Eight Belles' Tragedy

A lot has already been said about Eight Belles' tragedy in the Kentucky Derby. This courageous three-year-old filly broken both of her front legs shortly after finishing second in the 20-horses Kentucky Derby on Saturday May 3. The scenery immediately changed from Big Brown's brilliant domination to Eight Belles' tragic moments.

Here are a few articles you can find on the Internet and have some valid points.

"Owner Porter Reflects on Eight Belles," by Terry Conway. The Blood-Horse, May 7, 2008. Click here to read.

"So Young, So Strong, So Fast and Oh So Very Sad," by James Smiley. New York Times, May 4, 2008. Click here to read.

"This Time Is Different," by Bill Finley. ESPN, May 5, 2008. Click here to read.

"Safety First," by Alex Waldrop, NTRA Blogs, May 5, 2008. Click here to read.


I am a proponent of:

• "breed to race" and not "race to breed"
• no drug
• variety of training methods that will build up thoroughbreds strength and stamina before hitting the track
• breeding to proper balance between speed to stamina
• a more balanced # of sprint races (those less than a mile), mile (1 mile to less than 10 furlongs), middle distance (10 furlongs to 13 furlongs) and marathon races (anything above 13 furlongs)
• safer grounds, but not necessary completely replacing dirt racing. Can turf, dirt and synthetic co-exist?
• changing the distance of the seasonal championship race, i.e., the Breeders' Cup Classic if it continues to exist, to 12 furlongs
• More incentive to keep horses in training. I find it interesting that there are more geldings running at the highest level in Australia than in the US.
• More turf racing.

I do not support:

• changing the number of weeks between the American Triple Crown races
• changing the distance of the current Triple Crown races
• disallowing 2 year-old racing

Thoroughbred racing in the North America has been unique for over a century when comparing to how racing is conducted in many other parts of the world: breeding, training method, the racing surfaces, medication. Why is it different? What is making the industry here has to be different from the rest of the world? I am not saying other racing centres are flawless, but is there anything the other people are (or aren't) doing that we can learn just a little bit of it?