134th Run for the Roses

[endless]

<sup>Overall, there was a 'triumph and a tragedy' at Churchill Downs this afternoon.

Big Brown, the favorite, did indeed prove how powerful he was and took the race running away. In fact, he was barely sweating and had no lather on him at the end, and even bucked his rider off after the race! [rider landed on feet, and jumped right back on with no trouble]

The tragedy? The first filly to run in the race in years, Eight Belles [and whom I was rooting for] died. Deemed beaten in the final turn, she turned something on and was gaining ground fast. My father and I watched intently, and a few paces from the finish she just wasn't running... right. Had stopped gaining ground, and was in fact letting Big Brown get away. She was not limping, but just didn't seem right.

All was fine, and as Donna Brothers approached the victorious colt, he spooked at something behind him. You'll notice that all the spectators are not watching the trimphant colt prance by, but are all staring beyond him, many with looks of concern. All the announcer had said was '... just got word that the filly, Eight Belles, has been injured.' The scene left the colt and showed her, and she was laying flat on the track, with two or three people sitting by her, with many running. *at this point, most viewers got goosebumps* As a whole her story was overlooked as exhaustion, and the fact that she remained lying down was because they were letting her rest / keeping her 'cool'.


As Big Brown was paraded to the winner's circle, you'll notice the crowd [besides his owners] are still looking to the track. The screen switched to a reporter, who had obviously been intended on talking to the vet (who I reconized as the same one who was on site w/ Barbaro), but the vet has his back to the camera, listening to a walkie talkie. the reporter says to come back to him in the next 30 seconds, but you should see his face. *at this point, everyone in the room is standing*

Donna Brothers comes back on and talks about how the filly just plain out fell on the track and has still yet to rise. States that the jockey walked away, with a depressed look on his face. But overall, she gives off a 'everything is fine' vibe. They show that the filly is surrounded by two equine ambulances, with many people around and you cannot even see her. But Donna Brothers states that the vet is ready to talk.

The filly, placing second, has ...broken all the bones in her two front ankles. There was no way to save her and she was euthanised on the track. Now, I am not one to cry [in fact, I rarely do], but tears wanted to well up in my eyes. Winning second, she was worth now around 5+ million dollars. And all of it was gone in a second

I am happy for Big Brown [who I feel stands a chance at winning the triple crown], but cannot bring a smile to my face. This is all I know as if now of the filly, but will know more by tomorrow. If you want to find out more, just watch your local news. I can assure you they will talk about. Got me sad and brought down my Kentucky Derby high


sorry to be the bearer of bad news
---> endless</sup>

[Swifthoof]

Dang..I was rooting for Eight Belles too.... Hope the team is okay...

[stormwarning]

With Barbaro still fresh on everyone's mind, even three years later ... this newest 'breakdown' has caught a lot of attention. Activists are crying out for horse-racing to be ended, while the NHRA is backpeddeling and trying to keep the sport of horse-racing from crumbling around their ears.

I've done a lot of reading over the last week; articles from both sides of the track, as it were and have decided a few things for myself.

All tracks should be turf or synthetic. These haven't been 'scientifically' proven to be better for the horses, but the proof is in the pudding, as it were Since switching to synthetics, tracks report upwards of 80 to 90% drop in the number of injuries. That's a -drastic- improvement if you ask me.

Horses should not be racing until they are 3 years old or better. Numbers show that breakdowns are much more rare in Europe, where horses are at least 3 before they are permitted to race. This allows the cannon bone... the tiny, miniscule little thing that holds a horse together... to mature thoroughly before put under the stress of racing.

Perhaps a No-whip policy isn't such a bad idea. Some article somewhere said the whip was for protection, but I'd like to know ... from what?

There was nothing they could do to save Eight Belles, and it saddens me more than I can possibly share in text. Her bones were shattered, sticking out through the skin... There would have never been any way to even move her off the track without hurting her more. It pains me to admit, that putting her out of her misery right on the track was probably the best call they could have made in that situation.

Keep on racing in the sky, Eight Belles.

[eclipse]

Oh, yes, this tragedy. Like just about everyone here, I was cheering for Miss Eight Belles too. I can't believe that she was put down like that. I realize it put her out of misery, but it's still terrible. Nobody got to say goodbye to her... they euthanized her right after they diagnosed her. The trainer didn't see her until she was dead.

My opinion on Big Brown is that his trainer is a loser. He has had a history of giving horses illegal drugs to make them win. And it's my belief that Big Brown was given steroids before the race. Why else would that trainer be oh-so-confident that his horse was going to win? What a jerk. Not the horse, because Big Brown was actually pretty. But still. Now I'm not sure I even want to watch the Preakness.