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A big win for Big Brown

  2. Scott_Bromley
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Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, living up to his status as the pre-race favorite.

Filly Eight Belles was second, but she broke down as the 20-horse field galloped out past the finish line.

She was later euthanized on the track.
Scott_Bromley

7 responses // A big win for Big Brown

  • I swore I wasn't going to watch the derby anymore...got suckered in and got to watch this year's breakdown/euthanasia. So now I'm officially completely off horse racing, now matter how pretty the ponies are...Kentucky's got an enormous problem with weak bloodlines. At this point, they're almost bred to breakdown. For what? Festivities? For hype jobs and state economies? Can't the economy support stronger stock? Damn, it's a shame. Came in second, two broken legs and you're out of here.
    24French
  • It was just an accident. Nobody could have prevented Eight Belles from breaking her legs when she landed wrong, it happens in all sports including animals and humans.

    There is no reason to stop watching the Derby because a horse broke her legs and was put down. Derby horses I treated like kings and queens and if they knew her legs were problematic they wouldn't have raced her. It just wasn't her day.

    But besides the sad overtones congrats to Big Brown and I hope he sweeps the Crown!!
    annadelmundo
  • watch this comment being used here
    I worked in the horse industry for a long time, and they are breeding the bone right out of these animals. They are investments to these people, and they may love them, but they love their money more. Horses are not meant to run that fast for that long, nor are they designed to slide 20 feet through dirt, or run a cow down on a fence line, or jump 5 foot oxers. We have bred the living daylights out of them to do these things for our amusement, and there is a sacrifice. Those trainers make decisions based on risk assessment, with a tragedy like this as an acceptable loss.

    Personally, I don't think its worth it. Horses have been part of human culture for thousands of years, and they are truly magnificent animals, but we need to realize their limitations. These horses may be treated like kings and queens in your eyes, but I'm willing to bet you a horse would rather live in a herd outside than in an isolated box stall any day.
    Kati_kat
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here, here, and here
    It's a shame that Eight Belles broke down. She was the first filly to race in the Derby in 9 years and had a lot of potential.


    Magnificent finish by Big Brown. Hopefully we'll have a triple crown winner this year!
    Sugaree
  • What if we put people down when we break our bones?
    xwave21
  • That was so sad about Eight Belles. She ran her heart out. What a showing. I really hate that. After Barbaro the PETA freaks will be screaming their heads off.
    JohnA
  • xwave21: Our bones heal.

    Breakdown. Okay so horses are now thought of as machines now?
    Tomcatt

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