@bigwheezy69 Nice username. Clearly your brain is running insufficiently low of blood and oxygen supply as a result of your wheezing. Let me educate you on what my point is. You know good and hell well that if you broke your neck, YOU would want a chance to heal and survive. Or should we follow your logic and destroy you immediately? Get a clue. Yes horses dying on a race track is very tragic. Euthanizing an injured horse should be the absolute last option, not the first.
@Sweden8990 I understand what your trying to get across, here is my rebutal. How can a human being factually know what an injured animal wants to do in the moments after injury occurs. It is well documented that in numerous cases where animals have had severe injuries occur, when given a "chance" to survive and heal THEY DO!!! Imagine that eh?!?! Remember Barboro?, they gave him a chance and Barboro after alot of courage,heart and effortt let the vet know he was ready to die.
@RottyFan1 You have no idea what your talking about first of all. Second, BARBARO broke his right hind leg in 3 spots, but they tried it because there was like a 25 % chance he could make it.Eight Belles broke BOTH front ankles, which is even tougher to heal and being the front ankles is where they carry the majority of their body weight It would be like you on all fours tryin movin around without your hands. Also she was very highstrung and just about impossible to control.Tragedy? yes.
@prettykitty345 Lets find out something here. Say YOU were at the local grocery store buying some twinkies, and all of a sudden you hit a wet spot on the floor, lost your balance and shattered both of your ankels while hitting the floor with a loud thud. What say you we should do with you? Take you to the hospital or shoot you in the head right there in the spot you fell in? Do not answer me with your nonsenical babble. I want to know what YOU would want us to do with YOU.
@RottyFan1 Because of the amount of weight placed on each of the horses 4 legs, a break (especially around the ankle) has a minimal chance of healing sucessfully. Let alone how to keep the horse supported through the healing process without doing damage to major organs from weight distribution. It's very sad, really. But it's what needed to be done, and it was the most humane option, (leaving the ethics of horse racing aside).
@afleetalgebra Your joking right? You need to do some fact searching. Horse racing is a business. The owners view their horses as an asset that makes them or loses them money. Jokeys are in it for the fame and fortune. That is the true way that it is and people who think different are naive.
@FunWithAly People like you really need to do more research about this before you post because you will get ripped to shreds by the people who know their stuff, oh and by the way, the people who own these types of horses have no problem with, as you so eloquently put it, "spen the money on a horse" and @xOxhorselover98xOx Do you think you could have stood up if you had broken two of YOUR legs?...
@TheNotSoEmoHuntersI still think you don't know what you are talking about, I am thinking your horse did not "break both ankles as there is no way your horse is walking after 5 months. They are not able to stand when they break 2 legs, I am assuming you have put your horse through many surgeries, and have had them in a sling in their stall and been going through intensive physical therapy sessions for the other two legs so the muscles don't deteriorate.
Big Brown was on steriods plus she didn't break anything she fractured her anckles i know because i chatted with her owner like 1 minute ago were friends and we chatted years ago but got back in contact a few minutes ago on AVH where we started and became friends too
@FunWithAly horses that are put down after a little injury are put down because it is more inhumane for the horse heal then to be put down. When a horse breaks something the best thing you can do is put them down. Also they dont just put a horse down that will make a ton of money because of a little injury. They put a horse down because it is a stressfull healing process that is not fair for the horse to go through. trust me ive made the decission before to put a horse down that could not get up
i hate how people kill race horses after a little injury or when they arnt usfull. all these horses could have been saved but no they dont want to spen the money on a horse that cant make them a profit
@FunWithAly both her ankles were completely shattered. which is the part that connects the hoof to the leg, she wouldn't have been able to stand to allow the bones to heal properly without a sling, and she would have been had to been in that sling for at least 4 months in a stall. after she was healed, she would still most likely be too broken to walk. its not a little injury, trust me.
@FunWithAly they had a reason i had to say goodbye to a racehorse and it wasn't easy because we had a strong bond she broke her pelvis I MISS YOU TINY. that is her barn name and her owner told me she either fractured or popped her anckles
@prettykitty349 my horse Pops broke his ankle, he's been healing he isn't in pain has a cast. He's been healing for 5 months and just last week he was able to hot walk. I may be young but my horse is recovering, he is walking perfectly fine. But Eight Belles maybe wouldn't have healed right cause she is 2 and my horse is 4. But still they could have given the poor girl a chance it's the owners fault. She was too young to race her legs were still developing. It wasn't her fault she collapsed. Bu
@TheNotSoEmoHunters I have no Idea where you heard that, but when a horse breaks both front ankles they CANNOT recover from that. Even if they wanted to keep her in pain, she would never walk or even stand again. You need to check your facts...
They could have so helped her she could have lived a horse did the same thing and leaped out while running and healed both front ankles perfectly, Eight Belles probably couldn't have raced after but anyone would have loved to keep an retired eight belles. She will be missed died so young for heartless bastards :c
when will these racing idiots get it through their thick skulls that horses are NOT meant to race on undeveloped legs?!!! how many more wonderful beautiful animals will we have to lose before this madness stops?!!
She was not stopped too soon. She was switching leads and didnt get her feet under her quick enough to finish the stride. Its a shame. She was a great horse.
@Lorahx1 She fractured both her ankles when she tried to stop. It seems that she was to lightboned - she was literally too strong for her bones! But her trainer said that she may have just tripped, since horses with her way of moving have a tendency to do that.
the 29 female horse to race... she came second to big brown which was a big deal but the sadly after the race she collapsed due to two shattered ankles in the front end of the horse, it is sad she was a Beloved filly and we were all rooting for her all the way R.I.P Eight Belles :'( we will always remember you
it was human stupidity which could have prevented this ='(
this is so sad!! but i dont know why everyones saying its the peoples faults!! the horses are spirited and energetic when they are young!! if they raced when they we older, then racing would be so much slower, and not that exciting!!!
@chemicalsweet13 wtf??! she broke both front legs!!! they would never heal right and she would never be able to walk again!! even if they did have surgery to fix it, she still would have a small chance of living, and getting out of surgery, she couldve broken her legs again
@chemicalsweet13 i know you were, and if you broke bath your legs and couldnt stand would u want pain killers that wouldnt do anything, and then have to lie in agony the rest of ur life?
@PsychoPoniesPa ...you're not getting it because a horse doesn't KNOW all the things you mentioned. The horse doesn't know that painkillers may not help, or that the bones may not heal properly or that they would be prone to later re-breakage. The horse doesn't know all that genius, all she has is an instinct to live. I can't believe that what i wrote was that difficult to comprehend. I need to go back to school. |sigh|
@chemicalsweet13 oh really? and your a genius? a horse doesnt know about medicine!!! and her instinct is to follow her herd, and make sure theyre all right, not just to live!! and she was in agony, she probably was just feeling horrible. ya and you need ot go back to school
@chemicalsweet13 it would be so sad to see her livin like that. always in pain. i could never see a horse like that. it was better that they put her down.
@grayponylove Again, I agree with you. The comment was a joke written from the horses perspective... for crying out loud, does anyone actually read anymore?
Everybodys blaming the people because IT IS THEIR FAULT!!! Do you know how many horses are injured and just thrown away to kill buyers on the track? Or die right there on the track? These poor animals are 2, 3, and 4 years old! Too young to be ran this hard! That is exactly why this happens to them! I bought my 3 year old Thoroughbred off the track with a bowed tendon, and he was real quick, Secretariat was his grandfather, and he had a big chance of being great, so they were going to race him
It was nobody's freaking fault! Even her trainer admitted that she always had trouble slowing down, and she was a klutz; she always tripped. She simply stumbled over her legs, and broke them. Thank God they put her down before she had to suffer too much.
