Could eight belles have broken her leg before the finish line?

Question

all of these analysts are saying that she broke down before the finish line and that it was the jockeys fault. How can a horse run on two FRONT broken legs and finish second in one of the most prestigious races in the world. Also people are saying that since it was a filly it shouldn't be allowed to race with the boys. Isn't that making women rights groups go nuts. Now people are saying that females can't keep up with the men. Any ideas on this?

Answer 1

I haven't heard one analyst make this claim. There is no way she broke either ankle during the race.

Answer 2

If you've watched the race, it doesn't seem likely.

Answer 3

The analysts aren't saying that, PETA is.  According to her trainer, and pretty much everyone who saw the race, she finished the race looking good, with her ears perked up (a sign that she was traveling comfortably).  She could not have finished that well if she was injured during the race.  Of course she should be allowed to run with the colts -- she beat 18 of them!  An injury like this, happening after the race, could have just as easily have happened if she was racing against fillies.  She was a strong competitor, and proved that she belonged to race with the best colts in the country.  From all accounts, this was a freak accident.  People will want to point fingers, but there really isn't a good place to point them in this case - and certainly not at the jockey or the decision to run her in the derby.  It's strange for a horse to break down after the race is over -- it seems like she just took a bad step, which could have happened on any day or on any surface.

Answer 4

There is no way that filly could have finished that race on 2 broken front ankles, much less come in second.  Horses carry 60% of their massive weight on their front end.  I'm not saying that the injury could not have started in the race or before and her showed no signs of it until she broke down.  I personally do not watch racing becasue those horses are too young to be running.  As two years old they should just now be starting light ground work, not running in grueling races.

Answer 5

my husband has been in the horse business for 50 yrs and was a jockey himself and also exercised horses.  if you have ever taken a bad step at home and hurt your foot, it is the same thing for a horse even when they are galloping or just running in the field.  anything can happen and has many times with horses.  eight bells took a bad step and broke her ankle and when she tried to adjust with her other leg she broke her other ankle.  peda is making too much out of this and it is not the jockeys fault.  if she would have broken her ankle before she finished it would have happened alot sooner.  usually everyone in the horse business is crushed and sickened when one of the horses break down.  the thoroughbred has smaller legs than any other horse.  usually trainers will wrap the horses legs to give them added support. if barbaros hind leg was not wrapped when he took that bad step in the preakness the same thing would have happened to him and he would have been put down on the track right then. their legs are more fragile than any other kind of horse.  hope this helps understanding.