Comments on: Eight Belles' Death Sparks Controversy

Demise Of Filly In Kentucky Derby Prompts Debate Over Image And Safety Of Horse Racing

[edward1975-2009]

This is the first time in the history of the Derby, that''s 130 yrs, that this has happened.

[edward1975-2009]

LaurenD6: I''m sure your heart is in the right place, but your knowledge of the true nature of these horses is seriously lacking. They are bred to run, that is what they do, they are bred for speed. And yes, they breakdown. 1.6 in every thousand races that are run. You have a better chance of getting hurt playing volleyball. If it distresses you so much, don''t watch. Turn to the cooking channel, where they have a better chance of getting splattered with hot grease than a horse breaking down. This is rare, get a grip.

[lovekentuck1]

I was born in Kentucky and lived here all my life. There has always been things about horse racing that I did not like. After this tragic happening, I will never watch horse racing again. I truly hope that if there is someone who is responsible for the things leading up to the loss of this beautiful, magnificent animal, that person or persons pays for what they did. We must stop treating these gorgeous animals as a commodity and stop putting them in races before they reach age five and stop the administration of steriods. The owners and trainer got what they wanted and won the second spot in the race. The sacrifice was much too far and great and I am deeply saddened and very upset by this whole thing. If the jockey is to blame, then I hope PETA''s efforts are successful. I believe it could have been a combination of several people and their greed. Please--someone do something about regulating this terrible sport.

[laurend6]

No, this was not just some freak accident and there is absolutely nothing simple about it! The owners and trainer of Eight Belle KNEW that she was too young, too under developed--dense bones and possibly genetically altered to have dense bones--and knew that she had no business out there running that race. Listen to them in interview, they do not care about Eight Belles, having done what they genetically breed her to do--run her one and only race knowing that it was most likely going to kill her. THEY KNEW IT and did not give a shi- about that horse. The trainer even said that she loved it and was glad to do it--after having the hell beat out of her with the crop to MAKE her run and then have her legs shatter out from under her, ripping through the skin.

[cutternc]

OK, is it REALLY necessary to show a photo of the poor horse''s mangled ankles as she''s collapsing to the dirt at the top of the hour, with NO warning to anyone. There are those of us out there that are REALLY sick and tired of this kind of shock-schlock journalism, and simply do NOT want to see it. If you must show it, do so with a warning for those of us who would like to change the channel first. I know I''ll be changing the channel from now on.

[kansas1946]

Her death has raised thorny issues about the whole thoroughbred industry, including track safety, whether fillies should be allowed to run against colts, and whether horses are bred too much for speed and not for soundness.

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I think these questions are valid, but I think the most important question wasn''t asked here. These horses are too young to be run this hard. The age of some of these horses, even though they are listed as three, is sometimes barely over two. They have rigorous training when they are still babies, just to be ready for these grueling races when they are legally three (which is usually two). I have never known why these most popular races are limited to three year olds. That needs to change.

[itgranny]

Here''s another stat: 2 in the 7 triple crown races since 2006 has ended badly. that''s not very good odds for these horses.

[edward1975-2009]

Here''s a stat that has been popping up all day around this incident. 1.6 horses in 1000 races has this happen. Though tragic, this is not an idictment on horse racing. The jockey nor anyone affiliated with this horse did anything wrong. At the distance this filly broke down from the finish line and from every replay that has been shown, this incident could not have been foretold. It was a freak thing, simple as that.

