[QUOTE=HorseSoGreen;3187415]
If an armchair quarterback like me can see that the horse was not fit enough for this race, why didn’t her connections see it?[/QUOTE]
MONEY!
Granted, this is info based on New York tracks, but I found it interesting. Not saying it’s good or bad, just something to consider:
Two retrospective studies of racing injuries at The New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks are reviewed for significant risk factors. Confounding factors and interpretation of results are discussed. A greater fracture incidence was reported on dirt surfaces. Turf had one-third the risk of breakdown as dirt tracks with fast or good conditions. Muddy conditions had a significantly lower risk of breakdown compared to fast tracks. The negative association between the number of seasons raced and the risk of breakdown is consistent with sound horses having longer careers. The NYRA veterinary database, developed in 1993, is a valuable aid for the efficient retrieval and analysis of racing and training injuries. The injury rate (number per 1,000 starters), for the period 1984–2002, ranged from 3.5 to 7.3 for noncatastrophic injuries. The catastrophic rate for injuries requiring euthanasia was 0.99 to 1.85. These rates remain consistent with those reported for North America. A review of 294 catastrophic injuries for the period 1993–2002 provides interesting observations. The metacarpophalangeal joint was involved in two-thirds of all catastrophic injuries with the proximal sesamoid bones and/or McIII condylar fractures the predominant injury type. McIII diaphyseal fractures represented less than 10% of the total and had a 5:1 left-to-right forelimb incidence. The 33 carpal cases had an equal limb distribution. Most catastrophic injuries occur on fast tracks, in turns and during the stretch run to the finish. The relative incidence of injury to race distance was greatest for races of 1 3/16 miles or more. Steeplechase races were a contributing factor. Sprint races of 7 furlongs and less represent 48% of all races and 46% of injuries, contrary to the commonly held belief that sprint horses are at greater risk. Recurrent injury rates were remarkably high for flexor tendons, suspensory ligaments, and the carpus. Findings support increased scrutiny of horses identified with prior injuries, to reduce the number of catastrophic and recurrent injuries.
Taken from Survey of injuries in Thoroughbreds at The New York Racing Association tracks . Clinical Techniques in Equine Practice , Volume 2 , Issue 4 , Pages 323 - 328, W . Hill
There were 3 ambulances at the site during the broadcast I saw. How many other horses were hauled off? I think more horses were injured than were reported due to the poor filly’s break down.
I may never watch TB racing again-the incidence of catastrophic injuries is too horrific.
Sorry, pal, credibility problem here. In 37 years of hunting I have yet to hear of anyone, at Rolling Rock or anywhere else, administering banamine in ANY dosage before hunting. And it might help if you had any knowledge of appropriate dosages of banamine, by weight. Nor, in 50+ years of riding, have I heard of anyone administering banamine before riding a horse, period. Bute, sure. But not 10 cc’s. A gram or two. I can also count on one hand (with fingers left over, and counting two that dropped dead from cardiac issues) the number of horses I know of that have broken down while hunting. Nor, for that matter, are foxhunters as a ‘group’ in the habit of hunting crippled horses. So, in a nutshell, you aren’t helping anybody’s cause by throwing bogus information around.
Many moons ago, I took a class in horse care at my local community college when I lived in the Chicago area. The vet who taught the class had been a track vet early in his career.
Remember him telling us that 75% of the TB’s never make it through training. Of those
that go on to run, 75% are done at the end of the first year. Gave me a bad taste for
racing until I moved my horse (he was my first) to a boarding barn with good group turnout
and watched the horses in turnout. Most were TB’s and they often played race games.
Eight Belle’s was a lovely lady and may she rest in peace. My guy will be there to great
along with so many others from this board and from the track.
Julie
There are HUGE #'s of horses racing all over the world. I’d venture to guess more horses racing than any other horse sport - maybe not but that’s my guess. When you deal with such tremendously large #'s you are bound to see a greater amount of loss. Doesn’t mean it’s right, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need re-evaluated. Just means that there are more horses doing it and in a very public fashion therefore the loss is more obvious.