This isnt murder! If you guys see what they put Ruffian through im really soo freaking happy they put her down, she doesnt have to suffer anymore! And Ruffian did suffer.
@toesjah look the surgery was a success but at the hospital ruffian broke both legs yeah she suffered but it's part of life if ruffian didn't think she was running she would have made a full recovery wouldn't she? besides her trainer didn't give up i don't like ruffian suffered but her trainer believed in her and eight belles shattered 2 ankles not breaking one if she broke one she would've stood up
@mistygal72: I work in the racing industry, and it's not the owners. Depending on the trainer and their communication; most owners know very little about the wellbeing of their horses. Tragedies like the death of Eight Belles and Ruffian many years ago are just that - tragedies. They are accidents. Nobody races with the intention of having to put down great animals. Just the same as footballers don't play to sustain brain haemmorrages.
@shadea94 very well explained but eight belles owner lives on a horse farm and rides western and english and when she is being a lazy bum she rides bareback but some owners do know about wellbeing of their horses for example Larry he owns racehorses he trains them himself too
I love having odd flutter on racing. At times like this makes me think. Many failed go to slaughter. I don't know what to think. I put responsibility on the owners, they know their horse best....their risk. Don't put the sorrow on the punters!
quit until they are forced to by exhaustion and or injury wich almost always claim's their lives. Barboroa, they gave him a chance and I thought he'd survive and I'm glad they gave him a chance. As a jockey these people have got to know when the horse is tiring, they have to know when they are pushing them too hard. For what? Money? They horse never see's a dime. SHAME on ALL you jockeys young and old male and female and owners alike who drive these awesome animals to premature graves!
a horse got hurt and or died with me aboard I could never forgive myself and I'd retire immediately! These riders need to have that horses life and health as their number ONE priority, not winning! Humans can take a break, take a game off, take a series off, tell coaches they need a few extra min's to recover from exhaustion. Humans can indicate that they are hurting and or injured before it becomes fatal in MOST cases. Animals care only about pleasing their master and or riders, they will not
Ok as a sports fan I am sick to my stomach watching this clip. For those who think that horse racing is not brutal to the horses, please wake up. How many of these gorgeous creatures have died brutally on these tracks and or suffered horrible injuries wich caused their premature deaths? "Accident's happen in all sports" yes they do, but animals don't know how to say "stop". And clearly the riders and owners care nothing for the animal, instead it's about that money. If I were a jockey and
Horrible. A lot of it was also due to the fact that there has been a lot of Inbreeding through Native Dancer, she's a lot of horses great great damn or something, and she had brittle bones and all the inbreeding isnt helping it.. It may not be true but its what i've heard. Poor Eight Belles. She was sooo close to catching Big Brown. GREAT horse. Horrible that it happened :(
She was pushed to win & for what? The reason was for the money. Eight Belles was exhausted & so she collapsed & when she did the weight of her body broke both of her ankles.No injury caused her to fall.SHE FELL BECAUSE SHE WAS EXHAUSTED & THEN HER ANKLES BROKE.
i dont agree in horse races like the grand national and kentucky derby cos horses r put through stress pain and overworking too many horses die in cold blood and it aint fair thumbs up if u agree if u dont UR MEAN!!
a lot of people who don't know much about horses, or racing, assume that the owners are money hungry and whatever...and I guess that is easy to assume if you don't know the facts but the truth of it is, they horses are born to run, it's in their blood and they WANT to run, it's what they do and it's what they love. If you looke at Secretariat at the Belmont in 73 when he won the triple crown, he won by 25 lengths, and he couldn't have kept going and run the track again, he loved it!
They are not responsible owners as they all race two year olds. There bones are not fully developed and that is why so many go down. If they just wait until they turn 3 years of age, they would have a lot less problems. So, shame on the entire money making industry.
@MCGEE1115 A school horse is a horse that is used for lessons. RIP Eight Bells. I hope you know that this was a terrible accident but the horses love this sport as much as people do.
@MCGEE1115 Just a guess, but they probably mean they ride a lesson horse at a schooling barn (so not their own horse) who came from an abusive background that practiced soring. It happens.
@MCGEE1115 a school horse is a lesson horse, for riding lessons. I think what he may be talking about is "nerving" a horse. Its where they cauterize the nerves in their feet when they have a permanent soundness issue, such as navicular. The horse cant feel the pain so it stays sound, isnt technically lame. This is CRUEL however....their nerves are cut, they cant feel pain, they cant feel ANYTHING...and if you cant feel pain, you cant feel when something is wrong ....
@tinacrook I actually think the poster may be referring to the horse's legs having been pin fired, which isn't even a little bit like nerving a horse. And nerving a horse really isn't cruel, depending upon the capacity that you want to use the horse for post-nerving. If the horse is in pain and that will stop it, why not do it and let it go be pasture sound or useful for light riding?
That's... Really tough to watch... A shame too, she was just running her cool down.... really very sad.... I agree with JackJackJackie07 it doesn't make the owner's evil, they really didn't want to have to end her life so early. I'm sure if there was any and I mean any way to save this horse, they would have.
@Theaterman527 how about not racing a baby to begin with....2 and 3 yr old horses arent fully developed yet, their legs cant stand up to this abuse thats why so many of them break down. And then when they break down they are either put down, or sold to slaughter houses unless they are truly great breeding prospects and can continue to make money for their owners in that way....racing is a horrible "sport" and should be outlawed
@tinacrook AMEN. So keep betting on the horses and making your money, no matter if they suffer and die. And, in case you weren't aware, Jockey Club thoroughbreds are a year older on Jan 1 no matter how YOUNG they really are. So, even if they were born November 30 (extreme case), they are a year old 1 month later. Most are born in the spring, March or April. Think about it. Most aren't even 2 years old when they start. Keep it up, Michael Matz and the rest of you disgusting pigs.
and to RimedEmbrace if my horse had 2 broken ankles i would put her down to. it is impossible for a horse to even walk again with that kind of injury. There was nothing they could do and these owners do care about these horses, these horses are treated like kings and have so much money spent on them to get them trained. they could have either let the horse suffer or taken away her pain and they did the right thing. so why dont you get some real knowlege before you go comment it wasnt anyonesfalt
i agree with JackJackJackie07 these trainers and riders do not intentionally put these animals in danger they would be stupid to do that because these are million dollar athleats. and these horses love what they do if they didnt want to do it they wouldnt. these animals wiegh 1000 pounds and up and can easilly over power a human if they wanted to, 8 bells is an amazing animal and diserves to be remembered but she just happened to trip which is common, it wasnt anyones falt
@MCGEE1115 pin firing - used with racehorses (I'm sure it would be in other on sports horses as well) to help with inflammation in the tendons of the legs. Not sure if it makes them stronger, but does help with lameness. Usually is easily seen as little pin points in a grid on the front of the lower leg, the hair in the pin holes no longer grows in the spot where the hot pins were inserted. Controversial technique, but if does help with chronic swelling of the tendons.
