Eight Belles tragedy is the lead on Drudge Report

[Equipoise28]

Crossposted from another forum:

http://www.drudgereport.com/

In addition to the grief we are all dealing with now, racing now has a major PR problem. I sincerely hope that the powers that be step in and make some major reforms, otherwise in my opinion the sport is in trouble.

Also an article in the Washington Post about how the industry is breeding itself to death:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01707.html

[springboro]

some questions to consider after the grieving period... we're allowed to mourn the loss of this big filly and her efforts.

Are there more breakdowns than ever before?

have the new synthetic tracks helped?

Did you know that in the recent Rolex event 2 horses had to be euthanized? Before that in Florida at another cross country event, 2 horses died and an Olympic rider had to be hospitalized for weeks.

I hate to watch a breakdown and i too want there to be solutions. However, I know that these magnificient animals are fragile and things like this are going to happen - in all the sports we use them for.

[Bedouwia]

Drudge is a sicko.

Bedouwia

[Equipoise28]

Drudge is a sicko.

Bedouwia

That may be, I certainly don't agree with him politically. But a lot of the government movers and shakers read his website, particularly in an election year. Government involvemment is the last thing the sport needs, but I'm afraid it will come to that.

[Tiz]

I've always thought that when dog racing was disposed of, the activists would turn to horse racing. Unfortunately, the people in racing have delivered them a wealth of issues deserving of attack.

It seems we can't get through a high profile race without a tragedy these days. I've loved racehorses and racing my whole life, and even my enthusiasm is on the wane.

Would we be in this position if calls for drug free racing had not been met with arrogant, smirking refusal? I don't think so.

[Barbaro06]

Thanks for posting the Washington Post article equi.

Yeah, horse racing gets another black eye. In my heart of hearts, the drugs that are used in this sport are litterally killing it. Sure they hopped horses in the old days, but today some horses are walking pharmacies.

I will always argue it is the push for the quick return on investment. There is hardly any incentive to take time with horses. Curlin is a great example of not running a horse at 2. But back in the day, the youngsters did not come to the track until the late summer or fall, if they indeed ran as two year-olds. Nowadays the goal is getting on the track to perhaps run on Breeder's Cup day and in order to get some seasoning prior to the 3 year-old campaign...

And yes, horses die in other sports. I wonder if we will see all the spills rather than the really neat stuff from Rolex next weekend when NBC broadcasts it.

[Terlingua]

Thankfully, there is a community to join to mourn the tragedy of Eight Belles. And thanks Equi for your Washington Post link. I thought the Jenkins editorial was excellent and agree that there is something cowardly about turning away from such a tragedy to concentrate almost entirely on the victor, although I do also feel badly for BB's connections. He's a brilliant colt and it's a shame his victory won't be the only thing we remember when we think of Derby 2008. That said, I do think the industry is overbreeding itself to death and to the detriment of the breed. Not to mention the slaughter issue which is as we all know linked to overproduction issues as well as greed.
I tend to follow the UK racing with more interest & enthusiasm because the whole tone of their industry is different. True, they also have huge slaughter issues. But you just don't get the sense that the market has taken over as the only thing that matters or that it is about making a quick return on the initial investment. Perhaps I said that badly. What I mean to say is the money end of things seems to have a perspective in the UK that is unlike the North American industry. And although it cannot be said that racing in the UK is free of its own serious issues, there is also a sense that the Brits are more keenly interested in the sport (flat or hurdlers) and thus monitor breeding standards to get a better animal.
Anyway, this is not really the time for such a debate. I'm just glad to know that there is a place I can come to share my grief.

[Barbaro06]

Thanks for posting Terlingua, you bring up some very interesting points. I also see a difference between the UK and US racing. A colleague of mine once brought up the idea of having a TB breed standard much like what they do with Warmbloods.

Eight Belles was on my mind...I didn't bother watching the winner's circle ceremony. My heart was heavy...much like, unfortunately, like Preakness Day 2006.

