Fantastic finish, tragic ending
May 3rd, 2008 | Published in News and Features | 20 Comments
Fast filly Eight Belles galloped to an impressive second place finish at the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby. She broke both front ankles after the race and collapsed. Track personnel tended to the horse before euthanizing her shortly thereafter.
You may find these photos of Eight Belles’ breakdown after the Kentucky Derby disturbing. Others say such photos show a graphic reality that needs to be addressed. To read about the controversy over presenting photos of fatally injured horses and to offer your opinion, visit the “Behind the Headlines” editors’ blog.
May 6th, 2008at 8:43 am(#)
Although the death of this wonderful horse/athlete is tragic, it is not much different than a ball player collapsing after practice or game. No one cries to end basketball or football when these unfortunate accidents happen. I agree that some changes could be made in the horse industry. The obsession on track speed records, etc. is an issue. But the death of a great athlete, be it animal or human, is only an accidental tragedy occurring to a dedicated professional at their sport.
May 6th, 2008at 9:13 am(#)
Mike,
I agree that Horse racing, as a sport, should not be chastised as a result of this tragedy. However, I do disagree with your comparison to other sports. Human athletes make a choice to play or not to play. Horses really don’t have a choice. They are born into the industry and if they have any heart or ability, they are pushed to the limit. I don’t see basketball players being struck with riding crops to get more speed.
May 6th, 2008at 9:15 am(#)
Photos #4 and #7 clearly show the use of the whip on Eight Belles’ right hip area. The photos depict a horse of great courage. The photos are also on Fox and even more clearly show the after effects of the whip. There’s bound to be a better way to get the message to these animals than whipping an already over stimulated animal.
May 6th, 2008at 10:22 am(#)
These racehorses are treated like royalty on the farms they are stabled at.I’ve seen how they are treated first hand.The whips they use doesn’t hurt the horse and the whip has been used for a very long time.The horse is trained with using the whip,so if they take away the whip what would horse racing become?Thorughbred horses love to run and they are bred to run.I personnaly don’t see anything wrong with racing.The animal activist have too much time on there hands to worry about something that happened to a great horse that nobody had control over but GOD.It was her time to go and it’s very sad that it happened that way,but everything happens for a reason.Another thing, is that PETA didn’t have a comment about the horses found on Kentucky farms starved to death or tha horses that had to be put down during the Rolex Three Day Event at the Horse Park.The horses and their riders were hurt during racing.Peta is trying to get their name out there and it’s all political.One last comment.horses get hurt more on the farm than they do racing,I wouldn’t imagine that the owner and trainer of Eight Belles would put her in the Derby if she was hurt and leave the jockey alone because he didn’t do anything wrong to the horse,it was a freak accident.I’ve been around horses all my life, I love and respect the horse.
May 6th, 2008at 11:13 am(#)
I’m not sure exactly what photos Melissa is looking at but the ones in this article don’t show anything indicating the horse was injured by the whip. I know several jockeys and they indicate that the whip is about as painful as a mosquito sting. It is a necessary tool of the jockey to correct something the horse is doing wrong during the race such as not changing leads when it is time. Yes, to someone who doesn’t know much about horse racing and the industry, it does look like the horse is being abused, but they are not. I however disagree with some jockeys use of the whip. I’ve seen some jockeys furiously whipping a horse that is coming down the stretch about 10 lengths ahead of the rest of the field…and I’ve seen those same jockeys fined and/or suspended too.
As for PETA and ASPCA….you never hear a word from these groups unless something like this happens and when you do hear from them, they come out with the most ridiculous comments without first doing some research into the industry. They remind me of an Al Sharpton or a Jesse Jackson. You never hear a peep from those two unless an african-american is wronged…like the Don Imus incident last year. I’m not saying that what Don did didn’t need to be commented on, I’m just saying that where are Al and Jesse the rest of the time. Same goes for PETA and ASPCA
May 6th, 2008at 1:17 pm(#)
This truly was a tragic accident and my heart goes out to the family and trainer of Eight Belles. As in all professions and sports, there are always going to be people that disrespect, damage or make a bad name for the industry overall. While there are many things that I would like to change about the sport of horse racing, I also recognize that these athletes have heart and a will to win! There is a certain risk in any sport and accidents do happen. This was a TRAGIC ACCIDENT that brought tears to my eyes as it unfolded. The whip does not hurt the horses, however the treatment of those horse who don’t wish to run bears examination. I have adopted an off the track thoroughbred which didn’t want to race, but had the heart to please. That heart didn’t help stop the apparent beatings she received across her head. Thankfully she has been saved from that and hopefully, in time, she will learn to trust that her forever home family will never beat her.
I am 100% for the ethical treatment of animals but there are many atrocities that occur everyday that are not accidents. We should focus on changing these situations rather than on the high publicity opportunities! Afterall, true heros and people who evoke change do so for the cause, not the publicity!
