The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

thomas marceda — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:21:51 GMT

wow uc linda nick zito runs his horses once a month sometimes twice depending on what races and how they are training. back in the day people would run thier horses 2 times a week rick dutrow does with his horse and they do fine . heres a fact for you horses only need 2 days of rest after a workout or race for the tendons to heal you can look it up yourself

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

GOCURLIN — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:10:41 GMT

I totally agree with the guy who wrote this. There is no need to place the blame on the connections. I mean, Eight Belles was not "doubtlessly injured" before the finish.

Also, why are people like PETA chiming in now? They weren't complaining when Barbaro broke down. Pine Island? Not a word. George Washington? Complaining about fur and throwing pies at fashion designers. Day after day when horses break down? Tweet-Tweet. But when Eight Belles breaks down, they go crazy. Makes no sense.

Also, the public has to know that horse racing is not as cruel and barbaric as PETA claims it is. The misleading was proven when on a recent America Online poll, 62% of readers thought horse racing was a cruel sport. Shocking.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Disgruntledracingfan — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:36:54 GMT

Get off it.... breakdowns are a reality. When they stop running half grown, half ton animals on performance enhancing drugs, maybe there will be change

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

P YO — Sun, 18 May 2008 02:33:55 GMT

ask any PETA member if they believe in late term abortion,I'll bet 90% of them do.But then again Dont whip that horse. Many screws LOOSE !!!!!!!! How backwards have some of us become ?

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

freshfan — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:32:41 GMT

I wish people would stop saying horse racing needs to ban whips. The jockeys don't whip the horses abusively, and those that do are penalized. The whip is usually just flicked near the horse which makes the horse speed up. The whip is needed as a safety measure for horses that drift out or are still green and don't run straight. The jockey can tap them away from the other horses and prevent MORE accidents.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

nmhiplains — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:47:18 GMT

For those who think this was just a tragic accident pickup a copy of Tom Iver's --The Fit Racehorse II read how speed stresses bone and how long slow distance rebuilds bone--also how osteochondrosis (a bone disease caused by improper feeding of mares, foals and yearlings ,aggravated by steroids on the track leads to most breakdowns & fractures on the track. How to prevent breakdowns

Require a bone scan of these horses legs before there name can be dropped in the entree box---any horse who fails the scan is required to pass a x-ray exam--If owners and trainers insist there horse is sound require a cash bond be put up equal to winners pursue --forfeited if his horse breaks down.---And Yes there will be owners and trainers who insist there horses run even when a infrared bone scan shows they are unsound!!

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Matthew W — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:21:01 GMT

yes, nmhiplains, but don't forget the Derby was run into a big homestretch headwind---did you NOT see him draw off into this?-times aside,"Brownie" did a helluva job!!! And, yes, it DOES seem like "less starts and more injuries" is the norm anymore---are horses too strong of muscle for their own tendons and bones? And if so, is it because of growth hormone?? Please, Brownie, stay healthy, and get that nasty (stupid) 1 1/2 on dirt Belmont....then stay around for awhile--we thought we had greatness with Smarty Jones but he left the scene too early--please stay and give us the 'Crown and the Travers, then come West young man for your appointment with Mr Curlin....Thank you and remember: PLEASE take care!--you're that good...

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

nmhiplains — Sun, 11 May 2008 01:04:22 GMT

Handicappers facts for betting the Derby-- NO horse who hadn't run 9 furlongs had won ---NO horse who had less than four starts had won both these rules were broke during this years race. Eight Belles had never run farther than 8.5 furlongs the 10 furlong Derby cost her her life --Fatigue killed Belles but you have to wonder if her previous racing schedule played apart was she traveling on cannon bone with hairline fractures before she enter the race!! The days when a trainer can just run his hand down a horses legs checking for heat are over---A infrared camera would have pinpointed any problems and x-rays should have been taken before the race---This crawl out of the dark ages and have these Triple Crown fields scanned before there names are dropped in the box.

Outlawing toe grabs and scanning legs with a infrared camera for unsoundness will prevent a lot of breakdowns on the track.

I wonder if Big Browns connections will make sure he's 100% sound (his last 1/4 time was slower than his previous splits his :25+ is a far cry from Secretariat's :23 and he's traveling on quarter tracks) or has the Triple Crown fever clouded there judgment??