Although I disagree with it, folks jump horses at 3. They do Reining futurities at 3. They do all sorts of things with their horses at 3. This means they are doing the training parts before 3. Doesn’t mean it’s right-just proving that horses do hold up to a lot at that age (and most likely break down but you just don’t hear about it!). For myself I’d prefer they wait until they are older. And to be honest, there are enough trainers in the racing industry that do wait longer but this is an age old sport that simply needs some changes. Some have already been made. More need to come.
The thing is, I don’t see majority of the injuries and break downs happening in the Triple Crown races. I do believe they happen more often at the lower levels with the younger horses but the upper levels, the ones televised, are usually slightly older horses.
What amazes me is the outcry when something is televised or made public via other means. What about the horses in other countries, smaller tracks, places not spreading their stories across the media? Folks here can go by every day without a single thought to those horses but they see a major race on TV and are up in arms. If you REALLy take opposition with the industry then do something about it - don’t just be angry for the day because you saw it on TV.
A tragedy today for sure but, as already pointed out, she made it through the race fine–whether something went wrong before the end we may never know–but we should all be thankful no one was hurt besides the poor filly. Not to downsize the event or sound crude but if she had gone down in the middle of 19 other horses the day could’ve been a lot worse.
Gallop free across the Rainbow Bridge EB and say hi to the many greats that await your arrival 
:sadsmile:
Would you care to elaborate on exactly which track, and specific dates and races where 7 horses from the race were euthanized?
Because if you cannot give us substantiated facts, you are really being irresponsible by making such allegations.
I believe they were there to block the scene from the spectators. Sorta like when someone dies in a car accident - they put up the white sheets for privacy. Not uncommon really. In this case I think they just pulled the trucks up because the filly was put down before the media even realized and the sight of putting her in the van after being euthanized would’ve been too horrific to be seen.
[QUOTE=Beverley;3187563]
Sorry, pal, credibility problem here. In 37 years of hunting I have yet to hear of anyone, at Rolling Rock or anywhere else, administering banamine in ANY dosage before hunting. And it might help if you had any knowledge of appropriate dosages of banamine, by weight. Nor, in 50+ years of riding, have I heard of anyone administering banamine before riding a horse, period. Bute, sure. But not 10 cc’s. A gram or two. I can also count on one hand (with fingers left over, and counting two that dropped dead from cardiac issues) the number of horses I know of that have broken down while hunting. Nor, for that matter, are foxhunters as a ‘group’ in the habit of hunting crippled horses. So, in a nutshell, you aren’t helping anybody’s cause by throwing bogus information around.[/QUOTE]
Wrong. For the record, I’m speaking of the conditions in the early 2000’s. I have no idea how things are there now. I saw it for myself. I was there one day when a horse came back with a complete fracture in the knee and was hunting with a slab fracture. It happened in the fall of 2002. The horse never should have been hunting, but that alcoholic who was leading the hunt justified it by saying that’s how they do it in Ireland. That woman (i’m leaving names out if it) and her husband pounded those horses into the ground. They fired Dr. Sacksen because he told them in so many words that they were being unfair to the horses. You have your head in the sand if you think those horses weren’t getting banamine to be able to hunt. They were. I was there - I saw the cripples that lived at their place. As for credibility…what do you want me to say to prove I know what I’m talking about…should I say that C_r_____eneeded Vodka by 8AM to wake up???
[QUOTE=Beverley;3187563]
And it might help if you had any knowledge of appropriate dosages of banamine, by weight. Nor, in 50+ years of riding, have I heard of anyone administering banamine before riding a horse, period. Bute, sure. But not 10 cc’s. A gram or two. QUOTE]
I guess in your 50+ years of riding you’ve failed to realize that 10 cc’s of bute = 2 grams.
While I don’t necessarily support 3 year olds being pushed like they are at the race tracks - accidents can happen anywhere, anytime. I just buried my daughter’s precious pony last month due to a fetlock injury that occurred while running around in the field with her pasture mates. The reality is that our beloved and gorgeous creatures are simply so darn fragile!
Unless we all want to just ride for pleasure - we’re going to take risks in any sport where we compete with our horses - risks with our own personal safety, as well as, risks with our horse’s safety. However, it’s up to the owners and trainers to try and mitigate these risks as much as possible. Because there is so much “money” to be made in racing, unfortunately there will be many who will push beyond the safe limit of the horse.
