Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced in a release through his official social media channel that on Monday, July 7, 2025, Frederick Bourgault was sentenced to two to six years in prison in connection with the beating death of a racehorse on July 17, 2023, at the Pine Bush Training Facility in the Town of Crawford, New York.
On April 7, 2025, Bourgault, 27, was convicted after a trial of all the charges against him in connection with the killing of the horse. Bourgault was convicted of Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree for having “damaged” a racehorse named Finish Line, that had an estimated value of at least $5,000. At the trial, prosecutors argued that Bourgault struck the horse with a hard object causing a linear depressed skull fracture, which resulted in the horse having to be euthanized. Bourgault was also convicted 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.
Orange County Court Judge Richard Guertin sentenced Bourgault to two to six years in prison for Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, and one and one-third to four years in prison for Interference with or Injury to Certain Domestic Animals. By law, the sentences must run concurrently. The District Attorney’s Office recommended the maximum sentences authorized by law of two and one-third to seven years in prison for Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, and a concurrent sentence of one and one-third to four years in prison for Interference with or Injury to Certain Domestic Animals. In addition, Bourgault was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $5,000.
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.
On June 25, 2025, Bourgault pleaded guilty to Attempted Assault in the Second Degree for having attempted to cause physical injury to a woman using her cellphone. Bourgault is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 2, 2025. The People placed on the record at the time that Bourgault pleaded guilty on that case that they would be recommending a state prison sentence.
At the sentencing proceedings on July 7, 2025, prosecutors reminded the defendant that under an Orange County Local Law known as “Rocky's Law,” he must register with an Animal Abuse Registry maintained by the Orange County Sheriff within five days of his release from custody.
“The Orange County Legislature’s legislative findings when it passed Rocky’s Law stated, ‘The Legislature … finds and determines that individuals who abuse animals are statistically more likely to commit violent acts against humans and, in particular, the Legislature also determines that a strong correlation has been established linking individuals who abuse animals with incidents of domestic violence,’ and, I cannot agree more with that assessment,” said Hoovler. “The beautiful horse that was the victim of this defendant’s senseless act of violence deserved the justice that was delivered on his behalf. My Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that crimes committed against intimate partners, and animals, are investigated and appropriately prosecuted.”
On the day that Bourgault was convicted, Sarah Klein, Director of the Gaming Commission’s Division of Horse Racing, said, “The New York State Gaming Commission is proud to work closely with law enforcement to protect horses and hold those who abuse them accountable. 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 cases against Bourgault.
Bourgault, originally from Quebec and now a resident of New Hampton, New York, is not licensed to race Standardbreds in Canada. Bourgault has not raced in Canada since 2021 when he was issued a two-year suspension by the Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario for misconduct prejudicial to the best interests of racing after engaging in an act of animal cruelty. Bourgault's Standardbred Canada membership was subsequently suspended indefinitely for charges of abuse or neglect of an animal.
(With files from Orange County District Attorney's Office)