[Turn-To Fan]

I had trouble getting to sleep last night thinking about Eight Belles. I too am grateful for a community to share the grief, especially because NBC ducked the issue after speaking with Dr. Bramlage. The links posted here to many places with different opinions and further information are very valuable.

I am in favor of breed standards. I also think there needs to be much more study of and emphasis on soundness in horses. My husband, who is an engineer, suggested putting sensors on the legs of all horses to monitor heat and stress. It just seems like no one knows exactly why these horses are breaking down.

[bdw0617]

my phone has been blowing up all day, my mom called me today and asked me about eight belles.. she doesn't know jack shit about racing but she knows about eight belles.

I mean.. what exaclty do people expect to be done? Do people actually think they tried to kill the poor girl?

do people realize that she is worth, way, way, way, way wAY more alive than dead?

do people realize that if they had any indication of her being hurt, they would have retired her to the barn to be a broodmare? In fact isn't that usually what we are bickering about?

[horsenuts]

A freak accident and all the amatuers that don't know a good grade of buttermilk from a glass pizz have all the answers to lifes woes and in this case horse racing. It was an accident... an unforeseen accident........ nothing more nothing less. Horses break legs in their stalls and in their turn out paddocks sometimes. This happened to be high profile on the biggest stage so rather then look at things realisticly they go political and wield their hatchets in their usual gutless fashion. Drudge probably backed over his dog recently and is looking to vent onto someone else over his own grief and guilt.

[Barbaro06]

It's the "Watercooler Question of the Day" here on WBAL Channel 11.

Online story had PETA folks wanting the head of Eight Belles jockey for whipping her mercilessly and having the second place prize revoked.

Washington Post published an article by Andrew Beyer where he mentions the fewer races run by the horses of today, drugs and breeding for profit, not soundness.

[horsenuts]

It's the "Watercooler Question of the Day" here on WBAL Channel 11.

Online story had PETA folks wanting the head of Eight Belles jockey for whipping her mercilessly and having the second place prize revoked.

Washington Post published an article by Andrew Beyer where he mentions the fewer races run by the horses of today, drugs and breeding for profit, not soundness.

Many of these PETA folks are some of the world's biggest hypocrits. They'll buy or adopt a dog and keep it in a cage for the next 15 years of its life while totally ignoring it. I know...... my current neighbor has two cocker spaniels that are basically canine prisoners of a small area of their backyard. They cry and whine incessantly for lack of attention and this has gone on for years. Really sad to see and yet these same types are the hypocrits often leading the charge to tear down racing.

[bdw0617]

i watch CNN headline news every morning.. mainly to look at robin meade, but today they were talking about Eight Belles and how the jockey should be suspended.

I dont' know... but I am starting to have a different look on things. Maybe. Could eight belles be the martyr that horse racing needed to finally get some real change that we all bitch and complain about? Is that what it took... a prized filly breaking down on the biggest possible stage in the horse racing world (at least in america) for us to realize just how unsound some of horses really are?

NOt to say that that was all that was to it.. I still believe she should have ran in the arkansas derby before either the Kentucky oaks or the derby, but I'm sure that unbridled song had alot to do with it too.


what gets me about PETA is they know a liittle about everything but not enough about anything. they come in like a bad parent blaming anyone and everyone, and not looking at the situtation.

anyone with a head knows that if porter had any inkling that she would be hurt, he would not have ran her, because she is just too damn valable as a broodmare to risk injury.

[spex4me]

PETA is like the person who keeps talking non stop to hear their own voice. And what is sad is that every once in a while that person hits on something but by that time everyone has toned them out. Not to mention some questionable acts by members of PETA also don't add to their credibility. But as with all organizations there's bound to be bad apples.

This will be very interesting to say the least. Will this really involve an inquiry as to the activities that help make racing unsavory in many minds or will Eight Belles be just another breakdown because that's racing and that's how it goes.