Horse Racing: More Problems for 2012 Haskell Winner Paynter; Outlook for Survival: Bleak

Paynter, who won Horse Racing’s prestigious 2012 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in July and has been battling colitis at Upstate Equine Medical Center in Schuylerville, N.Y., has developed a new problem ….he was diagnosed with the deadly hoof disease laminitis yesterday (Tuesday). Laminitis is a painful and, most times, fatal hoof disease that can be described as inflammation of the hoof laminae, or the interlocking tissues that attach the hoof wall to the coffin bone within the hoof. This disease causes the coffin bone, which is kind of shaped like a stingray, to rotate nose down and in severe cases, begins to come thru the bottom of the hoof. “He has been diagnosed with our nightmare scenario of laminitis, and it seems it is rapidly progressing,” owner Ahmed Zayat said via his Twitter account. “After taking additional X-rays of the foot and discussing with some foot experts, Dr. Laura (Javsicas) has found out that he has developed (laminitis) in three of his four legs, whic...