Eight Belles was nothing but a money maker to her owners, and once she was handicapped, there was no use in putting money into her to save or prolong her life! Her painful injury could've been assuaged with pain medications or an anesthetic long enough for her to have been examined thoroughly, and possibly treated! However, her owners greedily euthanized her to save on expenses! It just goes to show you it all depends on the individual owners of the horse as to who is cruel and who gives a shit!
Her injury may not have been intentional, but it is POSSIBLE it was treatable! Barbaro's owners tried their damndest back in 2007 to save their horse's life when he went down after the Preakness, and if he hadn't suffered TWO complicating infections, he probably would've been able to live out his life to a ripe old age! Barbaro's owners were people that loved their horse! Eight Belles was euthanized before anyone had a chance to examine her thoroughly, because she was nothing but a money maker!
Each horse is different just like people. I don't know if you have been around Thoroughbreds but they can be very high maintenance and stubborn. If they don't want to do something they won't do it-for some if you whip them they won't respond. Some horses can't be save after an injury. Last, not everyone in the sport is in it for money.
@MCGEE1115 It's called "Pin-firing," induce a counter-irritation and speed and/or improve healing, used more often on Sport horses. It's definitely a barbaric practice, and generally not used anymore.
Also another piece of information. Steroids which are used openly within this industry and continuously are not always a bad thing. but there is a certain age bracket whereas you can pump your yearling full of them for growth providing you turn them out on full feed afterwards. The trainers no of the risks of steroid use in older horses and yes without conditioning and monitoring the horses ankles, cannons, pasterns etc will snap with a wrong step or just within a stride. its a calculated risk
'ox horseingaround ox' Firstly why the fuck would you have a school horses legs pin fired? The arabs within the thouroughbred/arabian racing industry and the endurance industry don't even use that technique... and they are the largest contributors to the sport in the world. Pin Firing doesn't make a horses legs stronger and burning them to 'burn out' the infection can only sometimes result in an 'ok' result providing its a hot and dry environment.
omg it's like she wanted to finish the race and then she gave up her life at the end, when she could have done it during the race! WHAT AN AMAZING FILLY and i wish she was here today, dont you?
@MCGEE1115 it's a horse at a riding stable, usually owned by them, and it's for pretty much beginner riders or really any riders to ride if they don't have one of their own
@mrscarfacexx1 it was just a freak accident, it just happened she probably made a bad step.just like Ruffian it just happened there was nothing wrong before it was just a freak accident
@MCGEE1115 By burned I'm sure she meant pin fired. They do it with racers all the time. My horse is an ex-racer and he's had it done to his front legs. Also, by school horse she means lesson horse. And to oxHorseingAroundox, It isn't painful or cruel to the horse, they numb the area and sedate the horse. They can't feel it at all. If they had no use for it, they wouldn't do it.
Really, I hope all the people who say that horse racing is a cruel sport say the same thing about track. Bad things happen and yes, sometimes people do things that are against the rules and can be deemed cruel. That is not what happened to this lovely filly. It was and is a tragedy. I have so much sympathy for the owners for all the terrible scrutiny they had to undergo while morning the loss of a prized horse. Don't even get me started on PETA.
people say that these animals are being murdered and that isn't fair to say... anyone who likes seeing something bad happen to an animal is a severly sick individual but owners aren't murderers... majority are shattered when they lose their horses and this is what these animals are bred to do, its pretty much the same as an on the job accident... yes it's sad but it's reality
@MCGEE1115 They're talking about pin-firing, which is used to make weak ligaments stronger in racehorses. A school horse is a horse used in riding lessons.
Eight Belles died a tragic and senseless death. She was too young and not yet fully developed to be GALLOPING AT 40 MPH AROUND A TRACK! These horses are being run to death.
My Chem 102 textbook talks about this. Apparantly the horse was on steriods and because of this her bones couldn't handle the excessive muscle mass they were being forced to carry. This is really sad.
She was tiring as you could tell she was lugging in. A lot of other horses can do this. Good that Gabriel wasn't suspended, and no he didn't "murder" the horse.
;-((( Eight Bells was a true hero. She ran her heart out in every race. She was the best filly in the world next to Ruffian. Horse-racing is thrilling, but also cruel. Horses are stolen, beaten, and abused. Some trainers and owners like Barbaro's were different. They did everything for him.
Her and Barbaro were racing legends, always preserved in our hearts. The question is why do the best horses end there lifes on the track, or a deadly illness.
i think ppl should stop aguing and blaming one another. your OPINION is fine but enough with the f*** you and f** that. my GUESS is she may have hurt a ligament. that would make her fall. mabey that's how she broke her fetlocks. too mush presure on the bones and no sapport from a pulled or bruised ligament. see? i didn't have to blame anyone to get my opinion out.
I agree, You can tell a horses movements, I think that the jockey HAD to have felt an off stride because I could SEE it, the left front didn't fully extend. I think he knew it, but kept her going for the money. He Murdered Eight bells
oh my. the owners were not cruel for putting her down. horses use all 4 legs to stand and normally never lay down. so having he ralive going through that pain and keeping her in a sling rubbing her legs down every hour wouldn't be the way to go. they did the best thing for her. look up barbaro and ruffian you might learn something.
My horse died only two weeks after I got it. and it was the stupidest accident ever. another horse kicked him in his back leg. he HAD to be put down. there was no other way. so.. things like that happen all the time. we just have to life with it. Even if it is the most horrible accidents ever.
ok 1 a school horse is a horse that you can ride during a lesson if you dont own a hores yourself and 2 my trianer said that he had his legs burned to make the muscles and sruff or w/e stronger so there would be less chance of injurie idk if its true or not
Pin firing does not make the leg stronger. It was once thought to aid the healing of certain injuries, but has been proven to be not a good thing. It's hard to find a vet that will still do this, but they are still out there.
i ride a schoolhorse had his legs like burnd and stuff to make them stronger!!!! it CAN be a cruel sport somtimes but i dont hate racing usually when the horses are good they like it somew horses LOVE racing
@Foxsong Not shur what it called.They paint strong meds on that blister up the skin burrning it scars for life deep 3rd degee burns.Nasty crap.Does no good.But pain. Pain all it does and scars.
@7466309change -- Yes indeed, it was called 'blistering' or 'pinfiring.' They thought it increased blood circulation to the area and that the increased circulation would speed healing. I used to see it a lot on bows and occasionally on a real bad case of bucked shins. I think it's been thirty years since I've come across a horse that was fired; that was a real old-time treatment and it seems to have fallen by the wayside.
@oxHorseingAroundox I,ve seen that done once to a really nice 3yr old.Not in my life would I do it.Turned that young horse to hate people.Didn,t make a differance eather just ruined him.
wow okay so i read thru these comments. honestly, some of these people are acting pretty stupid.i <3 animals to death and feel horrible about what happened to this horse,but some of these people dont seem to understand something.These owners arent wicked beasts that mistreat or abuse their horses.They would do everything they could to prevent something like this happening,whether it b bc they care about the horse or the money.Eight Belles was a cherrished prize,and her injury wasnt intentional
She was just a baby, period. If they would have done everything to prevent this, they would have left her play and grow in a meadow with other horses. I don't care how good she may have been, or how much she may have loved racing.. if you would have a son who loves soccer or theatre or whatever, and he's really really good at it but only 10 yrs old, would you let him perform on Broadway or let him compete in the world cup for soccer? Sorry for my English but I think I made my point.
