Comments on: Was Eight Belles’ death at Kentucky Derby due to drugs, inhumane practices?

By: Elizabeth M. Boggs

Elizabeth M. Boggs — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 01:23:48 +0000

As far as horse racing is concerned, I think some of the problem lays in the cash-strapped 1980′s; the industry suffered financial losses and farms had to sell off much of their best stock in order to keep afloat. The horses that were sold were from the older, more established bloodlines and had the strength todays’ horses don’t. These horses had bloodlines that were traced to the best foundation stock America had to offer. When these horses were sold off, there were few good replacements in the breeding barn. The stock that was used was far inferior to what had once been used to produce the finest racehorses in the world. We are seeing the result of such a tragic loss in good, solid breeding stock, in that more horses are breaking down on the track, there are more horses laming up with more problems, more often, and a greater degree than 30 years ago. We lost our breeding edge when those horses were sold to (foreign) countries. Kauai King, the 1960′s-era Kentucky Derby winner, was sold to a Japanese concern and took stud there in the 1980′s. Ferdinand, the 1985 Kentucky Derby winner, was butchered for human consumption by his (new) owner in the late 1980′s, when the horse’s value went unnoticed. It is very uncertain IF the United States prime Thoroughbred breeding center will ever recover in terms of superior horse flesh after such a massive sell-out of great breeding stock in those troubled times. The horses produced today possess none of the great qualities, integrity, strength of constitution, or endurance of their predecessors. In my honest opinion, I fear that loss in the industry will continue to produce horses with only a memory of what it had once been to have produced that winning edge.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:47:12 +0000

I found the comments of Mr. Sayers to be, for the most part, outrageous and self-serving. Medication rules in horse racing are becoming more and more stringent and unforgiving with each passing year. And lab tests performed after each and every race that’s run in the US on participating racehorses are now detecting even the most minute traces of the more sophisticated drugs available for use. In other words, if you abuse (cheat) you will be caught and severely punished. The most common anti-inflammatory allowed is Bute (Butazolidin), which is basically an aspirin-type medication. It will not mask any serious injuries to the point where the horse could pass the pre-race examination by the attending vet or get by the pre-race warmups given by the jockey. Remember, if a horse breaks down in a race, the rider’s life is also in serious jeopardy. As a result, riders are very careful before each race to make sure their horse feels loose and sound underneath him or her. As for the subject of inhumaneness in Thoroughbred horse racing, I invite anyone to take any one of the many tours offered by your local racetrack (Golden Gate Fields?) through the barn areas that house the many horses, riders, grooms, and trainers that are associated with this sport. I believe you’ll be amazed at the care and love that these horses receive 24/7. Finally, the whip issue. The whip is generally only used during the last 10 to 15 seconds of a race, and as an encouragement for the horse to continue his efforts. Just as there’s a difference between hitting and spanking your child, there’s also a big difference between using the whip to encourage or to abuse. The local racing stewards who govern the sport watch closely to make sure that all whip rules are strictly enforced. I also recommend reading the following regarding the subject of whips and spurs with horses. http://www.meredithmanor.com/features/articles/drm/whips_and_spurs.asp By the way, horses aren’t being bred for thinner legs, they’re being bred more nowadays for speed (speed sires) as opposed for stamina. Faster horses (sprinters) just by their nature tend to be more susceptible to injuries.

By: JIm

JIm — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:24:47 +0000

Another thing that needs close examination is the composition of the track. The newer turf that California is requiring now, which has been used in Europe for some time, apparently reduces the incidence of injury by a very large percentage. If that is the case, it should be mandatory, particularly if you’re running young horses. All of the hemming and hawing you hear from racing associations on this issue are based on one thing and one thing only, $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

By: Susan

Susan — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:45:46 +0000

The combination of horses too young and being bred with larger bodies and thinner legs has been lethal to race horses. Even if they survive on the track, they tend to break down more easily off the track. I think we can get just as much enjoyment out of watching more mature horses race.

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:41:55 +0000

2. Jockeys should not be allowed to whip the horses. Ever.
I would have to disagree with this. One of the things a jockey does is act as navigator for his partner. He can anticipate that a particular direction is dangerous (too crowded, too sharp of a turn, etc) and let his horse know the best route to follow. In the heat of the battle however, these magnificent animals are often so in-the-zone that all the tugging on reins in the world isn’t going to get their attention. Have whip’s been abused? Yes and there should be a zero tolerance policy for such abuse. But I would suggest that a 95lb jockey with a riding crop isn’t going to inflict that much damage on a horse and proper use of the crop will save lives (both equine and human).

By: Bridgette

Bridgette — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:29:43 +0000

I was told that breeding practises are designed to create racehorses that have thinner/finer legs – thereby making them faster, but ultimately more fragile. Shame on us…

By: Cathy

Cathy — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:12:35 +0000

Gary, I agree with you. The racing industry needs to look at the age of these grand animals. They should not be racing or riding a 2 year old. Period. Eight Belles was huge, 17hh at reports. A horse that size in the “real world” is usually given plenty of time to mature before any weight is placed on her back and certainly before any real work is asked of them. It is sad, but until they stop advocating the young starts of these animals, this won’t stop. They are just not ready.