The Pennsylvania owner of Sir Steele, a 6-year-old gelding, has sued Penn National Gaming and several employees at Penn National Race Course, alleging that their negligence resulted in a tail-tying incident in the starting gate in 2023, which ultimately led to Sir Steele having to be euthanized.
Erin Carpio, the owner, filed the lawsuit in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas on June 11. She claimed, specifically, that she approached head starter Lindy Riggs, a defendant, to ask that the gate crew stop tying the horse’s tail to the starting gate because of its “sensitivity.” The request was honored, and the horse competed in three races without incident.
A few weeks later, the lawsuit claims, Sir Steele was competing in another race, when the horse’s jockey allegedly asked the assistant starter not to tie the horse’s tail to the starting gate “three separate times,” according to the complaint.
Assistant starter, Freddy Diaz, allegedly gave the command to tie Sir Steele’s tail anyway, according to the lawsuit. William Otero, a worker at the gate, allegedly complied, wrapping part of the horse’s tail around a rail in the gate, leading the horse to panic and injure itself. The horse was euthanized on August 19, 2023.
The plaintiff alleged that Penn National violated a litany of Pennsylvania laws and rules regarding racing, including mistreatment of a horse. She seeks damages of $22,272.84, $10,000 fair market value for the loss of the horse, $5,038.84 in veterinary bills, and the balance in other expenses related to the lawsuit.
