Sad ending to the Kentucky Derby

[JagFarlane]

Well for those of you whom didn't get a chance to catch it...great race, great win by Big Brown...however a sad ending indeed.
The filly whom ran, Eight Bells, came in second with a good lead on the pack...and on the gallop down after the win, broke both her ankles, and was euthanized on the spot

 

[Guest]

That's awful.

Does that sort of thing happen often in these sorts of races?

 

[JagFarlane]

That's awful.

Does that sort of thing happen often in these sorts of races?

I generally only watch the Triple Crown...but one of the jockeys that was announcing said it does happen, though usually its heart related or an anyerism [sp?]

 

[impressive]

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Speaking as a dog person, I never watch horse races because racing isn't any better for horses than it is for dogs. On the other hand, if I had enough land to keep horses on, Clydesdales are my favs. Slow but unstoppable.

 

[jomar]

Wow. That's too bad.

 

[3113]

Damn it! I can't recall the reason why, and I could be very wrong, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it's happening more frequently and it shouldn't be.

Hell...those horses run their hearts out and for that to happen....

 

[DesertPirate]

Damn it! I can't recall the reason why, and I could be very wrong, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that it's happening more frequently and it shouldn't be.

Hell...those horses run their hearts out and for that to happen....

Most of the thorobreds today are from one bloodline that has a history of chunky legs and a funny gait that causes this. She was a cousin of Barbaro. There was a story in todays paper about it. The distant sire won two of the three in 52? and lost the derby by a neck. It is becoming a very inbred line, compounding the problems.

 

[cloudy]

I generally only watch the Triple Crown...but one of the jockeys that was announcing said it does happen, though usually its heart related or an anyerism [sp?]

The Kentucky Derby is part of the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby is the first race, then the Preakness, then the Belmont. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978.

Most of the thorobreds today are from one bloodline that has a history of chunky legs and a funny gait that causes this.

um....no. Not even close.

The biggest reason that this happens is that these are two-year-olds. By the time a race horse is four years old, their racing career is long over. Consider that in order to race the Kentucky Derby as a two-year-old, their training starts at least a year earlier.

A yearling's bones are still soft, and even as a two-year-old, a horse with the light build of a thoroughbred has a musculature that hasn't "set," or become mature. That's why.

 

[3113]

A yearling's bones are still soft, and even as a two-year-old, a horse with the light build of a thoroughbred has a musculature that hasn't "set," or become mature. That's why.

Why is it over at 4 years? Could they run 4-year olds? Even if 2-year olds are the fastest, could they stop racing them and stick to 3 and 4 year olds?

 

[cloudy]

Why is it over at 4 years? Could they run 4-year olds? Even if 2-year olds are the fastest, could they stop racing them and stick to 3 and 4 year olds?

They could, sure, but it's the industry, as a whole, that will have to change to make that viable.

The biggest purses (such as the Triple Crown, etc.) are for two-year-olds. It's sort of like the whole "runway models are too thin" thing - the entire industry would have to change.

I'm not arguing with you...I agree completely that they should wait for the horses to be mature before putting their bodies through that kind of punishment, but I doubt it will change any time soon.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

Why is it over at 4 years? Could they run 4-year olds? Even if 2-year olds are the fastest, could they stop racing them and stick to 3 and 4 year olds?

Energy levels. Proof that they're 'worthy' of breeding upon reaching maturity at 4 years - if not sooner.

They could very easily run fully matured horses, and used to frequently, but have decided against it for a good 25 years or so. IMO the mature horses not only run better, with less chance of injury, but also have the experience to ensure a better outcome. Such has been my personal experience with the racers, anyway...

 

[MagicaPractica]

One of my favorite stories growing up was always Black Gold, won on three legs and a heart. I still have horse fever.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Money. Simple and straightforward, unfortunately, money. The money in horse-racing is in breeding, not prizes. Get the horse a reputation and start the foal-assembly line running. That's why they run these underage babies. Money.

