A troubling end to 5-year-old gelding Creative Plan

Emotions were stirred on social media Saturday when videos and pictures surfaced of a severely injured racehorse named Creative Plan that last raced at Turf Paradise on Jan. 7 for trainer Wade Rarick.

Jenny Earhart, owner of Premier Equine Rehab in Southern California, posted a statement and pictures on Twitter via prominent owner-breeder Maggi Moss. It noted when received that Creative Plan “had no support of ligaments and structure was merely skin holding everything together, so much that it had started “weeping” as the skin was beginning to split.”

The injuries were so severe, Earhart said, Creative Plan “would neve be able to live a life without pain, even as a pasture pet.”

Added Moss on Twitter: "Total loss of all ligaments (gone) w just skin holding ankle w fluid oozing didn't happen in 30 days." 

As a result of the injuries, Earhart said “there was only one ethical and kind thing to do.” Creative Plan was euthanized.

When reached Saturday by Horse Racing Nation, Earhart said she was boarding a plane and would call back when available.

It’s a long and sad story that Creative Plan was allowed to run at Turf Paradise on Jan 7th ( no these are not new injuries but zero ligaments or bone left) this should never happen to any horse at any track in this country -don’t let his death go in vain- pic.twitter.com/U3NIGNAGml

— maggi moss (@maggimoss) February 12, 2022

I am hopeful the long and painful story will come out, total loss of all ligaments ( gone) w just skin holding ankle w fluid oozing didn’t happen in 30 days pic.twitter.com/fMniUFOtOj

— maggi moss (@maggimoss) February 12, 2022

Creative Plan made his only start as a 5-year-old in a starter allowance at Turf Paradise Jan. 7 and finished last. Prior to that he was fourth in an allowance/optional claimer on Dec. 6 and fifth in a starter/optional claimer on Nov. 16 at Turf Paradise. All three starts were for Rarick, who according to Equibase statistics has trained since 2007.

Phone messages to Turf Paradise general manager Vincent Francia Saturday were not immediately returned Saturday. Horse Racing Nation was unable to contact Rarick. 

Prior to arriving at Turf Paradise for the winter, Creative Plan won three races in 20 days from Aug. 5 to Aug. 26 at Canterbury Park. The gelding by Creative Cause was claimed by Rarick out of his second win for Karl Broberg.

In three-plus seasons of racing, Creative Plan earned $117,228 with a record of 7-1-1 from 23 starts.

Rarick ranked 18t last year at Canterbury Park with a record of 57 :11-5-6- and earnings of $198,357. At the current Turf Paradise stand, he has had two winners from 33 starters with purse earnings of $52,809.