[red flanker]

The equine vet indicates that the double fractures were extremely unusual. What were the factors that would exacerbate or increase the possibility of such serious injuries? Besides the track, weight of rider, would some type of meds or enhancers be possible.

[PGalt]

: (

[GnuHere]

This was just heart-breaking , and I had to turn off the TV as soon as I heard she was down - could not watch the award part.

[endthematrix]

Sad topic, but others may have an answer.

[FrogMom]

No joke, my heart goes out to the animal and those who loved her. Earlier, over here, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2010803/posts#46 , I’d read that Hitlery was backing this horse and actually thought, “Well THERE’S the kiss of death!”.

Just damn.

[epow]

A very sad day at Churchill Downs. I lost interest in the outcome of the race as soon as I heard that the filly was down and had been euthanized. At least she didn't suffer for long the way that poor Barbero did after his injury at the '06 Preakness.

All race tracks should be required to install the new synthetic surfacing in place of dirt, it eliminates most of the broken legs that happen to so many horses on dirt tracks. After Polytrack was installed at Turfway Park in Florence KY catastrophic horse injuries dropped from an average of over 20 per racing season to 3 per season. It's expensive, but so are thoroughbred horses and they also feel pain.

[BradyLS]

Is it possible the filly incurred stress fractures during the race that snapped immediately afterwards?

We had a guy that performed a bad parachute landing who tried to gut out. A couple days later, he was doing a 10 mile run with his company when the fibula in his leg snapped. X-rays showed stress fractures on the bone that were probably due to the bad landing.

[SatinDoll]

This isn’t commonly known but horses legs are not fully developed until age three. The rest of their bodies don’t catch up until age seven. Nevertheless, the stress of Thoroughbred racing at age two, which is the age required at the Kentucky Derby, can result in the terrible tragedy that occurred Saturday.

As an example of athleticism in horses, Lippizaner’s perform incredible athletic feats - but they don’t start training until age seven and their training takes as long as seven to eight years. Many of these horses, all stallions, perform well into their twenties.

[SamAdams76]

If people have to bet on races, why can’t they bet on races that involve people? Why do horses and greyhounds have to be run? Just don’t bet on me if I ever enter a race. I’m not a very fast runner.

[nuf said]

What a stupid sport.

[blam]

Eight Belles after fall

[blam]

Eight Belles

[Fawn]

push em hard....harder.....gotta win!

Greed is a sin.

[mysterio]

I can’t watch horse racing anymore. It’s too rough on the animals. Glad that I didn’t see this one.

[SE Mom]

more info

[Biggirl]

Could be problems because of excessive breeding to produce the very best horse a factor?