 

[JagFarlane]

One of my favorite stories growing up was always Black Gold, won on three legs and a heart. I still have horse fever.

I read almost the whole Black Stallion series

 

[MagicaPractica]

I read almost the whole Black Stallion series

I think I read them all. My brother had them. I also liked the Chincoteague series, and the book on Man-o-war. Anything that had horses, basically, fiction or non-fiction.

 

[JagFarlane]

I think I read them all. My brother had them. I also liked the Chincoteague series, and the book on Man-o-war. Anything that had horses, basically, fiction or non-fiction.

Mmmm yup yup bout the same here.

Oh, on a side note: Cloudy, I know what the Triple Crown is...I was implying that I do not avidly follow horse racing in general

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Me neither, but they make great excuses to drink lots of mint juleps.

 

[JustLikeEwe]

That's awful.

Does that sort of thing happen often in these sorts of races?

Injuries do happen in the course of horse races, but the race was over. Eight Belles ran a wonderful and gallant race, and showed more guts than anybody else in the race behind the winner. She did not quit, and ran straight as a string right to the end. Even past the wire, she was running fine. Something happened, obviously, and long after the finish line, she took a bad step and broke an ankle and the resulting misstep caused damage to the other front leg.

It appears to be a completely freakish injury - much like somebody running the Boston Marathon and then collapsing while shaking someone's hand afterward.

 

[JustLikeEwe]

Most of the thoroughbreds today are from one bloodline that has a history of chunky legs and a funny gait that causes this. She was a cousin of Barbaro. There was a story in todays paper about it. The distant sire won two of the three in 52? and lost the derby by a neck. It is becoming a very inbred line, compounding the problems.

All thoroughbred horses are traced from three bloodlines.

Byerly Turk
Darley Arabian
Godolphin Arabian

The breed was created in the 17th century. In-breeding is a problem, compounded by the current breeders compulsion to breed horses for speed rather than endurance, insuring better prices for precocious foals.

This tragedy today seems to be a horrible accident that could have happened jogging out of a stall.

 

[JagFarlane]

All thoroughbred horses are traced from three bloodlines.

Byerly Turk
Darley Arabian
Godolphin Arabian

The breed was created in the 17th century. In-breeding is a problem, compounded by the current breeders compulsion to breed horses for speed rather than endurance, insuring better prices for precocious foals.

This tragedy today seems to be a horrible accident that could have happened jogging out of a stall.

Yup yup give me a quarter horse any day...also not as temperamental as a high strung thoroughbred.

 

[MaeveoSliabh]

-just shakes head-

 

[JagFarlane]

-just shakes head-

Please do correct me iffin I'm wrong

 

[JustLikeEwe]

Why is it over at 4 years? Could they run 4-year olds? Even if 2-year olds are the fastest, could they stop racing them and stick to 3 and 4 year olds?

It's all money.

A horse that shows promise typically runs two or three times at age 2. The trail to the Triple Crown starts in Florida and California - all horses in this hemisphere have a birthday on January 1st. Only 3 year old horses can run in the Triple Crown races.

They run 2 or 3 times after that in January- April, just before the Kentucky Derby, and if they qualify, they run.

20 horses ran 1 1/4 miles today and they all made it. Only long after the finish line did this tragedy occur.

Is it too much too soon? Probably. Horses are too fragile these days. Look at the ankles of a thoroughbred horse - ankles that are supposed to support their 1000+ lbs and a jockey.

Will it change?

No. The money rules, and the money is flowing like water from the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern countries. Breed a horse that looks good, and they come running with fist-fulls of money. They can't breed champions, but they can buy them.

Just like every other sport toiday, it is all money.

 

[JustLikeEwe]

Yup yup give me a quarter horse any day...also not as temperamental as a high strung thoroughbred.

Not to mention you lose your money in 20 seconds or so