Destination Derby: Day 3 Recap Part 1

re: Destination Derby: Day 3 Recap Part 1

aspradling — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:28:22 GMT

Thank you all for your thought out comments, I enjoyed reading them and I am sure there will be more.

I agree that it might have taken this incident to raise some good discussion that is probably needed.

Is 2-year-old racing too young, how a shift of "breeding to race" has become "racing to breed" allowing for unsound sires, and to see if synthetic surfaces do help prevent injuries or are the injuries still occurring but in different areas than before?

Tank you again.

re: Destination Derby: Day 3 Recap Part 1

Jean — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:22:06 GMT

You definitely did the right thing. I would not have cashed the ticket either. She was a beauty and it is such a great loss.

re: Destination Derby: Day 3 Recap Part 1

NancyBen — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:53:44 GMT

A nicely balanced article about the glory and the sadness of racing. Thank goodness for cool heads

re: Destination Derby: Day 3 Recap Part 1

russell maiers — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:14:01 GMT

yes the race was great, super job by big brown, eight belles and the rest. Very sad and heartbraking what happened to eight belles.My observation is that its turning into a one side or the other thing on horse racing.It does not have to be. There have been many great achievments made for the safety of the horses.With that said we should never accept that it is good enough. This is hard and thats just fine.Here are three suggestions myself and other horse people have wished for for thirty years.number one is being addressed, the track surfaces. Yes it is kind of a mess now but again that is fine, keep trying and we will get right! Number two is no whips, you lose the first time fans immediately, and yes some horses respond to a wake up call. The problem is the majority dont need it and as a horse owner and trainer myself it is common knowledge that if a horse is a little sick or injured he or she will run until something terrible happens with the encouragement of the whip. Yes some horses will not show there true potential and again thats fine. We will figure it out in breeding and training, no doubt. The third suggestion and this goes to the owners is tough and that is just fine also because it could be done. Two year old horses just should not race. Start their careers at three, the derby trail at four and so on. most average recreational colt starters know this. We do this for arabians! The bones need to develope. Three hard yet simple ideas so this wonderful sport takes the high road and grows into enjoyment for all owners, breeders, trainers,jockeys,fans, and most of all the horses.

re: Destination Derby: Day 3 Recap Part 1

chelsey — Mon, 05 May 2008 22:29:02 GMT

Sounds like you had a good time! It's so sad about the beautiful filly Eight Belles but Big Brown put on one amazing show and I hope he gets the credit he deserves. Here's hoping for a Triple Crown sweep!

re: Destination Derby: Day 3 Recap Part 1

LD — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:39:48 GMT

Hey, Love the artical focusing not only on bad but on what good also came from the Derby. I'm so tired of the media and mainly the PETA stating the racing should end, and that Eight Bell's jockey should be suspendened, that's out of the question. I love horses and i love racing for the most part, i followed, like many others Barbaro's story, and was devestated when he was put down. This is racing where tragities happen, but so do great fantastic thing, we just witness one, Big Brown. That is what we need to focus on not all the bad.