I know a lot of us will posting about this tragedy, so I won't go into the details as we have all watched and read about it. I just find it amazing the heart within this filly. I remember as a kid falling in love with Ruffian, another filly with heart! It's as if they can't .....won't and try as they might, let a boy win. As you all know I'm partial to mares and this tragic ending just cements it for me. What a beautiful filly and what a sad, sad day yesterday was. Rest in peace, Eight Belles, your spirit should be an inspiration for all of us! What an awful, painful way to go. Oh this makes me so sad.........
18 comments:
Truly, this year's derby was a day of Triumph and tragedy.
Linda
The Mane Point - on Blogspot
EIGHT BELLES COLLAPSES AFTER KENTUCKY DERBY, on AC
Beautiful filly and such a shame she had to die. I still feel something has to be done with the racing industry on the whole to try and protect these horses somehow from breaking down so early in their lives. Maybe that's the key, let them mature a little first before putting them through so much training and racing, I really don't know. I realize accidents happen but it seems recently a lot more horses are breaking legs and such in racing. Eight Belles had a lot of heart, but it seems mares do.
I totally agree.........This should not have happened.
I remember the story of Ruffin too Callie, and thought of her as I was doing horse chores last night.
There are so many greats and could-have-been greats.
Such a shame. Such a damn shame.
I completely agree with you. The poor filly was still a baby!!! She was just too young to go. I really don't like horse racing.
This is what really bothers me. BO DEREK! She was there to support the winner of the race and to once again get in her plug about ending slaughter in the U.S. What about another race horse dying tragically on the race track. What about all the horses that are run to DEATH so that people can gamble. Talk about a hypocrite, oh wait, they weren't going to eat her so it's OK. It broke my heart when Ruffian was put down. I watched that race and remember it like it happened yesterday. People with as much money as it takes to be involved in this sport consider the horses disposable. I'm not saying all, there are many caring owners, they are the minority.
My mom and I talked a lot about this today. We really think a lot of it has to do with commercial feeds with synthetic vitamins(Vit. D is the worst) and the use of drugs to cover when these horses are sore and lame.
Back when...horses were fed timothy or orchard grass hay, oats and water. Trainers had 5-10 maybe 15 horses. They could get their hands on those horses every day. Home remedies were used and horses were allowed to rest when they needed it. Now...
Trainers have 40-50 horses and tons of drugs to mask issues.
Yes-horses still broke down back then (Ruffian among them), but it seems a lot less than they do now.
Sad to lose that gorgeous filly irregardless of why...
Rest in peace Eight Belles. I agree with horse gal I really don't like horse racing either. It all comes down to the money and these horses are pushed way beyond their limits way too soon.
I couldn't bring myself to watch the race because I was afraid something would happen. Saint Eight Belles. How many more horses will have to die? And with Big Brown winning, it just confirms to the Wall Street hedge fund hogs that they can make millions, regardless of whether the animals suffer.
I totally agree what a waste of a beautiful filly. I was so saddened. I truly believe that mares have a huge heart. We think that they are bred to have such britle small bones and they start training them when they are way too young. There bones have not matured and it puts alot of pressure on them. I think there needs to be a group that there sole purpose is too look after these horses and set some guidelines for the money hungry owners. I truly believe it has hit the horse community and we feel the grief, but to them it is just money lost and that is it. So sad for the horses. They deserve so much better and they deserve TLC. Thanks for posting about this and I think something truly needs to be done about it.
Do you all know that America is the only country with no limits on the drugging of these horses for pain to race? It's not allowed in Europe. Drugs mask pain, which masks injury. And I agree, Jess, what a hypocrite! And sorry I didn't get all of these comments moderated. Was very busy today and wiped out last night.
So nice to see a photo of her where she's not down. I can't stand to look or even see that one.
Wonder how racing will respond?
I don't know, Anne, but I hope it's responsibly!
It was just gut wrenching. I had admired this 17 hand (WOW-17 hand!) filly. She ran such a wonderful race. It just broke my heart. Now crazy PETA has to open their crazy yap. *sigh*
She was amazing.
PS I do think the racing commission should make it a rule that they can't race a horse legally until it is at least 3,preferably 4 yrs old. None of us will ever know exactly why that happened to her, but I think they are allowed to race too hard too young.
(Just please keep the Bo Dereks and PETA out of it please)
Brown-Eyed Cowgirls, you have an interesting comment here. You are so right. I think things have changed a lot in the industry. Before, it was a passion, a lifestyle, almost historical, and those race track trainers and owners seemed to be part of it until they were old and gray- haired and shared their stories of the track and the great horses. Now....it just seems all about making the big buck.
It's not like the story of Seabisquit anymore...........
I cried when Barbaro went down. I cried when Ruffian went down. I grew up watching the best thoroughbreds run in my hometown, Saratoga Springs. I saw Secretariat in the flesh his Triple Crown year (he was beat at Saratoga). I saw Swaps as an old man in Lexington at the stud farm. I saw Majestic Prince, Decidedly and Jaipur, there, too. I have loved horse racing my whole life. I remember giggling to myself when Lucky Debonair won the Derby. I had a serious crush on Steve Cauthen. When people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I quickly responded: a jockey! (I'm 5 feet, 10 inches tall now!)
But in recent years I have felt greater conflicts over the fate of these horses. They give their absolute ALL for us...and now, for the corporate sponsors. We've known forever the damage that can happen to running two-year babies on the track, yet we do it, so they can be ready for their incredible, money-making 3 year old year....when they break down. I have ridden enough rejects of the track over the years, too. I can no longer profess a love for the sport, only the horse, which make me cry whenever they run on the track. And survive. Julie in Alaska. You're wonderful, Pony Girl!
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