Eight Belles, the only female horse to join the derby today, injured her two front ankles in today’s race. It finished second to Big Brown though, and didn’t even seemed injured when shea passed the wire. This is the 134th Kentucky Derby Saturday, May 3, 2008, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
Here’s a link to some videos of Eight Belles.
http://www.kentuckyoaks.com/2008/contenders/eight-belles
Technorati Tags: kentucky derby results, eight belles, eight belles euthanized, kent desormeaux, eight bells, 8 bells, 2008 kentucky derby winner, ky winner, ky derby
I have seen this time and time again. Horses pushed beyond when they should be. They can be forced to run to their death as I have seen many times before. If it is not a heart issue that would have been caught in the numerous routine physicals, I would imagine her ankles were bruised or week from the races prior or practice. May God Bless Eight Belles as I saw this happen to my own mare but I pulled her from the old owners after she collapsed by running her heart out. She lived and is with us today if only I could of done this for Eight Belles. There are a few mares/horse very few who will not fight back no matter how much they are hurting. She was one that would die for her owner and she did. She was on in a million to have been like this to not fight back and a very special mare. This is a long race and now to continue the abuse in the name of greed even knowing full well Big Browns feet are bad the owners press on to the Preakness in just two weeks. Barbaro was not ready to run again. He was injured going into the derby. We took that hard because Dr. G_ _ _ _ _ make prosthetics for horses and could of amputated. He operated on and saved Seattle slew and my mare filly runner. This sport is mean and cruel and for those hundreds of horses who are bread to run and never even make it pass Los Alamitos or those who run even in the derby are never heard from again. I do not need to tell anyone where these horses end up. Especially now the warmbloods are the choice of the hunter jumpers. I hope the owners have a chance to read this as do Eight Belles trainer. You know it and I know it. Training for over 20 years would how could you of missed this? ENJOY YOUR SECOND PLACE EARNINGS . Besides these horses are all insured for their deaths. There is still money to collect from the insurance even when dead. We love your heart Eight Belles we love your spirit and I am so sorry this world is cruel.
May 4th, 2008