right to be there, it cost her, her life.  How many times would you tune in to watch the Kentucky Derby if the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place horses broke legs upon the completion of the race?  For what ever the reason was.  This is happening to much to many horses.  And it should not be tolerated by the viewing public.  

The mark of a successful race is to start by entering the shoots alive and to run the race including the gallop around and end the race alive ( for both horse and jockey).

Karen Macmanus   

  

I also agree with Karen, the horse was made to run in a race she did not belong simply for common sense. It is all about making history, the first filly since when 1988?? When will everyone stop and think of these beautiful creatures, from the start of racings time it has stayed the same. Not enough changes to make a difference. I thank the person who posted the address for writing to the owners of Eight Belles but I am afraid that if I were to write it would not be what they want to hear, so I will refrain.

am sure you know whereof you speak and for me--i don't care who her owners/trainer are/is today...had my own opinions before the race but i will let that be dealt with by all those on the track like you and others in the know---

i am just deeply saddened and know those who loved her(whether the right way or not but loved her) have to be heartbroken..........

I haven't posted much about Eight Belles and her breakdown for a number of reasons, one being that I know I have been too emotionally crushed to make a whole lot of sense. The mental picture that I will always have in my mind of this majestically beautiful filly laying there in the dirt of Churchill Downs with her red and white "tube socks" on...helpless and hurt...well, all I can say is unfortunately that image will stay in my mind forever. I can only liken it to a small child that was lovingly dressed by their mother to go to school and then being hit by a car on the way. There's no other word to describe it but tragic.

Another reason that I have not posted is because, to me anyway, there are just too many unanswered questions. There are too many "what ifs" and "whys". Personally, I feel like unless the necrospy reveals some underlying cause for this (such as heart failure for example), I don't think we will ever know exactly what happened to Eight Belles during the final moments of that day. I'm  not a medical person, I could be wrong and I certainly hope that the necropsy sheds some light on this for all concerned including her connections, the general public and also for the future safety of all the other horses out there that will race again.

I honestly don't think that, at this point anyway, anyone should be blaming anybody else for this because we just don't know. I'm sure that there is enough guilt and sadness over Eight Belles to go around. Should the necropsy produce some hard facts as to where to find the fault or to place the blame then that will be a different story. Until then I don't think there is a whole lot more that we can do except to mourn the premature death of a beautiful, young and talented filly. Does the racing industry need reform? You bet it does but it needs to be presented with facts and figures, not emotional pleas. I think the best way to honor Eight Belles and all the horses that have gone before her is to continue to gather facts in addition to taking the facts that we already have and to try and help make these changes possible so the future horses can race in better conditions, on better surfaces, with tighter regulations and with stronger breeding than they now have. There are many problems that we have to overcome with regarding to the racing industry. Again, I feel like the problems do not lie in any one area but in a multitude of areas.

For those people (both on the forum and also off) that would like to lay the blame solely at the feet of Rick Porter and Larry Jones, I will leave you with the following thought:

I take you back in time to The Belmont Stakes of 1973. Secretariat just took the Triple Crown by finishing this race by an amazing 31 lengths in the record time of 2:24 flat. I was watching that race at home with my Dad. I can remember that day as clear as if it was yesterday. I remember saying to my Dad " He's going too fast, he's not going to be able to finish...he's going to kill himself!". "Why are they letting him run so fast?". Well obviously that was not too fast for Secretariat but...no one knew that until he did it. I am not the only one who questioned that at the time. It turned out well...Secretariat is an equine hero to this day. His jockey, Ron Turcotte, is remembered as a great jockey who had the "guts" to let Secretariat run that day. His trainer, Lucien Laurin, is remembered as a super trainer. His owner, Penny Chenery, is remembered and is still considered to be a most gracious lady and a wonderful horse person and owner. They are all held in high esteem.

Now let's, for a moment, consider what might have happened on that June day back in 1973. Secretariat could have broken down in the stretch...he could have totally collapsed for no other reason than, as some on here have said, he "ran himself to death". No one knew that day what might happen but there were many that watched that race who held their breath...fearful of what might happen. If that had happened Ron Turcotte, Lucien Laurin and Penny Chenery would all have been remembered in a far different light than they are today. Today they, along with Secretariat, are remembered as "heroes" in the equine world. They are remembered as wonderful, caring people who loved their horses and took good care of them, always putting the horses' welfare above their own...as they should be. However, if tragedy had befallen Secretariat, they would be remembered as the villians who ran Secretariat to his death. They would have done nothing different than they did but that's the way equine history would portray them.

As I said before, there are just too many "what ifs" going on here to blame any one thing or person(s). No matter what, there will always be unknown factors in horse racing. I truly hope that things can be learned from Eight Belles' death so those unknowns will, in time, become less and less.

Jackie 

I was upset last night when I heard that PETA was going after the jockey.

From what I read PETA wanted the jockey suspended DURING the investigation into EB's breakdown.  That goes on his permanent record for always.  What happens if the investigation shows that EB had a massive heart attack, which threw her sideways--causing one ankle to snap and then the other???  Is that the jock's fault--I think not.

However, with that being said if the investigation shows that the jock SHOULD have pulled EB up then I agree. 

But let's let the system work.  Suspending someone without due process is setting bad precedent in all other areas.

Margaret

aka bobbysbabybrother

Beautifully stated......too many what if's...

 

Thanks so much for putting into words how I feel.

 

Maria

TheDaily Racing Form ( DRF ) now has an article by Glenye Cain Oakford up that details veterinary opinion on the baffling injury to Eight Belles .. I can not post it---maybe someone will for me---but is is an in depth analysis that can help to understand and dispel myth and rumor ... I urge you to read this industry piece with comments by Bramlage and others ... It will not bring her back, but things will be explained ...

Is this it? Its a free article;

http://www.drf.com/news/article/94302.html

That is it ... Thank you---one more favor---because there are some that would rather blame and think the worst--rather than to come to a more rational understanding---can you put it up here ???