Eight Belles two weeks later

Two weeks after Eight Belles breakdown in the Kentucky Derby, ESPN looks at how she has effected those who knew her best.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Eight
• Belles
• Larry
• Jones
• PETA
• NTRA
• horse
• racing
• Kentucky
• Derby
• filly

[LCTheCableGirl]

i think anyone can tell that he really cared for this horse. it makes me angry when people say that people like him dont give a crap for their horse. its just stupid to make remarks like that

[bigspaz3]

I really miss Eight Belles. She was incredible. The average filly couldn't do as well as she did in the Derby or any other race. It doesn't matter that she didn't beat them all, because she beat all but one and showed a lot of heart in the process.

[nin12dog]

@LCTheCableGirl however, why would an owner take the RISK of running his prized filly in the KDerby - has this ever been anything except TRAGIC? More specifically, do fillies typically win when competing in male horseraces? Was Eight Belles' 'breakdown & destruction' the 1st time this has happened in a race involving colts & fillies? C'mon.....It's worse than stupid - it's almost willful negligence.

[BarrelsPolesandJack]

Was it ever determined how she actually broke her ankles? Did she just take a bad step? Or did something else happen?

[BarrelsPolesandJack]

@LCTheCableGirl People like this are rare in the racing industry, especially in the big leagues, because to them, it's all about money, and the horses are nothing more than an investment; a product, a means of income that be replaced. I knew these people cared just by watching them the day of the race, and their reaction to what happened. It's truly something unique, and something they should be proud of.

[caz11533]

Watch this PETA, dont forget to reference this when you say how owners/trainers dont give a damn about their horses. 

[fequare]

thoroughbreds enjoy running. if they dont get taken out each day to train, they get irritated.

[Nucleo85Torino]

I just pictured Frank Whiteley in my head when I saw Eight Belles break down. What himself and Larry Jones, and Michael Matz have endoured is horrific as a trainer who become so close to their horses, because they are Horse man!. The horse comes first, and everything else 2nd. Frank whiteley was the best example I could think of in that regards.

[TwoPrimas]

The racing industry is so NOT cruel!

Have you ever seen everything that goes on behind the race track? Horses LOVE to run, and when they are done w. their exercise for the day they get walked by their personal groomed and everything! ALL of them get a groomed and treated the same, some loved more then others but still the same!

Learn a little before you start saying stuff!(:

[horseA123]

I agree that race horses aren't treated cruelly. The sport itself is cruel. You do NOT run horses at age two. Their bone structure is not ready for that kind of punishment. You can bitch about PETA all you want, but it is a cruel sport. Yes, they love to run, but this isn't just running around in a pasture; they are pushed and whipped. Of course this guy cares about his horse, but he still let her run. That's like telling your baby to swallow a tack; it's good for you, I promise.

[newscotiagirl]

there is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. No truer words were ever spoken

[Sami13p]

YEAH YOU GOT THAT RIGHT! its not cruel it was an accident, it happens in ALL sports, we just can't put a horse in bed for months.these horses love to run. can't stand u horse haters...