Kentucky Derby Tragedy

[dancelady]

To anyone who saw the Kentucky Derby yesterday -- when Eight Belles crossed the finish line she was still fine, then along the first turn she did something that broke BOTH of her ankles at one time. How could this happen and did she do it on that new TURF? This was the first time that horses had run on this special turf, and now I'm wondering if it was to blame for the filly's disaster. Anyone have any information?

[catschair]

What a heartbreak. She is running in greener pastures now and flying like the wind.

[KDK241]

The Derby is run on a dirt track, not on a turf track. There are many things that could have caused it. I think she was too young and her legs couldn't handle the distance. She ran her heart out and her poor legs couldn't take it. From the articles I read, her jockey felt her galloping funny and tried to pull her up but it was already too late and she went down. 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.

[Jannabellsmom]

So sad. sooooo sad.

[Tiffany and Mitcheri]

I watched the derby yesterday as I do every year...cried at the end. Eight Belles was a huge filly....biggest one that I have seen run in quite a while..and while she was huge her long legs were the usual, just not capable of carrying her own weight for that distance at that tender age. The way they seem to be breeding them for the last ten years or so. Running horses at two years old has been a bone for contention in the racing world for a long time. When I used to train riding horses we never started letting them carrying weight till they were two and their knees had "closed up"....basically fully formed, as it takes a horse till it is two to finish growing. I could go into much more technical detail but it basically comes down to running a horse that hard at that young of an age basically just breaks them down. Eight Belles had a lot of guts and ran her heart out and as one poster earlier said and it is a huge shame but her front legs just couldn't take it.
Rest in Peace Eight Belles.....hope you are running free and with the wind.

[dancelady]

The announcers called it "turf" (which I know is dirt), but a new kind of dirt that is different from what used to be there. This was the first KD run on it, and it was thought to be a problem for some of the horses. I don't know how it is different, but some horses didn't like it much. Some didn't mind. I still am wondering if it was the consistency or texture that could have made Eight Belles have a problem with it. This was the first time that any horse has broken both legs at the same time -- I can't believe that it was just an accident -- one leg, maybe but both? I wish I knew more... But be happy at the rainbow bridge, Eight Belles!

[Freedomoflight]

Wait the derby was YESTERDAY?! FUDGE AND I MISSED IT?! ARGH

[my-africangrey-echo]

Very sad. How old are they when they usually start to race them?

[KDK241]

Most horses are raced/trained at 2 years old and the Derby horses are 3 year olds. The problem with horse racing is that all race horses share a birthday on Jan. 1st of the year so even if the horse really isn't going to be 3 until June, it is considered 3 in the race world on Jan. 1st and is eligible for 3 year old races. Most horses are bred so that they are born as close to Jan. 1st as possible so they will be 3 when the racing season begins. Horses are pregnant for 11 months so it's not too hard to figure out. I really think it was just a terrible tragedy and I don't think anyone will be able to say exactly what happened. She was running fine during the race, didn't show any issues at all and then suddenly went down. Either that or she was hiding and fighting the pain at the end until they just gave out. I have seen a horse break it's leg while running in the pasture with no one even on them, just playing around. All it takes is a wrong step because their legs are so fragile.

[huntress]

They run them too young - period!