@JackJackJackie07 for real? horses are started racing at the age of 2!! horses arent done growing until between ages of 4 and 5! her joints werent done growing, and unneeded strain was put on them. it could have been prevented by waiting till the horse is mature, but people dont do that because a horse is smaller and lighter when its young, so they sacrifice the horses health for it to win a couple races. its sick. learn your facts.
@JackJackJackie07 Horses are diffucult but glad I am not killed if I break b oth ankles.I had a ol mare and I came home from work.She couldn,t walk on a leg.Vet said cannon bone broken.We kept her out doors so she can pivit to get up she healed fine.Just like me.But ya she stay out side on pasture I checked her daily.
@JackJackJackie07 no her injury wasnt intentional but it could have been prevented most likely had they waited to race her this poor horse after breaking her legs stood no chance i agree with that the owners made the right decision with putting her down but its always so tragic to see such young and beautiful animals forced to race when if they waited a few years for them to fully grow the accidents would be far less i never ride horses any less than 3 yrs old . thats easy riding no running
i know its a sad thing, but its the price of the sport, Eight Bells was loved and treasured, she was not "murdered"...she could not have been saved, horses do not take pain well at all so euthanizing her on the pot ws the best choice for her. I love you Eight Bells RIP
@bigwheezy69 Nice username. Clearly your brain is running insufficiently low of blood and oxygen supply as a result of your wheezing. Let me educate you on what my point is. You know good and hell well that if you broke your neck, YOU would want a chance to heal and survive. Or should we follow your logic and destroy you immediately? Get a clue. Yes horses dying on a race track is very tragic. Euthanizing an injured horse should be the absolute last option, not the first.
RottyFan1 2 days ago
who thinks RottyFan needs to shut the hell up?
bigwheezy69 3 days ago
@Sweden8990 I understand what your trying to get across, here is my rebutal. How can a human being factually know what an injured animal wants to do in the moments after injury occurs. It is well documented that in numerous cases where animals have had severe injuries occur, when given a "chance" to survive and heal THEY DO!!! Imagine that eh?!?! Remember Barboro?, they gave him a chance and Barboro after alot of courage,heart and effortt let the vet know he was ready to die.
RottyFan1 5 days ago
@RottyFan1 You have no idea what your talking about first of all. Second, BARBARO broke his right hind leg in 3 spots, but they tried it because there was like a 25 % chance he could make it.Eight Belles broke BOTH front ankles, which is even tougher to heal and being the front ankles is where they carry the majority of their body weight It would be like you on all fours tryin movin around without your hands. Also she was very highstrung and just about impossible to control.Tragedy? yes.
bigwheezy69 3 days ago
Comment removed
RottyFan1 5 days ago
@prettykitty345 Lets find out something here. Say YOU were at the local grocery store buying some twinkies, and all of a sudden you hit a wet spot on the floor, lost your balance and shattered both of your ankels while hitting the floor with a loud thud. What say you we should do with you? Take you to the hospital or shoot you in the head right there in the spot you fell in? Do not answer me with your nonsenical babble. I want to know what YOU would want us to do with YOU.
RottyFan1 1 week ago
@RottyFan1 Because of the amount of weight placed on each of the horses 4 legs, a break (especially around the ankle) has a minimal chance of healing sucessfully. Let alone how to keep the horse supported through the healing process without doing damage to major organs from weight distribution. It's very sad, really. But it's what needed to be done, and it was the most humane option, (leaving the ethics of horse racing aside).
Sweden8990 5 days ago
@afleetalgebra Your joking right? You need to do some fact searching. Horse racing is a business. The owners view their horses as an asset that makes them or loses them money. Jokeys are in it for the fame and fortune. That is the true way that it is and people who think different are naive.
RottyFan1 1 week ago
This has been flagged as spam show
She switches leads in the strangest way and then withers in pain the next stride just before she collapses. Strange...
xxURMABOOxx 2 weeks ago
@FunWithAly People like you really need to do more research about this before you post because you will get ripped to shreds by the people who know their stuff, oh and by the way, the people who own these types of horses have no problem with, as you so eloquently put it, "spen the money on a horse" and @xOxhorselover98xOx Do you think you could have stood up if you had broken two of YOUR legs?...
prettykitty345 3 weeks ago
@TheNotSoEmoHuntersI still think you don't know what you are talking about, I am thinking your horse did not "break both ankles as there is no way your horse is walking after 5 months. They are not able to stand when they break 2 legs, I am assuming you have put your horse through many surgeries, and have had them in a sling in their stall and been going through intensive physical therapy sessions for the other two legs so the muscles don't deteriorate.
prettykitty345 3 weeks ago
Big Brown was on steriods plus she didn't break anything she fractured her anckles i know because i chatted with her owner like 1 minute ago were friends and we chatted years ago but got back in contact a few minutes ago on AVH where we started and became friends too
R.I.P EIGHT BELLES
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
@maggzlies123
I agree but when you put a horse to sleep 4ever u usually put it 2 sleep because u don't want 3 see it suffer
TheMRDiego0 4 weeks ago
@FunWithAly horses that are put down after a little injury are put down because it is more inhumane for the horse heal then to be put down. When a horse breaks something the best thing you can do is put them down. Also they dont just put a horse down that will make a ton of money because of a little injury. They put a horse down because it is a stressfull healing process that is not fair for the horse to go through. trust me ive made the decission before to put a horse down that could not get up
maggzlies123 1 month ago
Poor Eight Bells,
R.I.P. girl we'll miss you xxxxxx
0Twintig 1 month ago
i hate how people kill race horses after a little injury or when they arnt usfull. all these horses could have been saved but no they dont want to spen the money on a horse that cant make them a profit
FunWithAly 1 month ago
@FunWithAly both her ankles were completely shattered. which is the part that connects the hoof to the leg, she wouldn't have been able to stand to allow the bones to heal properly without a sling, and she would have been had to been in that sling for at least 4 months in a stall. after she was healed, she would still most likely be too broken to walk. its not a little injury, trust me.
katnisseverdeen10101 1 month ago
@FunWithAly they had a reason i had to say goodbye to a racehorse and it wasn't easy because we had a strong bond she broke her pelvis I MISS YOU TINY. that is her barn name and her owner told me she either fractured or popped her anckles
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
OMG :( IM CRYING !
xOxhorselover98xOx 1 month ago
@prettykitty349 my horse Pops broke his ankle, he's been healing he isn't in pain has a cast. He's been healing for 5 months and just last week he was able to hot walk. I may be young but my horse is recovering, he is walking perfectly fine. But Eight Belles maybe wouldn't have healed right cause she is 2 and my horse is 4. But still they could have given the poor girl a chance it's the owners fault. She was too young to race her legs were still developing. It wasn't her fault she collapsed. Bu
TheNotSoEmoHunters 1 month ago
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xOxhorselover98xOx 1 month ago
@TheNotSoEmoHunters I completely understand where your coming from. But she could'nt get up :( She might've been alive today if she stood up.
xOxhorselover98xOx 1 month ago
@TheNotSoEmoHunters he broke one anckles not 2 eight belles broke both no way would she have survived
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
yhea and she was 2 young ... she was 2 YEARS OLD i thinkg that is was to young to be racing
riorider809 1 month ago
@TheNotSoEmoHunters and broken ankles don't just magically "heal perfectly"...
prettykitty345 1 month ago
@TheNotSoEmoHunters I have no Idea where you heard that, but when a horse breaks both front ankles they CANNOT recover from that. Even if they wanted to keep her in pain, she would never walk or even stand again. You need to check your facts...
prettykitty345 1 month ago
@prettykitty345 nice comment you say it better than i do
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
They could have so helped her she could have lived a horse did the same thing and leaped out while running and healed both front ankles perfectly, Eight Belles probably couldn't have raced after but anyone would have loved to keep an retired eight belles. She will be missed died so young for heartless bastards :c
TheNotSoEmoHunters 2 months ago
Poor eight belles she lost her life cause she was pushed so hard
homeworknatalia12 2 months ago
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when will these racing idiots get it through their thick skulls that horses are NOT meant to race on undeveloped legs?!!! how many more wonderful beautiful animals will we have to lose before this madness stops?!!
diamondriogurl 2 months ago
too sad.
she was way too young to be racing.