Let’s leave the family, jockey and trainer alone to mourn the loss of a part of their family; and pledge to honor Eight Belles’ through making a difference in our own local equine communities. If you can’t afford to adopt or don’t have the facilities to adopt a horse, donations can be made to assist those of us who can care and house these wonderful animals by helping with feed or vet bills. Give to your local horse rescue organization in memory of Eight Belles! Even $5 will help!
May 6th, 2008at 4:20 pm(#)
Last time i checked humans had a choice whether or not to play a sport and were not forced to do so. Last time i checked a human could voice himself as to wheter he was injured or not and last time i checked no human was whipped to make him preform better. Maybe we should treat animals better in general.
May 6th, 2008at 4:38 pm(#)
The use of the whip is an interesting and often misunderstood topic.
1) Any horseman can tell you that you cannot FORCE a 1200 lb animal to do…well..anything. Try loading one onto a trailer that doesn’t want to go. Or anything else.
2) The whip is used often in many horse sports as an aid in addition to leg/weight aids…i.e not to brutally beat the horse, but instead to give them a cue. Since they don’t speak english (or French, German or Spanish), there must be additional ways to communicate with the horse. The whip is what is known as an artificial aid.
3)Jockeys ride with their stirrups very short in order to be efficient for the horse. Therefore, a key aid that is used in most equine sports is missing for the jockey (that would be leg aids). So, given that, the whip is a useful tool for giving aids that would ordinarily be given via the legs.
4) Most often jockeys use the whip also by waving it to help deter the horse from veering in or out, given that most of these horses are youngsters and need some encouragement at speed to stay straight. If you have ever ridden a horse at such speeds, you’ll know that straight is a problem.
If you are involved with horses at all you will know that quite often they are referred to as “walking vet bills” - and that is the case with a horse that is sitting in the pasture doing very little - much less an equine athelete. These horses are cared for in the best possible way. If you want to take up for something, donate money to the thousands of horses that are actually neglected.
May 6th, 2008at 4:41 pm(#)
Whats more disturbing than the fillys breakdown,is the fact that Larry Jones is a complete idiot for galloping his own horses. He weighs 200 pounds, as a horse trainer myself I know not to get on my own horses.I weigh 200 myself and
would not attempt to gallop a cheap horse much less one I am going to enter in the KY Derby and a filly thats already 17 hands high and barely 3 years old. That is just what she needs is 200 more pounds on her back,so hummmm I wonder why both front ankles collapsed.I have to pinch myself when I see Larry Jones saddle a horse in the KY Derby. Why would any owner want this clown to train his horses? He is to cheap to pay an exercise rider, and takes his own horses to the paddock because he dont want to hire help.If their are any prospective owners out there and you have a nice horse, their are a hell of alot better choices than Larry Jones. You gotta be kidding Larry Jones. He is so cheap he wears the same two sport coats everytime he has been on television. CHEAP,CHEAP,CHEAP Sincerly, WILL of Louisville, Kentucky
May 6th, 2008at 7:41 pm(#)
Like many other people I am sure - I am here to remark on the happenings at this year’s Derby - I often visit Keeneland and hope to visit the Derby one year soon - but after Saturday’s result I am wondering to what extent does money/greed - just for the thrill of it - fame and glory be more important than a magnificent animal’s well being - I think there should be some checks and balances on the way the animals are pushed to such an extreme that things like this happen to Eight Belles and Barbaro - I think the owners - trainers and most importantly the riders should have to reckon with what they are doing - at least these two horses are at peace and don’t have to feel the whip anymore- I know it is the nature of the breed to run - but it should be out in an open field - running wild and brave and free.
May 7th, 2008at 7:19 am(#)
I thinl Bell should be memorized by a statue or some sort of hall of fame photo she was a hero
May 8th, 2008at 8:37 am(#)
I live directly ajacent to Fairhill Training Center in Fairhill Maryland it is where Barboro lived some or the time when he was alive and Eight Belles was on her way here if it wasent for this unfortunate accident my grandfather raised owned and traind thoroughbred race horses and I personally know the owner or Eight Belles Son Scott. The Porter family and her trainer Larry Jones were truly saddend by the death or there horse they considered her as one of the family. And for someone to think little smack on the side with a crop that weights all of about 3 or 4 ounces by a jockey that is all of a 110 pounds is cruel to a horse is pathetic and I can also say when a thoroughbred horse is turned loose there ears go up and they are wanting to run the jockeys have to hold them back most of the time if they didnt want to run they would not run crop or not. Horse Racing is a wonderfull sport the crop doesnt hurt the animal one bit all this PETA cruelity crap is a plot to raise money for there cause sometimes good but this time it is totally uncalled for so let us just say she was a Great Horse and a superb athelete and god rest her soul and My condolences go out to the Porter Family, Larry Jones and The Hundreds of others that where touched by beuty and grace this wonderful animal.
