I have a friend who trains a jumper who is a relative of Eight Belles, a son of her grandsire, Unbridled. When my friend got the horse, a woman he knows, a steward at Santa Anita, told him to watch out, because Unbridleds tend to be both unsound and fearless, and my friend has found this to be the case. Where most horses have at least some caution, my friend's horse will try anything -- his mental toughness and competitiveness always takes over, no matter what the circumstances. This is what we saw in Eight Belles -- she was more resolute and competitive than was good for her, and she literally ran herself to death. When the race was finished, every part of her was exhausted, including, I am sure, the support apparatus of ligaments and tendons that were keeping her bones together. She probably stumbled and broke one ankle, then stepped hard on the other and broke that one. Then she fell.
But Big Brown was the other half of the equation. Big Brown looks to be a truly exceptional horse -- exceptionally strong and exceptionally competitive, possibly the Secretariat of our day. When the filly decided she wasn't going to give up, she risked herself more than she would have with a lesser horse -- and in general, male horses are stronger than female horses, which is why so few fillies run in the Derby.
Some people think there should be no horse racing. Certainly, horse racing as a spectator sport is staggering under the weight of these recent horrors -- Barbaro, and then this. But, as I've written elsewhere, without horse racing, there would be no Thoroughbreds as we know them, and there is nothing like them. The Thoroughbreds I have bred and trained and now ride, modest specimens all, are athletic, game, and eager, full of energy and intelligence. Beautiful, too.
It is not racing per se that is cruel, it is American racing as it has been, on dirt tracks at continuous high speeds, for lots of money. Horses in Europe, who run on the turf, and only exert themselves all out at the end of fairly long races, do not break down as frequently as American horses on American tracks. American horses bred like European horses, who run in races on the grass, also break down less. American horses have been expected to start racing early and to go fast from the post to the wire, because the people in the grandstands can see the whole race and like plenty of speed. Fortunately, American racing authorities are finally waking up to the industry-wide damage that a high injury-rate does, and American racetracks are in the process of changing their racing surfaces from dirt to something called "polytrack" that is easier on the horses and rather similar to turf. Although horsemen do complain because the surface is unfamiliar, a friend of a friend I know at Hollywood Park told my friend recently that her job has changed -- and her job is doing the paperwork on horses injured at the track. She says that she does 75-80% less paperwork now -- that is the difference, for the better, in the injury rate in Southern California since they switched to polytrack. Churchill Downs is still dirt. The difference in the surface means that breeders have to breed a different style of horse, too -- a sturdier horses with a different action, like European horses.
It is possible, though, that Eight Belles would have run herself to death on any surface. We all know people who cannot admit defeat, and horses can be the same. We all know people who simply defy their own weaknesses and go on. I see Eight Belles' death as heroic in that sense -- stubborn and foolish, shocking and tragic, but not, in the end, an accident. I think the filly's courage deserves respect, not pity.
Originally published in the New York Times' "The Rail" Blog.
I heard today that both Barbaro and Eight Belles were related to Native Dancer, and that Native Dancer progeny tend towards weak ankles. Not that all the foals are unsound, but much more than other lines. I definitely think breeding preferences are creating the problems we are seeing, thoroughbreds were created to be running machines, and the emphasis is more and more on speed, perhaps at the expense of durability.
A good book that delves a bit into the dangers of breeding to improve a single trait (such as speed) is Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin. I recommend it for anyone interested in how breeding of horses, cows, chickens, dogs etc., are affecting the health of animals today.
I'm appalled that horseracing continues to be legal.
And all you "horse people" can spare me your protests about how "noble" a sport it is. Right. As if the horses themselves would choose to abuse themselves like that in nature. Not buying it.
In any other form of equine sport, the horses are at least 5 years old. But in order to turn a quick profit, since the driving force behind thoroughbred racing is gambling--or as they prefer to call it, Wagering--These horses are criminally abused. The great racer of the twenties, Man O War, was not allowed by his owners to race in the Kentucky Derby to get the third leg of the Triple Crown. Even then they knew that a young horse shouldn't be pushed to do a mile and a quarter, and so refused to enter him. Today, the economics make that sort of ethics and honesty impossible.
turf and never on the hard dirt tracks. I felt a streak of dread pass through me.