I truly wish there were improved governances such as racing at the age 4+ years…only turf tracks…improved enforcement of soundness standards. However, as long as there is so much money to be made, we’ll never see this type of governance. It’s a shame…
RIP precious Eight Belles - you were an amazing girl and worked hard to satisfy your owners, trainers, and riders…I hope our precious Lexi was there to meet you at the Rainbow bridge to show you around.
And with all the Eight Belles out there lets not forget all the John Henrys, or Seabiscuits out there. Bad conformation, never should have touched the track, but went on forever. It’s the luck of the draw, an unfortunate accident, one that the track officials and vet have never seen before. Racing has been around since horses evolved into our riding partners. It will not go away. I will continue to watch and get goosebumps when they come to the wire. Yes, a breakdown will happen again, and there also will be many races without one. Yes, I’m gonna say it… It happens. Young athletes collapse and die from playing football or basketball, it comes with the territory and you must accept it and be ready for it or don’t play the game.
1t’s absolutely ridiculous to say that all horse sports carry the same risk. That’s like saying you’re just as likely to die in a fender-bender at 15 mph as you are in a head-on at 65. A breakdown in the dressage arena and a breakdown at a full racing gallop are NOT the same. Add in solid obstacles and unstable footing (eventing) or immature bones (racing), and your odds of catastrophic injuries increase. It’s not rocket science and it’s not a numbers game. It’s a fact of physics that the faster you go and the harder you hit, the more damage you will do.
Add me to the list of those who are officially DONE with racing and eventing. It’s JUST. NOT. WORTH IT. :no: I would be very happy to see eventing dropped from the Olympics, and just as happy to see racing restricted to horses age 4 and up…or done away with altogether. If you feel the need for speed, thrills, and chills, get into NASCAR. At least the cars don’t suffer when they break.
I am in the “what is the point to all of this” crowd. I LOVE my horses. I could never imagine running one like THAT as a baby, or asking them to jump something huge and solid. I don’t understand how people can say it’s okay to do those things? Racing should be 4 and up at least and jumps should fall apart when you hit them. Let’s make it as safe as we can for the horses. Anyone who honestly thinks it’s okay to break a yearling and race a two year old needs to give their head a shake. Same goes for other horse sports where babies have to compete. I just don’t get it. If I were to climb on my 15 month old filly tomorrow 99% of horse people out there would FRY me. Why can’t those feelings get passed on to all horse sports?
They used to run 2 year old races in February in Louisiana. I’m not sure if they still do or not. That is insane IMO. One of the problems with 2 year old races is they often start at 4 1/2 furlongs, Penn National & Calder even writes 2 furlong races.
I don’t believe in racing 2 year olds either. Breaking them at 2 is one thing, but racing them is not right. People will always do it though because if they have a precocious 2 year old, it’s easy money because most are pretty green.
I wonder if Eight Belles had toe grabs up front. Nobody ever talks about some reasons why horses break down other than saying “they are fragile.” They are fragile, but it doesn’t help when I see a lot of horses running with aggressive toe grabs up front. When you put an aggressive, or any, toe grab up front all you are asking for are ankle problems and I do think an aggressive toe grab up front can cause a breakdown. I’d like to know what percentage of catastrophic breakdowns are horses with toe grabs up front. I know toe grabs on the front feet is a little less common today than 10 years ago, but most still wear them on all fours.
Almost exactly the same thing I said earlier.
What a sad day. A friend and I were out for lunch this afternoon and watching the race on a silent TV. That big filly was incredible; the way she rumbled through the field right on Big Brown’s heels was spectacular.
We could see a horse went down but couldn’t see who it was and didn’t hear of who it was and were talking about how she would give BB a real run for his money in the 2nd leg. Didn’t know but I do think something happened at the top of the stetch. She bobbled then but battled through.
RIP Eight Belles.
This is a lovely article.
“Her heart had carried her to a place beyond where her legs were meant to go.” - Paul Moran
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown08/columns/story?columnist=moran_paul&id=3380352
The most lovely article I’ve seen yet (and an explanation similar to what I have said I thought it was in the stretch) :
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3380408&sportCat=horse
