Editorial -Man "Allegedly" Bashed Racehorse's Head Requiring Euthenasia Gets Criminal Mischief D-Up to 7 years and $5000

"Finish Line", Euthanized after being struck in the head with a pipe

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.

Bourgault's US Passport is being held.

IN MY OPINION - Edie Johnson

I applaud DA Hoovler for going for level D on this charge since it can entail a prison sentence of potential 7 years as well as a $5,000 fine. Still, there is wide leeway to release him early I remember about 10 years ago when we all fought for cruelty sentences to be more stiff. . And I understand that in order to 'coiver all bases' of kinds of criminality they currently have to plug it in a longtime category called "Criminal Mischief". We should next mb try for a new category under some kind of Extreme Animal Cruelty that doesn't give the public the impression that its only "mischief". The rest of the description of the general charge in that category is also misleading as far as impact on the general public if they read that the charge means that the defendant has committed at least $1,500 damage to another person's "Property" and thereforte not such a big deal. Also there is a different impression with hitting a horse on the head with something and in this instance compared to reports that it was actually more like bashing his head with a pipe hard enough to crack his skull and make him fall to the ground. Thirdly, I 'get' why they had to describe the act saying he "Damaged" the horse, since it was CLAIMED that "MAYBE his head only cracked when he hit the ground (CONCRETE?). Or, maybe his head was hit during his burial.) Suffice it to say that if it was hard enough that the horse fell from the trauma....well that kind of speaks for itself. And Fourth, I wish we could catch up to other countries that regard people who have animals as their Guardians, rather than simply being their "Property". Let's see what his sentence is in July. Given the number of individuals who commit curelty to animals, especially as violent as this instance apparently was, these people FREQUENTLY go on to commit vioence to people as well. I would like to see this guy get at least 10 years, and God Bless anyone who has success rehabilitating him. I am sorry I could not attend court this time as many others in this area's equestrian community did, but I will definitely try to attend and do the sentencing story justice.