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Karen — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:24:11 GMT

I must comment on the article written by Steve Haskin: Eight Belles gift to Seabiscuit author. First let me say that I admire Steve Haskin and have never read anything he has written and not loved it. He paints such a detailed picture of life inside the industry. He keeps those of us stuck far away from it up to date and feeling like we can almost smell the roses. He has the greatest job in the world and I have told him so on many occassions. I was greatly disturbed by this article in particular. Not because I didn't agree with him. This was a great rescue and something good to come out of Eight Belles tragedy, but because I was disgusted to hear that these horses were going to slaughter and it included Rudster. A 9 year old gelding. 9. He is in the prime of his life. He started 74 times for 9 different owners and won 3 times. Yes, a terrible record. But is this the fate the majority of these race horses face if they are not that great? Owners and breeders have a responsibility to these animals. If there is no room for all of them then there shouldn't be so many bred. Where does it end? When does this industry decide to take care of the very animals that give them everything they have, even if it isn't enough to match the other horses of his/her generation? We need many more retired race horse organazations but that takes money and time and lots of it. Most of these owners and trainers and breeders have lots of money. You want people to support this sport? It starts with the horses.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

edzepplin — Sat, 10 May 2008 22:46:12 GMT

Eight Belles was not bred for the sales only. She accomplished what her breeders set out to do. They bred a muliple Graded Stakes winning filly that beat 18 of Americas best 3yo colts. So far none of the industry critics in here sujusted anything that would have prevented her breakdown or even pertained to her! She wasnt speed bred, She wasnt bred for the sales only, She only ran one leg of the triple crown. She wasnt breaking down while excellerating from the Quarter pole to the wire and her body language didnt not show her in distress. Only higher science of diagnostics perhaps could have prevented it by testing every horses fetlocks. Until this happens it will happen on National TV again and again

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Ranagulzion — Sat, 10 May 2008 21:00:10 GMT

Eight Belles has become a lightning rod for concerns about the safety of horse racing and the integrity of breeding practices. If some real positive developments for the sport can come out of all of this then both Eight Belles and Barbaro would not have died in vain. The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil. Perhaps some serious consideration could be given to the question of how 'mammon' is corrupting the sport via compromising Breeding-for-sales practices.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Deborah — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:28:07 GMT

I wanted to make a few comments about the Derby Saturday and what happened to Eight Belle's. I have grown up watching horse racing, and for the past forty years have noticed changes, gradual at first but becoming more apparent in the 90's. It would be easy to point the finger at the jockey as PETA has done. Or the racing surface, or to the breeding, trainer's or anyone else you would like to blame. Unfortunately like everything else in this country horses are being pushed along to bolster the bottom line. I don't believe any responsible trainer wants to run any horse at top speed before they are ready. I do believe however that there are some trainers and owners who will resort to almost any means for the big win or the big sale. Drug use in these horses is rampant and should be stopped immediately. I don't think this is true of most starters in high profile races like the Kentucky Derby but with that said the use of anabolic steroid's are not banned in Kentucky. Steroid's for the good that they can do in treatment of disease should not be used to bulk a horse up or make him run faster. Let’s also not forget that steroid use can lead to brittle bones.

No horse should be ridden under tack when it’s only a yearling. Like any other creature they need time to grow. I don't believe there is anything wrong with racing two or three year olds, but two year olds should not be raced until later in the season, after September of their 2nd year of life. If you think back to horses like Kelso, Forego, Secretariat and John Henry, although Kelso was reported to have foot problems, and with the exception of Secretariat who was retired at the end of his three year old career all had long and productive years. If you could stand any of those horses next to any thoroughbred today what you might see is finer thinner legs in the horses of today. We can't blame Northern Dancer or Native Dancer for what they've passed on to their many generations, because they created many champions for us all to enjoy but we can blame crossing of the lines too much. This is human error start to finish. Everyone likes to win, but breeding for durability more than speed might be a better option. The speed that Secretariat showed when he won the Kentucky Derby has not been matched since. There is a reason for that; he was the exception and not the rule. Accidents happen with horses, they love to run and sometimes it’s their undoing. As humans who love to race or watch horses run it’s up to us to do what ever we need to do to keep them safe as possible and to me that means no drugs, better breeding programs, and better screening at all tracks not just for drugs but soundness.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

edZepplin — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:13:16 GMT

First of all Eight Belles wss NOT bred as a speed horse. Her dossage index was 2.25 which is not considered too speedy for the classic distances, so the "too much emphasis on speed" really doesnt apply to her. In fact, that cross is an awesome cross that wins stake races and that is what owners want. I dont get all of the "wrong breeding practice rhetoric that is going around.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Karen — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:10:35 GMT

Good points, Dawn, and thank you, Jason for writing this piece. I'm writing only from the perspective of a fan but it's easy to see that racing needs a governing body, strict regulation of drugs,limits on races open to two year-olds and most important, a humane way to deal with unwanted horses. Most horses don't compete at the elite level of Barbaro, Eight Belles and George Washington and those horses end their careers treated like trash. Racing has to fix itself or face the wrath of a bunch of misguided animal rights activists who believe this is no better than ***-fighting. Who wants that?

