at the bottom of Suicide Hill.

The horse, Little Big Man, was owned by Jerry Ford and ridden by Jason Meusy, both of the Spokane Indian Reservation.

It’s the first time in several years that a horse has died during an official Suicide Race practice or competition, said Pete Palmer, spokeswoman for the Suicide Race Owners and Jockeys Association.

The Suicide Race is a short and daring horse race where up to 20 horses race down a steep slope, across the Okanogan River and across the finish line in the Omak Stampede arena.

A field of 15 horses and jockeys qualified for this year’s race, to be held immediately after the Omak Stampede rodeo this week from Thursday through Sunday.

Palmer said the Okanogan River is a foot higher than it was last year, so when Little Big Man fractured his front leg and then hit the water, he had difficulty in the current.

Meusy, the horse’s jockey, safely got to shore, but the boat crew was unable to retrieve the horse, which went under water and surfaced downstream.

The accident occurred during the horse’s third and final qualification test.

Palmer said the boat crews performed six or seven boat rescues over the weekend due to the high water.

“We’ve got one of the best boat crews around,” she said. Boats are stationed in the water in case a horse or jockey has trouble in the water, one of several things added to the race in its 77-year-history.

“We have been really practicing a lot of safety measures, and put a lot of work into the hill to try to prevent things like this,” Palmer said.

A news release from the owners and jockeys association said the Suicide Race is not about fame, or money, or glory. “Long before it was the World Famous Suicide Race, this race was traditionally done as a rite of passage, a demonstration of our young warriors and their horses ability to become one,” the release said. “When we lose a horse it impacts the entire racing community. We are saddened by the loss of Little Big Man and extend our prayers to the Jerry Ford Racing Family.”

K.C. Mehaffey: 997-2512

mehaffey@wenatcheeworld.com

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chloe 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Way to go idiots!!! You should feel badly.

Dixie 9 months, 2 weeks ago

One horse…yes it is sad but you should read up on what happens to Thoroughbred race horses. They begin racing at two, are drugged, and abused. If they do not make money they are killed for the insurance. This is done on a regular basis and hundreds of beautiful horses a year are killed. Most people just turn a blind eye as racing Thoroughbreds is a rich, white mans sport. Maybe your anger and name calling is a bit misdirected or worse yet Anglo centric. http://www.care2.com/causes/drugged-up-horses-race-to-their-deaths.html http://capwiz.com/aspca/issues/alert/?alertid=61341906

chloe 9 months, 2 weeks ago

I don't recall saying that I thought Thoroughbred racing was a great idea. If you read the history of this race you will see that the equipment being used many times holds the horses head in a down position, therefore, the horse can not bring it's nose up to breathe. That's where the idiot part comes in. If the shoe fits. Read up on the history of this race. It is not the loss of one horse it was 21 and now this makes the 22nd. The race card is on your hands and mind not mine. In my opinion they should be riding bikes down the side of the hill. I noticed that the rider made it out ok, what happened to going down with the ship?

Frannie 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Chloe-it's a horse, not a ship. You can't "go down with it".

Dixie- horse racing is an international sport. "Rich white men" do not hold the corner on the sport. I looked up information on ownership and parts of Arabia and Asia have the highest holdings for race horses. This race is a tradition for the tribe. I've been to the race. It is a thrilling event to see. Maybe you are the one bing "Anglo centric" in your view of the world.