The Loss of Eight Belles

Those of you who are horse enthusiasts will already be aware of the tragedy which occurred at the running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. Those of you who simply love animals may not be aware of what happened, but your opinion definitely matters.

So this is what happened: Eight Belles, a filly owned by Larry Jones, finished second and then broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track. She was being ridden by jockey Gabriel Saez.

Now this is what has been happening in the aftermath:

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has called for the suspension of Saez, and it faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky's racing authority claiming the filly was "doubtlessly injured before the finish." The group says Saez should have pulled her up rather than finish.

PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.

"What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?" Guillermo said. "If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."

But Jones says Saez acted exactly as he should have. He says the jockey started whipping the horse to prevent her from running into the rail.

"I don't know how in the heck they can even come close to saying that," Jones told The Associated Press on Sunday. "She has her ears up, clearly galloping out."

Eight Belles, the first filly since 1999 to run in the Derby, appeared fine until collapsing while galloping out after the finish.

The letter to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority also sought a ban on whipping, limits on races and the age of racehorses, and a move to softer, artificial surfaces for all courses.

as reported by Sports Illustrated

Over at CNN they have a poll asking readers if they think the horse racing industry does enough to ensure the safety of the horses. So what do you think? Frankly, I'm not a regular spectator of horse races, but I have always abhorred the way the horses are whipped. The question, though, is did the jockey "feel" something give in the horse before it even crossed the finish line, and if so, why didn't he stop the horse. As you read, PETA asserts he would have had to. My feeling is that it was a horrible tragedy with the horse tripping and breaking her ankles, and there was probably nothing that could have been done to prevent it. Of course, what do I know? I'm just a gal who adores animals and never wants to see them mistreated. That said, I still think that whipping the horse should NOT be allowed, regardless. Seems to me that with an animal as intelligent as a horse, you could teach it to race without whipping it!

Now, what you think about all of this?

Kentucky Derby, Eight Belles, Race Horses