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

VP — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:33:21 GMT

I couldn't agree more.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Disillusioned — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:39:35 GMT

Sorry, but as a long enough term fan of racing (25 years), I've had enough of watching the sport's current directions. I'm tired of all the freak accidents on national television -- and yes, it does make me wonder about the average "nobody" claimer horses if these things are happening to the cream of the racing world.

Please, please, please do start taking a very hard ethical look at your breeding decisions thoroughbred industry. It's time to reprioritze soundess, durability and distance over market speculator's fashions for weanlings, yearlings and super-precious two year olds....and lots of them. And because of the current need to breed a bunch, I guess the industry really does needs to step up adoption/rescue/retirement programs like that other animal racing industry had too.

Your right, my choice and I choose not to watch anymore.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Dawn — Sat, 10 May 2008 17:05:20 GMT

Most dangerous place to be: between PETA and a microphone or camera.

I really wish that the powers that be in racing would take a no-nonsense approach to meds. Cheaters: you're outta here for good! No more vacations while an associate runs your horses in his name. Three strikes? I would make it one strike and I don't care whether you are Big Time Trainer or Piddly Jive

Trainer of Claimers. Cheaters give the sport a bad name and the decent ones are guilty by association.

I would also like to see the state racing commissions done away with (good luck with that I know) and the NTRA become the governing body of the sport. They have to grow a backbone and a few other body parts first though.

I've no problem with 2yos racing, but I think the purses should be very small and the races short, no longer than 5-6 furlongs. Put the big purse money in the 3yo and up races.

As for yet another committee? Puh-lease! Know what a camel is? A horse designed by a committee!

Last but not least: I wish I could give all of Eight Belles' connections a big group hug and cry along with them; I don't think they did anything wrong. Sadly, Eight Belles took a misstep, but lets not let her death be in vain.

Racing muckety-mucks: more action, less talk!!

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

ACU — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:56:36 GMT

Heres a thought... why don't we STOP racing horses at such a young age and give them the chance to mature and complete their growth stages.

Another thought.. somebody GELD Unbridled's Song and his sons. He is destroying the TB breed. Sure, he brings speed, but it only lasts for 2-3 races and then his offspring break down with career ending injuries or Death. STOP BREEDING FRAGILE HORSES! Put some strength and stamina back into the TB before we have so many deaths that horse racing is banned.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

UCLinden — Sat, 10 May 2008 13:16:39 GMT

Oglalla Sue,

No need to apologize ....... " ps - UCLinden, I'm sorry for being snotty in an earlier post. Uncalled for ..... accepted , I can take criticism , I'm human, and do have an eraser on my pencils.

I take it, your apology was on your comments .... "

UCLinden, One race a month is not a punishing schedule for a horse in the prime of its career.

You might love horses and know about them as a species, but you clearly don't know much about horse racing.

You sort of just showed your hand a little with that particular post -- and you're not holding that much.

Sue, I do concur that a horse that does race once a month " In The Prime Of It's Career " is not punishing.

I'd like you to see this thou ......

Britain's leading equine research centre, says: 'The epiphyseal growth plates are still open in the leg bones of a two-year-old horse. They are beginning to close in a three-year-old. Inevitably, these structures can be damaged by the stresses of training and racing. I strongly feel that two-year-old horses are just too young.'

My whole point was ..... Eight Belles had run 10 consecutive races beginning in Sept while she was a two year old. And, I've asked the question ..... do the leg bones have enough time to remodel when it is on a monthly race schedule at 2 years old ???

To answer some of the other comments about my not knowing about horses, racing , etc. Yes folks, I have been around this business since the days of Braulio Baeza, Johnny Sellers, Willie Shoemaker, Kelso, Forego , and the list can go on.

Yes folks, I really, really do care about horses. As a matter of fact, one of my horse's in " the prime of its career " had run races a week apart. My horses are not allowed on the track until they are three ( 3 ) years old. Guess that leaves me out of Triple Crown contention, huh, ha ha ha ha. What matters to me is the health of my horse. I have spent countless hours, burned many a midnight oil, researching everything about a horse, yes, I really do care.

