The only sporting event older than Westminster

[janelles]

My husband and I were watching also. For fun, we always pick a number before the race, and strangely enough, he picked number 5. We were both shocked when we saw that the horse was hurt, and then put down.
What a heartbreak!
Our local race track opened today, and I;m hoping that we can go this year, we always say we will, and then somehow it never happens.

[lwolfe]

Originally Posted by YorkieAunt

WOW! How heartbreaking! I never watched but just heard. I am curios as to what happened though. How did she break her legs? That is so unusual for a race horse.

Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby a few years ago (2006?) and then broke a leg 2 weeks later in the Preakness. His owners did surgery and I think he lived for awhile. They finally had to put him down. I bought a TY Beanie Baby of Barbaro at a dog show a few months ago. He was a well loved horse.

[bettyeanne]

I never miss watching ... I may never watch again. We were watching when Barbaro was injured and kept up with his treatment until there was nothing more they could do ... it was heartbreaking. Then today ... really felt Big Brown would win but was secretly pulling for the little filly, Eight Belles. I thought I would die when they announced that she broke both her front ankles and they had to euthenize her! So sad.

[JaLaYorkieGirl]

We lost our horse Champ to a spiral leg fracture, it still haunts me and just really rips at my heart. We took him to Ohio State for surgery to have it repaired, they were hopeful. Upon waking up from surgery he was thrashing so hard he shattered it beyond repair and had to be sent to heaven. I miss him so very much, so I know I would have been hysterical had I watched it.

[crystalsmom]

She was so beautiful and she tried so hard to win. So sad, heart breaking.

[MeganS]

Originally Posted by YorkieAunt

WOW! How heartbreaking! I never watched but just heard. I am curios as to what happened though. How did she break her legs? That is so unusual for a race horse.

Its really not unusual at all. It happens because race horses start their training too young and start racing when they are about 2 years old. At that point, their bones aren't fully formed and hardened. It can result in tragic accidents like this one.

Its so sad what happened to her. RIP Eight Belles.

[Shelby&Seymour]

Originally Posted by MeganS

Its really not unusual at all. It happens because race horses start their training too young and start racing when they are about 2 years old. At that point, their bones aren't fully formed and hardened. It can result in tragic accidents like this one.

Its so sad what happened to her. RIP Eight Belles.

You are exactly right Megan!!!..... This is exactly what a physical therapist told me that works with Shelby. She also works with horses.... RACE horses and also Equestrian competition horses. She says that it is really sad that some push their animals to such extremes..... even though they really are young and are still developing. (She is VERY busy with the horse industry.... especially this time of the year)

I do believe that the beautiful filly that went down was also in the OAKS race on Friday. ONE DAY before the Derby.
A friend of mine from Ireland also is into Race horses and he said it is NOT common practice to race back to back. He normally races a horse once or twice a month. The rest of the time is spent recuperating or conditioning.
My personally opinion...... the awful tragedy was caused by greed. So sad.

[crystalsmom]

Originally Posted by bettyeanne

I never miss watching ... I may never watch again. We were watching when Barbaro was injured and kept up with his treatment until there was nothing more they could do ... it was heartbreaking. Then today ... really felt Big Brown would win but was secretly pulling for the little filly, Eight Belles. I thought I would die when they announced that she broke both her front ankles and they had to euthenize her! So sad.

I feel like you BetteAnne,I have loved watching these beautiful horses but I'm not sure I can watch again.

Megan you are so right about your entire post. They may like their horses but it's really the $$ they love.