May 9th, 2008at 2:19 am(#)
This should have never happened. Horses are the greatest athletes, and they do not know when to quit, and will keep going until something like this happens. A good trainer pushes the horse to it’s threshold to get the best from the horse, and this is the risk.
Bottom line, the horse was overtrained, and again, it should have never happened.
May 9th, 2008at 6:18 am(#)
I would definitely have to disagree with those who say that this is no different than any other athlete collapsing after an event. As it has been stated in other posts, human athletes make the choices to compete and can voice when they are hurting, not feeling well etc. One thing I
have not heard mentioned yet, is that these horses are being trained at very very young ages. You should not begin to break a horse to ride until their knees close up. The larger the breed of horse, i.e. quarter horse, thoroughbred, the older they are when their knees close.
Typically 2-2 1/2 years old is the average age to start breaking one of these types of horses. But these horses are already being raced at these ages and ridden extremely hard so at what age did someone start riding them? One? An age that is too young for their bones to handle the stress of such vigorous riding and training. No wonder so many suffer fatal injuries during races. I once heard that one horse in every 20 races dies or is injured to the extent that it can’t finish a race. That seems like a hell of a lot more than the one person who said more horses get hurt on farms than on the race track. For those who think the whip is more of an annoyance to the horse and doesn’t hurt them, does this make sense? Horses are super sensitive
creatures, they don’t have a thick hide, so how could it not hurt them? I use a riding crop as well on my horse to “tap” it to cue it to side over etc. These race horses are not being “tapped” by any means. They are being hit hard, of course it hurts. As far as the person who says
that horses don’t speak English, or French or German etc. so we have to have some way of communicating with them and the crop helps do that, well I’d like to point out that they do understand verbal cues. When I am lunging my horse and I want her to slow down from a canter to a trot,
I tell her to trot and she does. I tell her to walk and she does. Just like teaching a dog what the word sit means. Dogs don’t “speak” English as well but we don’t whip them to cue them to do something. I enjoy going to horse races. I love being right next to the track and
feeling the ground shake and hearing their hooves as they go
thundering by. I just think that the age in which horses are trained and race should be raised.
May 11th, 2008at 8:01 pm(#)
I am glad the photographs were taken of Eight Belles. Her legacy will be the improvements made in the horse racing industry. That alone will make her the most famous and beloved filly of all time! Everything will be examined and, if her voice is heard, things will change from breeding to medications, tracks, etc. No one can stop her now!
May 11th, 2008at 9:15 pm(#)
[…] rain, Habitat held its Women Build, college and high school teams hit the diamond and the issue of Eight Belles’ collapse continued to be the focus of the horse racing world. Share This 2 […]
May 13th, 2008at 1:18 am(#)
I think a change needs to be made in the horse racing world. They work these poor youngsters way too hard to fast. They are racing before the age of 2, which is unbelievable since most horses grow until the age of at least 5. Their bones do not even have a chance to develop correctly and they are forced to run on the hard ground on the tracks. Yes, there are risks in any sport, but we as humans need to take the responsibility to make sure that these animals are given every chance they need to grow up and succeed, and live a safe, sound life! Why should it be OK to run a horse at the age of 2, why can’t some changes be made so that horses can’t be raced until after a certain age. People only seem to care about the money that is involved and not the life of the horse! These accidents happen much more than most people know to the everyday run of the mill race horses, it is just that now that we are seeing it on the television, with much well known horses, such as Barbaro and Eight Belles I am praying that people will now step up and do what is right for God’s most noble creature… the horse!
May 13th, 2008at 10:23 pm(#)
I really think that the industry should get with a company like Professional Choice to come up with some type of leg supports for the horses. It may not stop all breakdowns but any support would help the leg. My daughter barrel races and does speed events. She don’t race without her professional choice leg wraps on front and back of the horses legs. Most of the equine sports, horses have something on their legs. Also, I think the line breeding hurts too. The genetics are to close and pass on bad genes. Breed for soundness not speed. The horses from yesteryear ran a heck of alot more races in a short time frame then they due now. My heart goes out to all involved with Eight Belles. I watched the Derby and cried like a baby.I knew it wasn’t good seeing a horse down on its side. These animals give us their all and when something happens, they still want to give more. I seen Ruffian and Go For Wand’s breakdowns. Even though they were hurt and had only three legs, They still wanted to keep going.
May 21st, 2008at 5:48 pm(#)
My heart ripped for Ruffian, Barbaro and now, Eight Belles. I won’t watch horse racing anymore until something significant is done to prevent these tragedies. These magnificant creatures deserve better. God Bless them all.
July 14th, 2008at 9:07 pm(#)
breed horses…
Sounds interesting but not for every one….