AppyOrseLover 2 months ago
She was not stopped too soon. She was switching leads and didnt get her feet under her quick enough to finish the stride. Its a shame. She was a great horse.
Asumandwesum1412 2 months ago
" She ran with the heart of a locomotive, on champagne-glass ankles " sometimes champagne glass' shatter :(
ASimpleHorse 3 months ago
:'/
shaytardsfan777 3 months ago
Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?
Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.
He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword.
The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance.
In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.
Job 39:19-24 (NIV)
LadyBerkshire1944 3 months ago
What exactly made her fall? This is very sad. She was beautiful.
Lorahx1 4 months ago 2
@Lorahx1 She fractured both her ankles when she tried to stop. It seems that she was to lightboned - she was literally too strong for her bones! But her trainer said that she may have just tripped, since horses with her way of moving have a tendency to do that.
magdalione 4 months ago
@magdalione I originally thought that she had been injured during the race.. I'm glad that at least, that wasn't the case.
CetaGrid 4 months ago
Poor Eigth Belles. She could have at least go first in the Kentucky Derby before she died.
QuarterHorses007 5 months ago
stopped too quick, force shattered her ankles. Jeez...that really sucks,RIP beautiful.
EveDarkAngel666 5 months ago
@EveDarkAngel666 ?? She wasnt stopped to quick she broke her ankles before the finish line. She kept running htough and fell right after the line.
Militarylove2012 3 months ago
:(
thunderdays86 5 months ago
:(
poppoporyoryo 5 months ago
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the 29 female horse to race... she came second to big brown which was a big deal but the sadly after the race she collapsed due to two shattered ankles in the front end of the horse, it is sad she was a Beloved filly and we were all rooting for her all the way R.I.P Eight Belles :'( we will always remember you
it was human stupidity which could have prevented this ='(
samanthagrayson01 6 months ago
this is so sad!! but i dont know why everyones saying its the peoples faults!! the horses are spirited and energetic when they are young!! if they raced when they we older, then racing would be so much slower, and not that exciting!!!
PsychoPoniesPa 6 months ago
i'm not a veterinarian but if i were that horse i would have been like "oh hell no! just give me some pain killers and send me home, i'll be fine!"
chemicalsweet13 6 months ago
@chemicalsweet13 wtf??! she broke both front legs!!! they would never heal right and she would never be able to walk again!! even if they did have surgery to fix it, she still would have a small chance of living, and getting out of surgery, she couldve broken her legs again
PsychoPoniesPa 6 months ago
@PsychoPoniesPa My friend, I was speaking from the horses perspective....read it again...carefully this time.
chemicalsweet13 6 months ago
@chemicalsweet13 i know you were, and if you broke bath your legs and couldnt stand would u want pain killers that wouldnt do anything, and then have to lie in agony the rest of ur life?
PsychoPoniesPa 6 months ago
@PsychoPoniesPa ...wow....somehow your still not getting it. never mind.
chemicalsweet13 6 months ago
@chemicalsweet13 how am i nt getting it??
PsychoPoniesPa 6 months ago
@PsychoPoniesPa ...you're not getting it because a horse doesn't KNOW all the things you mentioned. The horse doesn't know that painkillers may not help, or that the bones may not heal properly or that they would be prone to later re-breakage. The horse doesn't know all that genius, all she has is an instinct to live. I can't believe that what i wrote was that difficult to comprehend. I need to go back to school. |sigh|
chemicalsweet13 6 months ago
@chemicalsweet13 oh really? and your a genius? a horse doesnt know about medicine!!! and her instinct is to follow her herd, and make sure theyre all right, not just to live!! and she was in agony, she probably was just feeling horrible. ya and you need ot go back to school
PsychoPoniesPa 6 months ago
@PsychoPoniesPa hahaha thank you.
chemicalsweet13 6 months ago
@chemicalsweet13 it would be so sad to see her livin like that. always in pain. i could never see a horse like that. it was better that they put her down.
grayponylove 6 months ago
@grayponylove Again, I agree with you. The comment was a joke written from the horses perspective... for crying out loud, does anyone actually read anymore?
chemicalsweet13 6 months ago
@chemicalsweet13 that was a lame attempt to be funny.
kikiza123 4 months ago
Everybodys blaming the people because IT IS THEIR FAULT!!! Do you know how many horses are injured and just thrown away to kill buyers on the track? Or die right there on the track? These poor animals are 2, 3, and 4 years old! Too young to be ran this hard! That is exactly why this happens to them! I bought my 3 year old Thoroughbred off the track with a bowed tendon, and he was real quick, Secretariat was his grandfather, and he had a big chance of being great, so they were going to race him
Kiimberly117 6 months ago
@SuperGamer3211 I'm pretty sure the Pamplemousse didn't break his leg. He had a tendon flare up on Santa Anita Derby Day 2010 and was later retired.
futurejockey8 6 months ago
It was nobody's freaking fault! Even her trainer admitted that she always had trouble slowing down, and she was a klutz; she always tripped. She simply stumbled over her legs, and broke them. Thank God they put her down before she had to suffer too much.
MemiTehAwesome 6 months ago
This isnt murder! If you guys see what they put Ruffian through im really soo freaking happy they put her down, she doesnt have to suffer anymore! And Ruffian did suffer.
toesjah 7 months ago
@toesjah look the surgery was a success but at the hospital ruffian broke both legs yeah she suffered but it's part of life if ruffian didn't think she was running she would have made a full recovery wouldn't she? besides her trainer didn't give up i don't like ruffian suffered but her trainer believed in her and eight belles shattered 2 ankles not breaking one if she broke one she would've stood up
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
Its racing, things happen but if it were not for racing there would be no thoroughbreds.
pitrov 7 months ago
@mistygal72: I work in the racing industry, and it's not the owners. Depending on the trainer and their communication; most owners know very little about the wellbeing of their horses. Tragedies like the death of Eight Belles and Ruffian many years ago are just that - tragedies. They are accidents. Nobody races with the intention of having to put down great animals. Just the same as footballers don't play to sustain brain haemmorrages.
shadea94 7 months ago
@shadea94 very well explained but eight belles owner lives on a horse farm and rides western and english and when she is being a lazy bum she rides bareback but some owners do know about wellbeing of their horses for example Larry he owns racehorses he trains them himself too
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
I love having odd flutter on racing. At times like this makes me think. Many failed go to slaughter. I don't know what to think. I put responsibility on the owners, they know their horse best....their risk. Don't put the sorrow on the punters!
mistygal72 8 months ago
quit until they are forced to by exhaustion and or injury wich almost always claim's their lives. Barboroa, they gave him a chance and I thought he'd survive and I'm glad they gave him a chance. As a jockey these people have got to know when the horse is tiring, they have to know when they are pushing them too hard. For what? Money? They horse never see's a dime. SHAME on ALL you jockeys young and old male and female and owners alike who drive these awesome animals to premature graves!
