Are they racing them too hard? RIP EIGHT BELLES?

Question

i mean i know its a sport but no horse should have to die. eight belles broke her ankles but didnt barboros(sp) have the same and live awhile longer?

Answer 1

i believe barbaro only broke one ankle, but i don't think they race the horses too hard.  if you look at how many horses race and how get injured, it isn't a big number.  there are injuries in every sport.

Answer 2

Putting that filly down was the humane thing to do.  The pain and suffering she would have to go through would be unbelievable.  

Unfortunately it happens.

Answer 3

I think i will no longer watch races on dirt tracks because it breaks my heart when i see a horse get injured at such an early age.She was my pick and cried when i heard it.they act l**k it don't matter that they had to kill her.

Answer 4

You have to understand that when it comes to horses and leg injuries it's not a matter of a simple "let's put a cast on it." While standing, a horse rests most of it's body weight on it's forelegs. Look at any image of a standing horse and you can understand that. When horses sleep, their knees 'lock' into place to allow them to sleep standing; they arent built to handle laying for more than a few hours per day; their body weight begins damaging organs after prolonged periods on their sides. So it is understandable that leg injuries in horses are so much more severe than in humans. Eight Belles sustained TWO compound ankle fractures. A compound fracture means that the bones broke through the skin, immediatedly worsening the problem because of exposure issues. Euthanasia was really the only humane thing. Barabro's injury was not nearly as bad, and he still was unable to be saved. Sometimes choices just have to be made, but in both cases they were accidents. These two animals had the best of care, and anyone from the Barbaro or Eight Belles camps would probably be horrified at the idea that they raced these horses too hard. If horse didnt love the running game, they wouldnt make it to the Derby. It takes heart to do what they do on that track.

Answer 5

If you want to have a chance of racing them by the time they're three, yes. They have to be raced too hard. There's really no other way.