[laurend6]

Just a little FYI. Here is a little dirty secret that most horses breeders/owner do not want the world to know, but the horses are now genetically altered to be breed with lighter bones so that they can run faster. The select certain qualities when breeding, which horses to put together, picking and choosing what need out of that horse--including altering their genes so they are born with dense bones. Having dense bones, the horse is lighter and therefore it can run faster. There is absolely no reason for Eight Belle to have been hurt that bad, slowing down after the race! It was NOT the track. No other country races baby *****, only the wonderful US of A. The horses are five years old in England and start LIGHT TRAINING at two. The trainer, Larry Jones, and the owner of Eight Belle and the owner of Barbarosa, who also had yet ANOTHER horse tragically break its leg should be brought up on charges for cruelty of animals and be banned from ever breeding another horse--ever! They are obviously genetically altering these horse to be born with dense bones for their evil greedy purposes. Larry Jones is an idot, saying that the horses love to race. First, they run because they have a very bad sting across their bums when you whip the hell out of them, run them in the ground and then when Eight Belles ankles shattered-ripping clean through the skin--oh yea, she loved it I''m sure. Your evil and I only hope that charges are brought up against you and the owner.

[coco0331]

I hate to say it but I think this was jockey error. I think he stopped the horse to fast.

[itgranny]

I work in the livestock industry and most all are having the same sorts of problems as the horse industry. So much of our livestock now days is bred for specialized performance very little attention is paid to other traits who''s presence makes an outstanding individual. Patience in all of these areas is what would make the difference. In dairy cows and hogs, feet and legs play such an important role, yet very little is paid attention to them. If a sow''s first litter is 15 piglets and a holstien''s first lactation is stupendous, those are the animals that are allowed to reproduce for genetic seedstock. In the end we''re left with inferior animals that can''t stand the test of time. We have sows that can''t have any more than 2-3 litters of piglets before they break down, cows are the same thing. Give me a sow that can have 10 litters of 14 nice piglets and you''ll really have something. A cow that''s 10 years old and still giving lots of lbs of milk a year and you''ve got a superior animal. An 8 year old horse that can win the Kentucky derby... now there''s a horse that should be allowed to reproduce! (of course there''s no such thing, so it''s something that will never happen.)

In the human world, would we want to have a sprmDonor of a music savant just because he/she can play the piano well ignoring all other traits? I doubt it.

[michellem99-2009]

I am 53 and am poorly educated being legally blind..I am appalled that horse,dog and the like is used for racing..It has to be greed..I don''t watch them as it is BARBARIC.

[codymac4]

Right on swiils

[boston1954]

Horselover08, You are going to find those kinds of comments on most any story. Some people just live to aggravate others. You are right. They have nothing better to do.

[culturechang]

Politicians would call this "fertile ground" for a political grandstand to develop a new set of far reaching, overly broad federal regulation on horse racing.....from a "high moral ground" of course.

[horselover08]

Boston1954 Ditto...exactly right!

[horselover08]

I just can''t believe some of the low comments im reading. must be bored, with nothing better to do. Certainly dont care about life of an animal....maybe not humans either. Shows the mentality. Its really sad!

[swwils]

It is always something to spark theories.Horses are breed to race,sometimes freak stuff happens.That is the sport of (kings) and they will continue to race them no matter how many cry baby animal activist throw out their opinion.

[boston1954]

I think everyone in the media is missing the point. PETA is condemning the jocky for whipping the horse....not the point. Others are saying fillies shouldn''''t run with colts....not the point. The real point is that these are 2 YEAR OLDS! They''''re simply babies and their bones are still growing. They''''re not mature enough to withstand the physical and sometimes mental stress they''''re being made to deal with. If they''''re racing as 2 year olds, they''''re started at I''''m guessing 18 months. Horses normally don''''t reach their maturity until they''''re 5 or so. These babies are so big...their growth is pushed but are their bones really growing to keep up with their bodies? Just a thought.Posted by walkshe
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That''s is exactly! I read something recently that said they don''t start in France until they are four. You may want to send that to Churchill Downs or the ASPCA.

[jetlizhan]

rjs1955
just read your comment of 4:14 PM today - LOVE IT! a beautiful majestic horse''s life is not a ''game''. shame on comments like that. i would love to see the day when there are no horse racing, dog racing, fox hunting (horseback, foxhounds, etc). but that will never be - greed will see to that.