RottyFan1 8 months ago
@RottyFan1 the jockeys are only doing there job and they do know the owners most of them do care about their horses search your facts
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
a horse got hurt and or died with me aboard I could never forgive myself and I'd retire immediately! These riders need to have that horses life and health as their number ONE priority, not winning! Humans can take a break, take a game off, take a series off, tell coaches they need a few extra min's to recover from exhaustion. Humans can indicate that they are hurting and or injured before it becomes fatal in MOST cases. Animals care only about pleasing their master and or riders, they will not
RottyFan1 8 months ago
Ok as a sports fan I am sick to my stomach watching this clip. For those who think that horse racing is not brutal to the horses, please wake up. How many of these gorgeous creatures have died brutally on these tracks and or suffered horrible injuries wich caused their premature deaths? "Accident's happen in all sports" yes they do, but animals don't know how to say "stop". And clearly the riders and owners care nothing for the animal, instead it's about that money. If I were a jockey and
RottyFan1 8 months ago
This hurts me so much
God only takes the best, she tried so hard to please us. She is a beautiful example of the true love you get from a Horse. x
TheBlessedEquestrian 8 months ago
Horrible. A lot of it was also due to the fact that there has been a lot of Inbreeding through Native Dancer, she's a lot of horses great great damn or something, and she had brittle bones and all the inbreeding isnt helping it.. It may not be true but its what i've heard. Poor Eight Belles. She was sooo close to catching Big Brown. GREAT horse. Horrible that it happened :(
DomingoBoy101 8 months ago
She was pushed to win & for what? The reason was for the money. Eight Belles was exhausted & so she collapsed & when she did the weight of her body broke both of her ankles.No injury caused her to fall.SHE FELL BECAUSE SHE WAS EXHAUSTED & THEN HER ANKLES BROKE.
coldfreshwater 8 months ago
HOJE 3 ANOS SEM EIGHT BELLES REST IN PEACE, : (
DutraAnderson 9 months ago
i dont agree in horse races like the grand national and kentucky derby cos horses r put through stress pain and overworking too many horses die in cold blood and it aint fair thumbs up if u agree if u dont UR MEAN!!
jet55dkny 9 months ago
Some horses are just lucky they survive!!!!
MichaelJs1luv96 9 months ago
a lot of people who don't know much about horses, or racing, assume that the owners are money hungry and whatever...and I guess that is easy to assume if you don't know the facts but the truth of it is, they horses are born to run, it's in their blood and they WANT to run, it's what they do and it's what they love. If you looke at Secretariat at the Belmont in 73 when he won the triple crown, he won by 25 lengths, and he couldn't have kept going and run the track again, he loved it!
cillybean83 9 months ago
so they're gonna throw away all that good meat?
Gallopingsquirrels 9 months ago
@Gallopingsquirrels grow up asshole
MYBOYSNOOPY99 9 months ago
@Gallopingsquirrels . . . . What the .. . what is wrong with you?! How can you even say that?! Horse slaughter is flat out wrong!
KrisandGM4Life 4 months ago
.i think its bad they get these animals to race even thoughnthey know ther is a high chance there gona die,,just for the money and nothing else
MrJacked86 9 months ago
@MrJacked86 actually the horses love racing
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
They are not responsible owners as they all race two year olds. There bones are not fully developed and that is why so many go down. If they just wait until they turn 3 years of age, they would have a lot less problems. So, shame on the entire money making industry.
kingsmenfriesians 10 months ago 2
@kingsmenfriesians actually it helps them it makes their bones stronger so they have less fatal injuries older in life
afleetalgebra 4 weeks ago
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wenroball 11 months ago
@MCGEE1115 A school horse is a horse that is used for lessons. RIP Eight Bells. I hope you know that this was a terrible accident but the horses love this sport as much as people do.
DEViLSHiREproduction 11 months ago 2
Eight Bells was an amazing horse. I will always respect her! RIP Eight Bells!
T1tansfan 1 year ago
@PreciousMNGirl We race horses for money because it is called GAMBELING! WE DO NOT RACE HORSES FOR MONEY UNTIL THEY DIE!
T1tansfan 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 some horses have their legs surrounded by extreme heat (not fire) to help the legs deal with more pain and become stronger
xxcrystlecityxx 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 A School horse is a lesson horse. This is if you don't have your own horse, or you want to ride your trainers horse for the experience...
StaceyDiane712 1 year ago
poor eight bells died RIP eight bells
crazy4horses12 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 Just a guess, but they probably mean they ride a lesson horse at a schooling barn (so not their own horse) who came from an abusive background that practiced soring. It happens.
feioo 1 year ago
@feioo any horse can be school horse if it is a good to people hore with a level head as sane .You know?
7466309change 1 year ago
I can't believe it
jtp1949 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 a school horse is a lesson horse, for riding lessons. I think what he may be talking about is "nerving" a horse. Its where they cauterize the nerves in their feet when they have a permanent soundness issue, such as navicular. The horse cant feel the pain so it stays sound, isnt technically lame. This is CRUEL however....their nerves are cut, they cant feel pain, they cant feel ANYTHING...and if you cant feel pain, you cant feel when something is wrong ....
tinacrook 1 year ago
@tinacrook I actually think the poster may be referring to the horse's legs having been pin fired, which isn't even a little bit like nerving a horse. And nerving a horse really isn't cruel, depending upon the capacity that you want to use the horse for post-nerving. If the horse is in pain and that will stop it, why not do it and let it go be pasture sound or useful for light riding?
apajax6 1 year ago
@apajax6 But they have raced nerved horses that get more injury cause they can,t feel.If you feel you go easy.No pain you go too hard.
7466309change 1 year ago
@7466309change Racing nerved horses is illegal. If you have a horse break down and the necropsy shows it was nerved you'd be in big trouble.
apajax6 1 year ago
@apajax6 Good I was remmber long before then what I read when I visit in virginia.State.USA.
7466309change 1 year ago
@tinacrook right but good for the atheritus. But what ever.
7466309change 1 year ago
That's... Really tough to watch... A shame too, she was just running her cool down.... really very sad.... I agree with JackJackJackie07 it doesn't make the owner's evil, they really didn't want to have to end her life so early. I'm sure if there was any and I mean any way to save this horse, they would have.