I suspect her ligaments, muscles and bones were not adapted to the hard surface.
She was a wonderful horse and this is a true tragedy of greed and animal abuse.
Once "tamed" or "domesticated," horses no longer choose. If they did, we wouldn't have that old saying about beating a dead horse. If human beings did not intervene, the species would be extinct. You can't get more thoroughly bred than that.
It should be pointed out, though, that Eight Belles' didn't break down during the race. She broke down pulling up after the race was over, which indicates to me that she may have been stopped too suddenly, or that the track was too soft and snagged her.
Very little has been written in regards to Eight Belles' breakdown about the conditions of dirt tracks across the country, but many are too soft, and I'm glad you made mention of that fact. Many of the old tracks that were once turf have been plowed up, and have no bottom. Turf requires expensive maintenance and grooming, and the racing industry is in general decline. The artificial turf you mention is a cheaper alternative to the real thing.
I noticed a couple of replies that mention breeder's 'greed', and can't help but wonder why someone would think any breeder is greedy. The costs of breeding, training, and upkeep are enormous, and the chances of winning a big race infintisimable. How can any owner be greedy under these circumstances?
With that in mind, I'd like to take on a different angle:
Eight Belles was beautiful. Her death was tragic and says volumes about the inhumanity of the horse-racing industry.
But saying people should "respect" the filly seems to be odd, the same way calling crime victims "heroes" is odd to me. Which part of the filly do we respect? Her beauty--product of the thoroughbred industry? Her death--thanks to the same industry?
We may mourn the loss of her life, but let's not forget that her life was inseparable from the very industry that led her to her death.
In the case of the horse, she had little choice--couldn't have "admitted" defeat if she had wanted to. The same can't be said about humans.
I have no problem with racing, per se, but it should be done in a more appropriate manner - so the horses can survive.
The horse racing industry in not inhumane- the costs of racing are much too high to treat a horse badly- but it is risky by it's nature. Racing in no way compares to dog fighting or other truly inhumane 'sports', where only the winner is still alive at the end of competition.
The crops used by the jockeys aren't inhumane or dangerous to the horse. They don't produce anything greater than a sting when used at their hardest, and the sting is only a cue. (Otherwise, riding crops wouldn't be the choice of thousands of masochists.)
And horses are just like humans- some refuse to give up in a race, and some do. When a horse gives up, there is nothing a jockey can do about it physically. Some are extremely competitive and some aren't.
"After all governing is not that hard, even a kid can do it." Or maybe this is an incompetency virus, that effects elections, horse races and God only knows what else, developed in an Army Lab at Fort Dietrich, Maryland. Well, it's as good an answer anything else. The truth is probably closer to the University of Chicago and German Immigrant philosopher Leo Strauss and the school that produced Neo-Conservatism, Neo-Classical Economics and the Uma Thurman Stalker. Digoweli
As I sat there stunned with tears running down my face on Saturday evening, with the images of Eight Belles crossing the finish line and flashbacks in my mind to Barbaro's Preakness injury, my aunt (also a horsewoman) called me - we'd spoken 2 hours before the race since we always talk on Derby Day.
She said "I was going to watch and about 45 minutes before, I turned it off because I felt something was going to happen" --- she then said "She was a good looking filly, but had no chest and her legs were toothpicks"
I love horse racing - mainly for the athleticism and beauty of the animals (I used to compete in 3 day events which is not a dainty sport either)
I do want to commend NBC for not airing the moment she went down - especially like the footage of Barbaro that was shown over and over. But there have been photos today that just made my stomach lurch. It made me sick.
I do not think that the sport of horse racing should be banned like some folks are asking for. The surface materials should be changed and there should be more preventative measures taken.
Coincidentally, Ruffian's trainer, Frank Whiteley Jr, passed away on Friday. Maybe he's up there welcoming Eight Belles ---- hopefully not for a Ruffian/Eight Belles match race though.
The riche really are different. They're INHUMAN.
I looked into the eyes of the elite owners................................and saw the state of the country as it is becoming back then! Hard cold eyes!
I am seeing this sport for what it really is...at least to someone like me.
This article was just heart breaking. I just don't see why these animals should be treated this way especially after their owners made millions off them.
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/HorseRacing/article/420982