So, for anyone who wants to toss comments, be my guest , just do me a favor, " show me " you have done your research to substantiate your claims. Unfounded claims have no merit. Folks, in ending , trust me, my horses come first.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

UCLinden — Sat, 10 May 2008 12:17:57 GMT

Statistics ...... here is the scenerio .... a horse has run 6 times .... 2 on dirt, 2 on turf , 2 on artificial surface ..... OR the horse may have run 3 races on artificial surface and 3 on dirt ... the 7th race the horse has an injury ... as I see it presently, whatever track the horse got injured on, that surface got the " checkmark ". Perhaps, just perhaps , the present day

statistics are not representative

of the " total " picture.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Matthew W — Sat, 10 May 2008 08:53:29 GMT

Speed and stamina are natural traits and thus fillies can compete with males in short sprints as well as long (1 1/2 or more) grass races---but 7 fur to 1 1/4 on dirt is about strength, and fillies are just not as strong as colts--Eight Belles had dead aim on the Derby field--or so she thought---Big Brown was way too much and I think she laid it all out there---in other words, WHY run a filly anyway, it doesn't make her worth any more like a colt so the only reason to run is "Derby Fever", which I believe Jones had...

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Jbird — Sat, 10 May 2008 06:35:27 GMT

Kudos to your comments. We, in the Thoroughbred industry are very saddened with the loss of EIGHT BELLES; however, we would wish the right that is granted to every other sports' industry, to do our due diligence with our appointed 'capable' committees to study and research her death. Our industry loves our horses, and as Larry Jones stated "THEY ARE OUR FAMILY". Do not think that we are not taking this serious, BECAUSE WE ARE. Through this trying time in the Thoroughbred world, it is difficult to hear and read from PETA and other animal activists that we are 'cruel' to our horses. The opposite is true, "WE LOVE OUR HORSES". Then looking at your websites, it seems obvious that you are using 'our EIGHT BELLES' tradegy to raise donations. What horses are you prepared to save from these donations"? I recommend Thoroughbred Charites of America, Thoroughbred Retirement Fund, etc. etc. As an owner/breeder, and know that horses create their own demise (in a 40-acre paddock), is devastating. You hate that call, but it is just a part of breeding thoroughbreds that one has to accept. Also, some of your best yearlings can 'get spooked' and they run through fenches and have to be euthanized. IT BREAKS YOUR HEART! Unless you are an owner/breeder in the throughbred industry, you should not go to the national media and 'sell your story'.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Johnny — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:33:51 GMT

1)Breed sounder horses.

2)Maintain track surface conditions to insure safety, whether dirt, grass, or synthetic. Either develop some type of protective tarp to shield surfaces from the elements in inclement weather, or call off the card during these kinds of weather conditions.

3)Discontinue the emphasis on speed, and begin to focus on stamina, especially in younger horses. Don't push two-year-olds to demonstrate speed in auctions.

4)ban drugs, including steroids, after the model in other countries.

5)Continue indefinitely with the injury reporting system already implemented and promote ongoing equine health research, including equine genetics.

6) Continue with the use and development of diagnostic tools to determine pre-existing condtions, weaknesses that could lead to injury, and any organic abnormalities.

7)Move forward to develop the postion of Thoroughbred racing commissioner with broad powers to enforce regulations, set policy, and carry out severe penalties against drug violators, or any other violations that compromise the health and safety of the horse and/or rider, and that threaten the integrity of the sport.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

swap me too — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:13:13 GMT

I agree completly with lmkas on this. how in the hell could you say such things about Rick Porter, a man you do not know? And what in the world did the derby or oaks have to do with it? the race was over. She ran that race beautifully, was absolutely not interfered with in any way, and as she was galloping out, took a bad step. Or more accuratly, two bad steps. It happens, it happens to humans; you step on one leg wrong, then automatically shift your weight to the other leg, and if you step on it just right, you hurt the leg you shifted to. It was a different circumstance, but do we remember that Barbaro was put down after contracting laminitis in the opposite leg, laminitis that was caused from shifting all his weight off the injured leg. Eight Belles was still galloping, and when she stepped wrong, as Larry Bramlage said, it was extremely painful. It would be easy to believe she panicked, and threw all her weight off the leg she hurt, and created exactly the same situation for her other leg, 1200 pounds of horse slamming down on her fragile ankle bones. thats just one theory, of many possible and completly blameless ones.

re: The Eight Belles Tragedy: Stop Placing Blame

Meghan — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:53:37 GMT

First off great article. Nice to see someone with a voice of reason on Eight Belles’ death.

Eight Belles’ death is a tragedy and it was a freak accident. I have been watching horse racing since I was a kid and I’ve seen many breakdowns over the years be it a Standardbred or Thoroughbred and I do agree with some that have said that something needs be done to reduce the number of horses that do breakdown.

I think it’s an absolute joke that PETA is playing the blame by blaming Mr. Porter, Larry Jones, and the jockey for her death. None of them did anything wrong. These people loved that filly and all the other horses that they’ve owned/trained/raced. These horses are very well cared for.