Kentucky Derby Tragedy

[Amie]

Originally Posted by KDK241

If she would have only broken one ankle, they probably would have tried to splint it and hoped it would heal, but since it was both ankles that wasn't an option since she didn't have a good front leg to stand on. It was a terrible, sad end to a great race.

Actually, with how bad the break was in both legs, it's probably best she broke both and they didn't try that.

I LOVE horses and refuse to watch horse racing because I don't want to see them die (I do follow it, and I don't "hate" racing. . .After Barbarro 2 years ago, I just can't do it) They're just SO young to be running. . . When you raise horses, though, you understand very quickly how it's so humane to put them down when they break a leg.

Horses aren't like us, they're bones are 60+% marrow (ours are 75% calcium) so when a horse breaks a leg, it's much less likely to be a hairline fracture and much more likely to break to the marrow. This increases their chances to die of infection once the marrow enters the blood stream and clots from the marrow being open.

And horses are even-keel. . .they can't limp. They have the exact same amount of weight on each foot no matter what, so even splinted, it's very likely a break won't be able to heal. Hence them needing to put Barbarro down even though it looked promising at first.

It's so sad, and it breaks my heart, but I'm glad they put her down quickly without trying to move her. poor baby. She was SO incredibly beautiful.

Run free in fields of green, Eight Belles. Keep my Diamond and Dusty running while they're waiting for me

[Ashling]

I hate horse racing :( Money should be spent on saving the world, not gambing- goes for alot else too.

[Freedomoflight]

As much as I love watching horse racing when done RIGHT, I think that racing, steeplechasing, even jumping competitions need to be banned. In the very least, an extreme overhaul. Anyone watch the jumping comp last year, where the idiot riding had her horse stumble, refused to pull up, jumped over the last 2 5 ft fences and then got off, and by that time had totally screwed the horse up beyond repair, she had forced it to jump with a fracture and the leg shattered and the horse was put down. Stuff like that makes me sick.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by Freedomoflight

As much as I love watching horse racing when done RIGHT, I think that racing, steeplechasing, even jumping competitions need to be banned. In the very least, an extreme overhaul. Anyone watch the jumping comp last year, where the idiot riding had her horse stumble, refused to pull up, jumped over the last 2 5 ft fences and then got off, and by that time had totally screwed the horse up beyond repair, she had forced it to jump with a fracture and the leg shattered and the horse was put down. Stuff like that makes me sick.

Because winning was more important than the horse.

At least, if you watch the Eight Belles tragedy, you can tell the jockey was trying to stop her from doing damage as soon as he felt her run funny. . .it was just too late. But, since the race was over, maybe that's a bad comparison.

[Freedomoflight]

Yeah, I watched the end bit of it yesterday. Someone had been asking me if it was possible the horse blew out both ankles before she crossed the finish line and was running on adrenaline. I told them no, and was explaining if that happened the jockey would have been catapulted over the horse's head.. then I watched a clip, and sure enough, horse stumbled, jockey got thrown over the horses head.

There are some parts of racing that I really like, hence why I diligently follow the Triple Crown each year.I saw one pre-race about a year ago, the jockey was so excited that he and the horse won, he was giving the horse great big hugs and pets, and before he hopped off to have his picture taken in the winners circle, he called for a bucket of water and started bathing the horse himself to cool him down. You never see stuff like that.

I follow the Olympics and Grand Prix and stuff too, and always hear of a horse being put down due to the riders idiocy. Makes me so sad.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by Freedomoflight

There are some parts of racing that I really like, hence why I diligently follow the Triple Crown each year.I saw one pre-race about a year ago, the jockey was so excited that he and the horse won, he was giving the horse great big hugs and pets, and before he hopped off to have his picture taken in the winners circle, he called for a bucket of water and started bathing the horse himself to cool him down. You never see stuff like that.

I actually would love to watch racing if the horses were older and more care was taken with them. Horses are meant to run. Watch wild mustangs. . .that's what they do. They run. Sometimes they sit and eat and graze, but every day, they just run across open fields together.

I rescued a small quarter horse when I was younger, and I was the only rider who was experienced enough to run her (who was also light enough to ride her) and you could tell the difference in her excitement when I was getting on her as opposed to when my brother or mom would. Sometimes, if it was a nice, crisp day, I had to make SURE she didn't just bolt the moment I got on her!! (I almost lost a leg once on the And she'd never try that with my brother or mom. She just loved to run so much once it was a FUN thing and she wasn't being beaten to run around barrels.

[huntress]

Originally Posted by amiestgermain

I actually would love to watch racing if the horses were older and more care was taken with them. Horses are meant to run. Watch wild mustangs. . .that's what they do. They run. Sometimes they sit and eat and graze, but every day, they just run across open fields together.

I rescued a small quarter horse when I was younger, and I was the only rider who was experienced enough to run her (who was also light enough to ride her) and you could tell the difference in her excitement when I was getting on her as opposed to when my brother or mom would. Sometimes, if it was a nice, crisp day, I had to make SURE she didn't just bolt the moment I got on her!! (I almost lost a leg once on the And she'd never try that with my brother or mom. She just loved to run so much once it was a FUN thing and she wasn't being beaten to run around barrels.

Thats not true. They only run full out when they are in danger or fighting and they do get hurt then to. Horses in racing are pushed to the limit way to young. the bones in the knees have not closed or barley closed. Eight belles was hurt before the finish. You can see it in the overhead replay. I've jockeyed. She came on strong and quit about two-three lengths before the finish. You can see it plainly. Then from the weakness of her injuries she broke down more after that. I rode a horse that quit just like that once on the final stretch. My horse was hurt different and was OK but she was older and mature. We placed third in that race by a length.

[kellywess]

Originally Posted by huntress

They run them too young - period!

I dont think they should run them at all, I just think its wrong. Thats just my opinion.