RIP Eight Belles
 

:(Shocking. Tragic.

yeah, that sucks. hate to see that.

I freind of mine, a trainer, told me we are the only country in the world that races 3 year olds. After Barbaro and now this I'm not sure I'll watch any more races.

Very sad - we went to a derby party - real downer on the whole evening

Sad.

I know nothing about horses. Why would both legs break as the jockey started to shut her down? Seems like he'd stop pressing her and she'd let up so the stress would be less...but obviously I am wrong. Just wondering.

Is that too old or too young? I know nothign about horses.

Too young.

Yes to young. Bones aren't fully developed. But I'm sure their are folks out there that will defend our practices, (as horses continue to break legs).

On Friday, a US Hellfire missile killed 3 innocent children who were sifting through garbage in Baghdad. They were hoping to collect cans and sell them so they could get something to eat. Just another day in Iraq.

Shame about the horse though. Real global tragedy.

Happens all the time, you just don't hear/ see it in the news when it isn't a big race, steeple chase races take a toll as well. Animals have more heart than most humans, not my idea of a sport. With 20 horses in a field it's amazing there wasn't a fall during the race and more dead horses and jockeys.

my sister "saved" an old thoroughbred (sp?) from becoming glue last year, he is now an old happy horse hanging with a few more at her little "farm" in n.c......i'll post some pics later :)
too bad about eight bells.......and the kids looking for cans.

I heard on ESPN this morning that app. 700 horses have to be put down due to breakage every year.

I heard on sports center just now that on average two horses a day get "put down" due to those type of circumstances... Hell of a "sport"

I don't follow horse racing, but this thread has left me with the impression that maybe it's a mountain out of a mole hill in the making, keep it in perspective.

These are horses. Would you prefer they were made into dog food instead of being incredibly spoiled and pampered their whole lives, even if those lives occasionally are cur short by injury?
Perspective.

Didn't realize this was a global tragedy thread, damn I'm sorry :rolleyes:
And the odds of those poor suffering children growing up to bomb innocent Americans? Not much but sure as hell more than that horse.

Hey, we're all upset over any losses in the Middle East. But, other life goes on. No one likes to see animals exploited and then killed as a result. Well, I don't, anyway. I guess there's a football player or two that don't share my views.

Well said!

Heh now PETA is all over this...

As a hunter and a carnivour I'm certainly not a fan of Peta, but 3 yo's are too young for that many races that early in their life, In additon we are the only country in the world that allows same day race medication.. I'd look for an attempt to ban racing 3 y.olds..
On the other hand, PETA's attempt to get the jockey banned is totally mis-guided

Yup, too young.