Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced in a social media statement on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 that Frederick Bourgault, 25, of Canada, was arraigned on an indictment charging him with two felonies in connection with the death of a racehorse on July 17, 2023, at the Pine Bush Training Facility in the Town of Crawford, New York.
The indictment charges Bourgault with Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree for having “damaged” a racehorse named Finish Line, that had an estimated value of at least $5,000. It is 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 charges Bourgault with the felony of 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 New York State Police, aided by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and New York State Gaming Commission, were 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. The case was presented to an Orange County Grand Jury, which charged Bourgault with the two felonies prior to him being arrested.
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Borek.
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.
On Friday, Feb. 2, the Meadowlands Racetrack issued a statement on the investigation, which is available below.
Further details on the death of the Standardbred racehorse "Finish Line" at the hand of trainer Frederick Bourgault at a New York training facility last July reveal that Brice Cote, private investigator for Jeff Gural's racetracks, played an integral role in the process that led to Bourgault's and indictment by Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler and eventual arrest on January 30.
Cote was first made aware of the abuse by a confidential source soon after it occurred. He immediately contacted officials at Gural's tracks to have Bourgault excluded from any presence or participation at those tracks and set about seeing to the details of the overall investigation.
Cote then acquired the name of the attending veterinarian who had euthanized the horse, a young woman with limited experience in the field who had never encountered a situation like this one and was badly shaken by it. Brice helped guide her through the steps necessary to deal with the troubling incident and a course to get it to the hands of the proper authorities.
Cote, a former NJ State Trooper, advised the veterinarian to report the abuse to the NY Gaming Commission and to involve the NY State Police as well.
The police opened an investigation, relying heavily on Cote for guidance in a situation with which they had virtually no experience. Their investigation eventually required the exhumation of the corpse and a necropsy performed to confirm the injuries that ultimately led to the horse's death.
These details provided reliable evidence that enabled the Orange County DA to indict Bourgault for the crime.
Brice Cote's experience and expertise, along with the concern for horses that is a priority at the Gural tracks, went a long way in assuring the investigation process would support the charges for these brutal, malicious deeds and rid the industry of those who would commit them.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack and Orange County District Attorney's Office)