• Tragedy Strikes at Kentucky Derby

    In a tragic twist for the “Sport of Kings”, another horse has died running for the roses. A gray filly (young female horse) named Eight Belles was euthanized on the track of the Kentucky Derby on May 3rd, 2008 after suffering compound fractures on both front ankles. The horse collapsed during her cool down after the race, which a horse named Big Brown won. "When we passed the wire I stood up. She started galloping funny. I tried to pull her up. That's when she went down," said Eight Belle’s distraught jockey, Gabriel Saez. The win for Big Brown on racing’s biggest day is bittersweet.

    It is hard to not be reminded of Barbaro, a horse who suffered the same kind of fracture on one of his legs in the Preakness, just two weeks after emerging from the Kentucky Derby victoriously. Barbaro was euthanized seven months after sustaining his injury.

    According to the Kentucky Derby’s on-track veterinarian, Dr. Larry Bramlage, “She didn't have a front leg to stand on to be splinted and hauled off in the ambulance, so she was immediately euthanized," he said. "In my years in racing, I have never seen this happen at the end of the race or during the race.” Bramlage went on to say that there was no possible way Eight Belle’s could’ve been saved.

    This racing fatality is not the first. It will probably not be the last, either. The sport requires horses to be in top physical condition. Even is they are, they are considered veterans after four years. The bones of equines simply cannot stand the constant stress of racing. Poor padding on tracks has been called into question, and racing venues have been starting to install a new system of track.

    Big Brown’s jockey, Kent Desormeaux, commented on his horse’s win and Eight Belle’s tragic loss. “This horse showed you his heart and Eight Belles showed you her life for our enjoyment today," he said. "I'm deeply sympathetic to that team for their loss."