Theaterman527 1 year ago
@Theaterman527 how about not racing a baby to begin with....2 and 3 yr old horses arent fully developed yet, their legs cant stand up to this abuse thats why so many of them break down. And then when they break down they are either put down, or sold to slaughter houses unless they are truly great breeding prospects and can continue to make money for their owners in that way....racing is a horrible "sport" and should be outlawed
tinacrook 1 year ago
@tinacrook AMEN. So keep betting on the horses and making your money, no matter if they suffer and die. And, in case you weren't aware, Jockey Club thoroughbreds are a year older on Jan 1 no matter how YOUNG they really are. So, even if they were born November 30 (extreme case), they are a year old 1 month later. Most are born in the spring, March or April. Think about it. Most aren't even 2 years old when they start. Keep it up, Michael Matz and the rest of you disgusting pigs.
horseA123 10 months ago
@horseA123 nicely said my friend
TheBlessedEquestrian 8 months ago
and to RimedEmbrace if my horse had 2 broken ankles i would put her down to. it is impossible for a horse to even walk again with that kind of injury. There was nothing they could do and these owners do care about these horses, these horses are treated like kings and have so much money spent on them to get them trained. they could have either let the horse suffer or taken away her pain and they did the right thing. so why dont you get some real knowlege before you go comment it wasnt anyonesfalt
sorraialover 1 year ago
i agree with JackJackJackie07 these trainers and riders do not intentionally put these animals in danger they would be stupid to do that because these are million dollar athleats. and these horses love what they do if they didnt want to do it they wouldnt. these animals wiegh 1000 pounds and up and can easilly over power a human if they wanted to, 8 bells is an amazing animal and diserves to be remembered but she just happened to trip which is common, it wasnt anyones falt
sorraialover 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 school horse - a horse that is used to teach people to ride.
shortnsassy08 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 pin firing - used with racehorses (I'm sure it would be in other on sports horses as well) to help with inflammation in the tendons of the legs. Not sure if it makes them stronger, but does help with lameness. Usually is easily seen as little pin points in a grid on the front of the lower leg, the hair in the pin holes no longer grows in the spot where the hot pins were inserted. Controversial technique, but if does help with chronic swelling of the tendons.
shortnsassy08 1 year ago
Eight Belles was nothing but a money maker to her owners, and once she was handicapped, there was no use in putting money into her to save or prolong her life! Her painful injury could've been assuaged with pain medications or an anesthetic long enough for her to have been examined thoroughly, and possibly treated! However, her owners greedily euthanized her to save on expenses! It just goes to show you it all depends on the individual owners of the horse as to who is cruel and who gives a shit!
RimedEmbrace 1 year ago
Her injury may not have been intentional, but it is POSSIBLE it was treatable! Barbaro's owners tried their damndest back in 2007 to save their horse's life when he went down after the Preakness, and if he hadn't suffered TWO complicating infections, he probably would've been able to live out his life to a ripe old age! Barbaro's owners were people that loved their horse! Eight Belles was euthanized before anyone had a chance to examine her thoroughly, because she was nothing but a money maker!
RimedEmbrace 1 year ago
Each horse is different just like people. I don't know if you have been around Thoroughbreds but they can be very high maintenance and stubborn. If they don't want to do something they won't do it-for some if you whip them they won't respond. Some horses can't be save after an injury. Last, not everyone in the sport is in it for money.
21Sarabi 1 year ago
What did the vet said before the race? It´s not normal that the health of a horse goes down in a minute...:~/ Well, she fought until the end...
Rimfaxe96 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 It's called "Pin-firing," induce a counter-irritation and speed and/or improve healing, used more often on Sport horses. It's definitely a barbaric practice, and generally not used anymore.
wolfsmother14 1 year ago
Also another piece of information. Steroids which are used openly within this industry and continuously are not always a bad thing. but there is a certain age bracket whereas you can pump your yearling full of them for growth providing you turn them out on full feed afterwards. The trainers no of the risks of steroid use in older horses and yes without conditioning and monitoring the horses ankles, cannons, pasterns etc will snap with a wrong step or just within a stride. its a calculated risk
fuckyb 1 year ago
'ox horseingaround ox' Firstly why the fuck would you have a school horses legs pin fired? The arabs within the thouroughbred/arabian racing industry and the endurance industry don't even use that technique... and they are the largest contributors to the sport in the world. Pin Firing doesn't make a horses legs stronger and burning them to 'burn out' the infection can only sometimes result in an 'ok' result providing its a hot and dry environment.
fuckyb 1 year ago
personally, i think horse racing is a horrible, cruel sport!
nicpaddy 1 year ago
omg it's like she wanted to finish the race and then she gave up her life at the end, when she could have done it during the race! WHAT AN AMAZING FILLY and i wish she was here today, dont you?
iluvbennyboy 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115
a school horse is a horse that is used for trainging kids
oliviaaelliott 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 it's a horse at a riding stable, usually owned by them, and it's for pretty much beginner riders or really any riders to ride if they don't have one of their own
live2ride6692 1 year ago
no he prolly broke his ankles by knowing that he lost and so he said fuck my life! and broke his ankles on purpose.lmao
mrscarfacexx1 1 year ago
@mrscarfacexx1 shut the fuck up. eight bells was a wonderful horse, she was and still is my favorite race horse T.T and eight bells is a SHE
TFHM67 1 year ago
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you're not very smart...
footlover298 1 year ago
@mrscarfacexx1 Prolly ?
Elegia3000 1 year ago
how did he break his ankles?
mrscarfacexx1 1 year ago
@mrscarfacexx1 Umm Eight Belles is a girl not a boy.
SamSammy2010 1 year ago
@mrscarfacexx1 it was just a freak accident, it just happened she probably made a bad step.just like Ruffian it just happened there was nothing wrong before it was just a freak accident
live2ride6692 1 year ago
"Really, I hope all the people who say that horse racing is a cruel sport say the same thing about track. "
1. No one forces you to do track, like the horse racers forces the horses to race.
2. No one whips you with a whip if you don't run as fast as they like.
3. No one injects you with equipoise and gH.
4. No one kills you if you have an injury.
5. No one exploits you to make money off of you.
It is nothing like track.
trentstrong 1 year ago
They should of stopped her earlier!!! OMG
Tinkerhorse1 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 By burned I'm sure she meant pin fired. They do it with racers all the time. My horse is an ex-racer and he's had it done to his front legs. Also, by school horse she means lesson horse. And to oxHorseingAroundox, It isn't painful or cruel to the horse, they numb the area and sedate the horse. They can't feel it at all. If they had no use for it, they wouldn't do it.
Twilight1745 1 year ago
Really, I hope all the people who say that horse racing is a cruel sport say the same thing about track. Bad things happen and yes, sometimes people do things that are against the rules and can be deemed cruel. That is not what happened to this lovely filly. It was and is a tragedy. I have so much sympathy for the owners for all the terrible scrutiny they had to undergo while morning the loss of a prized horse. Don't even get me started on PETA.
LuciferBeauty 1 year ago
poor girl
pegasus219 1 year ago
people say that these animals are being murdered and that isn't fair to say... anyone who likes seeing something bad happen to an animal is a severly sick individual but owners aren't murderers... majority are shattered when they lose their horses and this is what these animals are bred to do, its pretty much the same as an on the job accident... yes it's sad but it's reality
DEVI8Productions 1 year ago
@MCGEE1115 They're talking about pin-firing, which is used to make weak ligaments stronger in racehorses. A school horse is a horse used in riding lessons.
randombucknellian 1 year ago
poor eight belles :(
RosesareAllie 1 year ago
Poor baby, I felt so bad for her, to have to go out like that. She should have had a long,long happy life.
gotch09 1 year ago
such a buetiful horse dies to such a cruel sport
TheMegsta88 1 year ago
Eight Belles died a tragic and senseless death. She was too young and not yet fully developed to be GALLOPING AT 40 MPH AROUND A TRACK! These horses are being run to death.
pamelaharpgentry 1 year ago
My Chem 102 textbook talks about this. Apparantly the horse was on steriods and because of this her bones couldn't handle the excessive muscle mass they were being forced to carry. This is really sad.
singerbaby9200 1 year ago
She was tiring as you could tell she was lugging in. A lot of other horses can do this. Good that Gabriel wasn't suspended, and no he didn't "murder" the horse.
