I am sick.
OMG!!! I didn’t even know. The race was a bit behind post time, and I had to get back to work, so the minute they crossed the line, I switched it off and went back to the office.
No doubt my VCR has it, but I don’t think I want to watch.
What a gallant girl. She ran a great race.
Broken ankles
Oh Eight Belles. What a tough filly. I am sick about it.
How did she do this? I just watched the replay, it looked like she had a clean trip,she seemed to be in good position throughout the race. They showed her galloping out, but not the fall. What happened? (add me to the list of those finding racing increasingly hard to take----and I’ve followed it for over 35 years)
Not bashing racing in general, there is good and bad in every sport. I just personally can’t watch anymore. It seems everytime I watch a race a horse fatally breaks down. Did anyone else see the interview with Eight Belles trainer in ESPN earlier. He was riding her and asked her switch leads, to slow down, to pull up. Called her sweetheart. It was so cool to watch. He must be devastated. I just can’t enjoy watching it anymore as I spend the whole race hoping nobody gets hurt, most of the time I don’t even know who is winning etc. I am to busy scanning the pack to make sure they all stay on their feet. It is no fun anymore.
I shouldn’t have watched.
My mom called me to say it was on, I told her I didn’t want to watch, she couldn’t understand why. Then she sent me a message on my blackberry - Shannon - don’t miss it - some lovely horses…my son came in and said come on Mom why aren’t you watching it? I explained, I just can’t watch it for fear that one will go down. Ever since Barbaro, and the recent events at Rolex have just put me off. I watched as far as them coming out from the barns and when I heard there was only one filly, I said “Okay, I’m going with her and I’ll watch”…
Honestly, I’m with the rest of you, this is just too much. She ran so well and strong in the stretch and I was so happy for her, then this.
Godspeed sweet filly. :no:
[QUOTE=Kenike;3186669]
Seeing the aerial replay, you can see when both ankles went. One went, she tried to catch herself and the other went. After the race.
I think BB spooked when he turned around and had to walk past her lying on the track. They hadn’t come back to the walk, yet, when she fell.
Let’s do try to keep in mind that nobody else was hurt. If it had happened in the race or her jockey hadn’t already felt something going on, it could’ve been a lot worse. (not trying to be callous, just honest truth)[/QUOTE]
How terrible. 
My family has been in horse racing for a long time. They’re so young and they try with all their heart.
What a filly. RIP Eight Belles.
Unbelievable…BOTH front ankles…
She was the one I was hoping would win and to place was such thrill…
Godspeed poor filly…
[QUOTE=BuddyRoo;3186662]
You know what I’d like to see? 5 YO racing. I wonder if they weren’t being worked so hard at 2 and 3 if there would be less of these stress injuries.[/QUOTE]
As I have stated on this BB for the umpteenth time, scientific research indicates that just the opposite is true.
Heartbroken. Again.
I may write to the editor of the Lexington Herald however, and see if they are planning to put photos of her fall on the front page as they just did of Frodo and Quiet Man.
Godspeed Eight Belles.
Weak Legs like Barbaro
Didn’t you see the xrays of Barbaro’s leg??? how many shattered pieces were there and how many screws and bolts were put in??? and it just shattered, no fall , no “misstep”. The racing industry breeds horses with legs like that and then says a horse was “injured” or had a “misstep” or whatever. For Christ’s sake, when will the American public demand that the racing industry let horses mature, and quit racing for speed on hard surfaces? Ruffian was in 1976 or thereabouts, and there were many horses before she was murdered by the racing industry. Just haul them off to the rendering plant, so they won’t have to go to New Holland alive.:eek:
When I watched the replay as closley as possible, she seemed to run really well and then crossed the finish line. About umm 10 strides or so out she just BOBBED…dead lame…then the camera cut out. She musta collapsed shortly after that though…
What a terrible tragedy. She’s up running with Barbaro and all the OTHER great racers who gave their hearts to our sport.
There is evidence that supports work helping build better bone–denser and stronger–this is true.
But moderation is key. When we’re talking about legs, don’t you think overuse injuries are from just that? Overuse? Perhaps?
And as far as the rest of the horse? The spine doesn’t fuse by 2 or 3 or even 4 in most cases.
Why not let these horses mature a bit…do more light riding first?
Look, I am a supporter of equine sports. But I am also a lover of equines. And they are doing what WE ask of them. Perhaps our questions need to be changed. Keep in mind, I just got back from Rolex. I’m frustrated and saddened by the deaths this week.
I watched it. I was so taken by the way he loved that filly. It made my cry after to see her go down. She was my favorite for the race. Such a sad day. Gosh, last year I was there and watched the tribute to Barbaro, so glad not to be there this year. I will continue to watch racing but, I will always worry. I am a pro in the horse industry and it’s always so hard to see one go down. 
Poor Larry. He goes from winning the Oaks yesterday with Proud Spell, finishing 2nd in the Derby - and now this. What a horrible ride of emotions he must be going thru. I would be seriously ill at this point.
I’d be a hypocrite to stop watching racing, since I’ve had broken legs in pasture accidents, and had to put a horse down for cancer. They are just so fragile.
RIP Belles
RIP little girl :no::no::no:
Callie, I think you’ve made it plain and clear that you think all of us in the sporthorse industry are cruel murderers. There was nothing wrong with any of these horses legs in terms of being too small or too weak. Even a human being with large, strong bones can have those bones shatter in a misstep off a curb. No comparison.
Please, for the love of all that’s holy, leave it alone.
Hrere comes that question…
WE love horses don’t we? yes, itcould have happenedi n the pasture, and yet?
Big Brown looked off walking away out of the winner’s circle and on the turf track. I hope his connections listen to what his body is trying to tell them.
