What would cause both of Eight Belles ankles to break?

Question

In regards to the Kentucky Derby...

Answer 1

The stress on the legs from the race. There may have been a pre-existing condition that was not found due to any number of reasons, including medications masking a possible problem. Track surface. Could be one of the three, all three or a combination.

Answer 2

I don't know, stress from the race, then when they pulled her up after the race.  She ran her heart out.

Answer 3

legs needed to be rapped with leggens for  horses and pushing her to hard or a lack ok good diet?

Answer 4

my opinion is horses that young are not developed enough to take this much strain on their bones.

Answer 5

Horses at age 2 and 3 are not done growing. She broke her ankles on the track due to stress fractures. MANY 3 year olds on the track go down for this reason. It is COMMON. Not rare. This is why there is such a controversy over racing. The bones in a horse's legs are not fully formed until the 4 or 5 year of the horse. A young horse will not run itself into stress fractures without a rider on their back. Leg raps help to prevent soft tissue injury not bone injury.

Answer 6

While watching the last few seconds of the race you could see that Eight Belles was powerfully extended at the finish. She accelerated hard and gained fast in those last few seconds and if a horse in a stride that powerful is pulled up and not allowed to gallop out to a gradual trot it places an enormous amount of stress on the front ankles and forelegs. I think the jockey will get a lot of blame for this injury.