21Sarabi 1 year ago 6
@21Sarabi have to add, the horse WAS NOT on steroids. Peta made a huge issue about the whole thing.
21Sarabi 1 year ago
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;-((( Eight Bells was a true hero. She ran her heart out in every race. She was the best filly in the world next to Ruffian. Horse-racing is thrilling, but also cruel. Horses are stolen, beaten, and abused. Some trainers and owners like Barbaro's were different. They did everything for him.
Her and Barbaro were racing legends, always preserved in our hearts. The question is why do the best horses end there lifes on the track, or a deadly illness.
I love you Eight Bells. Rest in Peace
docsprincess355 1 year ago
i think ppl should stop aguing and blaming one another. your OPINION is fine but enough with the f*** you and f** that. my GUESS is she may have hurt a ligament. that would make her fall. mabey that's how she broke her fetlocks. too mush presure on the bones and no sapport from a pulled or bruised ligament. see? i didn't have to blame anyone to get my opinion out.
campcoskuro 1 year ago 18
I agree, You can tell a horses movements, I think that the jockey HAD to have felt an off stride because I could SEE it, the left front didn't fully extend. I think he knew it, but kept her going for the money. He Murdered Eight bells
Rest in peace Eight Bells
docsprincess355 1 year ago
It's so sad that happened.. :((( But i here wenever they start the kentucky derby they're gunna ring eight bells in memory of her
eqgirl23 1 year ago
i saw this live on tv but they zoomed in on big brown before you could see her fall. i only knew about it when she was already put down. :(
Unbridled396 1 year ago
2 years old is too young to dies. they seriously need to stop pushing those horse so far that they end up like this. RIP eight belles. :'(
xlaura96 2 years ago
she was three years of age as the triple crown is only for 3 yr olds
CombatArmsMaster2009 1 year ago
ok i know alot about horse racing i only pay attention to american horses
HorseyGirl234 2 years ago
My Best Friend And I CRIED For Days
She Couldn't Of Been Saved
And She Was Ridden To Death
She Was Loved But Her Bones Weren't Structered Enough
We Should Stop Racing Two Year Olds
Its Treagic That We've Lost Barbaro Too
Rip Eight Belles
Rip Barbaro
horseluverrrrrrrrrrr 2 years ago
The horse die??
andrea91vlc 2 years ago
oh my. the owners were not cruel for putting her down. horses use all 4 legs to stand and normally never lay down. so having he ralive going through that pain and keeping her in a sling rubbing her legs down every hour wouldn't be the way to go. they did the best thing for her. look up barbaro and ruffian you might learn something.
cattleanlax09 2 years ago
My horse died only two weeks after I got it. and it was the stupidest accident ever. another horse kicked him in his back leg. he HAD to be put down. there was no other way. so.. things like that happen all the time. we just have to life with it. Even if it is the most horrible accidents ever.
CloudStrife2014 2 years ago
ok 1 a school horse is a horse that you can ride during a lesson if you dont own a hores yourself and 2 my trianer said that he had his legs burned to make the muscles and sruff or w/e stronger so there would be less chance of injurie idk if its true or not
oxHorseingAroundox 2 years ago
Pin firing does not make the leg stronger. It was once thought to aid the healing of certain injuries, but has been proven to be not a good thing. It's hard to find a vet that will still do this, but they are still out there.
Yzenrider 2 years ago 3
i ride a schoolhorse had his legs like burnd and stuff to make them stronger!!!! it CAN be a cruel sport somtimes but i dont hate racing usually when the horses are good they like it somew horses LOVE racing
oxHorseingAroundox 2 years ago
@oxHorseingAroundox
Schoolhorse = a horse owned by a riding school and kept for students to ride in lessons.
'Burnd and stuff' = must be talking about pinfiring...
Foxsong 1 year ago
@Foxsong Not shur what it called.They paint strong meds on that blister up the skin burrning it scars for life deep 3rd degee burns.Nasty crap.Does no good.But pain. Pain all it does and scars.
7466309change 1 year ago
@7466309change -- Yes indeed, it was called 'blistering' or 'pinfiring.' They thought it increased blood circulation to the area and that the increased circulation would speed healing. I used to see it a lot on bows and occasionally on a real bad case of bucked shins. I think it's been thirty years since I've come across a horse that was fired; that was a real old-time treatment and it seems to have fallen by the wayside.
Foxsong 1 year ago
@Foxsong nasty stuff did no good.I hated to watch.
7466309change 1 year ago
@oxHorseingAroundox I,ve seen that done once to a really nice 3yr old.Not in my life would I do it.Turned that young horse to hate people.Didn,t make a differance eather just ruined him.
7466309change 1 year ago
horse racing is a business. sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. if you can't deal with both, then just get out.
bored2dabone 2 years ago 6
wow okay so i read thru these comments. honestly, some of these people are acting pretty stupid.i <3 animals to death and feel horrible about what happened to this horse,but some of these people dont seem to understand something.These owners arent wicked beasts that mistreat or abuse their horses.They would do everything they could to prevent something like this happening,whether it b bc they care about the horse or the money.Eight Belles was a cherrished prize,and her injury wasnt intentional
JackJackJackie07 2 years ago 32
Well said.
CloudStrife2014 2 years ago
She was just a baby, period. If they would have done everything to prevent this, they would have left her play and grow in a meadow with other horses. I don't care how good she may have been, or how much she may have loved racing.. if you would have a son who loves soccer or theatre or whatever, and he's really really good at it but only 10 yrs old, would you let him perform on Broadway or let him compete in the world cup for soccer? Sorry for my English but I think I made my point.
OHWWYEAH 1 year ago
@JackJackJackie07 for real? horses are started racing at the age of 2!! horses arent done growing until between ages of 4 and 5! her joints werent done growing, and unneeded strain was put on them. it could have been prevented by waiting till the horse is mature, but people dont do that because a horse is smaller and lighter when its young, so they sacrifice the horses health for it to win a couple races. its sick. learn your facts.
silvermoon962 1 year ago
@silvermoon962 ya i know but just think if it was out running in pasture and did the same thing.No gurarentees in life.Ever
7466309change 1 year ago
@JackJackJackie07 Horses are diffucult but glad I am not killed if I break b oth ankles.I had a ol mare and I came home from work.She couldn,t walk on a leg.Vet said cannon bone broken.We kept her out doors so she can pivit to get up she healed fine.Just like me.But ya she stay out side on pasture I checked her daily.
7466309change 1 year ago
@JackJackJackie07 no her injury wasnt intentional but it could have been prevented most likely had they waited to race her this poor horse after breaking her legs stood no chance i agree with that the owners made the right decision with putting her down but its always so tragic to see such young and beautiful animals forced to race when if they waited a few years for them to fully grow the accidents would be far less i never ride horses any less than 3 yrs old . thats easy riding no running
barboro1 11 months ago
i know its a sad thing, but its the price of the sport, Eight Bells was loved and treasured, she was not "murdered"...she could not have been saved, horses do not take pain well at all so euthanizing her on the pot ws the best choice for her. I love you Eight Bells RIP
ComatosePuppy 2 years ago 3
Very sad race :( poor cute horse
dafnai3 2 years ago
aww i remember watching this with my family live on tv. May Eight Bells rest in peace :(
penguinsrock1297 2 years ago 2
Jeez Clam yourseelfs Race horsesing Rocks
OpinionatedPerson 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Fuck Horse Racing.
MistyxStormy4life 2 years ago