May 4, 2008
Big Brown Wins Tragic Kentucky Derby
Big Brown fulfilled his role as the favorite, winning yesterday's 134th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs by four and three-quarters lengths. But the victory of Big Brown and jockey Kent Desormeaux was overshadowed by the death of the second place finisher, Eight Belles.
The female horse was also favored in the race, but when the race was already over, the horse fractured both front ankles. After a veterinarian examined her, Eight Belles was euthanized in front of the crowd of 157,000 spectators, recalling Barbaro's injury at the 2006 Preakness.
As for Big Brown, his co-owner, Michael Iavarone, of Holbrook, Long Island, worried about Big Brown's pace early on, but trainer Rick Dutrow reassured him the horse was "perfect." Iavarone said, "I've got to go with what Rick says now. Rick's word is God for me."
And Desormeaux, who has won the Derby twice before with different horses, sang Big Brown's praises, "Talentwise, he's the best horse I've ever ridden. He has stamina, and he has multiple gears. This is what only Derby winners can do. They can move you into a position, and then cruise, and then take you into another position and then cruise again. Every time I ask him to run, it's like leaving the starting gate again."
Big Brown had only three prior starts before yesterday, although his margins of victory were significant in all of them. It's the first time since 1929 that a horse running from the far post position has won the Kentucky Derby.
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Why do animal lovers and the likes never complain about this cruel sport?
They do. But who's got any credibility to talk about it. PeTA kills hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs a year. Dog breeders make congenitally defective animals. And people who love cats too much are crazy nutcase spinsters.
And still I cry for the carrots. You vegetarians are a mean and evil bunch. Stop feeding the rabbit. Shit, I'm going off topic.
I'm complaining. I think this is a terrible event/sport what have you. I find it deplorable that we use animals for amusement. But what can we possibly do to stop it? There's so much money and machismo wrapped up in this, it's impossible to put an end to it.
That poor horse probably knew nothing but complete terror and pain in the final moments of its life.
Like I said, this is sickening. Humans are the worst type of animal. Shame on us all.
::reads MFer's comment::
::makes note not to check back::
"After a veterinarian examined her, Eight Belles was euthanized in front of the crowd of 157,000 spectators"
OMG, seriously?? how can people can continue to go to this crap every year. that's outrageous. if people who don't gamble stop supporting it, it might stop. what a bunch of losers.
I'm telling you "THIS HORSE IS MY SLAVE" is still the best name for a horse cause it's true.
My mother went to a race once, many years ago. One of the horses broke a leg and they wound up putting up a curtain and shooting it. She said it kept trying to get back up until they shot it. She hasn't been to see one since, and won't watch it on television. I can't stand it, either.
Horses breaking legs at the track is gaining sympathy from hand wringing animal lovers...OK
Why don't same people make a fuss over the fuckin Amish who drive retired racehorses daily over asphalt roads when the dumb bastards should be walking or takin the bus...
Horse racing is really sick when you realize they make the poor bastards race in the winter months.
Part of the problem, is that horses are raced far too young. They don't stop growing, til the age of 4 or 5, so asking them to run flat out for over a mile, is risking still soft bones. Add to that, the intensive training in still developing tendons, ligaments, and muscles, and racehorses are accidents waiting to happen.
If you've ever seen wild horses for any length of time, you know that these are sociable animals who love to play-and a large part of that play is racing each other, and actually playing tag. Pastured horses will do this too. I don't think that competitiveness is something bred into them, I think its natural, perhaps a defense mechanism, as in the wild, they are prey animals. Those who can run fastest, could very well be the surviviors of a herd when a mountain lion or wolf pack comes around.
Anyway, it seems to me, that horses should not be raced, until they are vet certified to be fully grown. Of course, I can hear the owners yelling that for 4 years, a horse will be doing nothing but eating, sleeping, playing with the other horsies, maybe doing some obediance training. Horses aren't cheap to keep, but then, the Whitneys of this world could manage. I wonder why there aren't more crashes like this.
I wonder if jockeys can actually get life and accident insurance....
Mint juleps are crazy delicious and bitches get topless at the infield celebrations.
It's called Churchill Downs because they're always putting them down. It's tradition, like buying a new car every Fall.
In Ky, we don't mess around. If you're not first place, you're last place.
A horse's chances of recovering from a broken leg are terrible. They get crazy infections and end up being in a harness for months. That's what happened to Barbaro; it's technically seen as humane to euthanize.
Horse Racing, dog racing, circuses, bullfighting (although not in America) - maybe someday we will evolve past this stuff. Hopefully.
it's easy to pick on the amish on the internet.
Just sayin'.
RIP Eight Belles.:( You were too young to race.They should of waited until you were 4 or 5. You looked so proud before the race.And it was so nice watching you come in a strong second (You and Big Brown ran very strong),and so horrible to find out your tragedy after the race. I hope you had a good short life. Beautiful Horsey:)