Whats your opinion on the Eight Belles Situation?

Question

My opinion is that it's just a horse! seriously, would you miss it? is your life going to take major setbacks because of this? Death/injury is an issue in every single sport and we have to come to terms that sometimes this stuff happens. Also, the PETA need to stop! They are simply using this event to fund their organization. Asking for the jockey to be suspended is pure STUPIDITY, the horse broke its legs well after it crossed the finish line which means the jockey was not using the whip on him at the time. I think this will all blow over in about a month and nobody will remember a thing.

Answer 1

It happens, it's part of the sport. It wasn't the first time this has happened and it will never be the last.

Answer 2

I learned that Horse Racing doesn't really hurt horses at all. Peta has it all wrong over Eight Belles. Horses are grown to run. And Peta needs not to exploit this accident.

Answer 3

Barbaro might not have died on the track at the Preakness but he did die BECAUSE of injuries that occurred during the Preakness. He got laminitis due to the injuries, which lead to his  needing to be put down. The injury was the underlying cause.

Had he not broken his leg, he would still be alive.

To the person who called him Bobby- did you know the only person connected with Barbaro that actually called him Bobby was Peter Brette's 3 year old son Nicholas? I just think its funny that people picked up on that nick name, everyone thinks that is what he was called by those who knew him.

As far as Eight Belles- people close to her will and do have a right to miss her. More than her owner (who I despise) her groom is surely going to miss her. The trainer, Larry Jones, is one of the nicest trainers I've ever met in racing, I'm sure he's going to miss having this filly around.

But, the owner did not just lose a companion horse. Racehorses are not companion animals. They are athletes, and, to many owners, they are investments. Its not like she'd retire and go live in his back yard or anything, lol. They are not pets.

and PETA, as usual, is being redic. I do love Larry's statement that they are just using this to raise money for the hundreds of animals they killed last year (their shelter has a 97% kill rate, one of the highest, if not the highest, in the country- and thats right, they only have ONE shelter)

Answer 4

PETA is just making a big deal because a lot of people saw the race, or read about what happened, and it is an opportunity for them to get some attention too.

It was shocking and sad, but these things do happen. The difference here is that it happened in front of a lot of people, and it was more emotional because of where and when it happened.

It is sad, but life goes on.

Answer 5

It's just a horse to you but her owners, trainers, jockey and fans don't see it that way.

I agree that PETA needs to stop and the jockey was in no way at fault.  

The overall situation bothers me, too.  There are so many people, such as columnists, the animal rights crowd, people that never watched a horse race, etc., spewing their opinions and self righteous indignation over what happened to Eight Belles.  But where are these same people when a $5000 claimer goes down on the track?  It sure makes it look like they're just jumping on the latest bandwagon.

Answer 6

Well, I disagree with the first statement that you make... that it's just a horse and that I won't miss it.  When Barbaro died I was really depressed for like 3 months.  It does affect me to have horses die in racing.  In a month, most people will not remember a thing, it's true... the ordinary people will go back to their jobs and their lives and forget about Eight Belles.  But the racing industry will not.  We still remember Ruffian and that was 33 years ago.

You're right that PETA are stupid and they're just trying to get some attention.  They don't actually know about horse racing... that's why as soon as it happened, you heard them crying out that the horse was already injured, or in the alternative that the whip caused her to break down... from an experienced horseman's view, neither of those arguments make any sense at all.  PETA knows that they're not going to make any changes in the industry.

Answer 7

People are still talking about Barbaro, so I really doubt nobody will remember a thing.

And yes, if my horse died, I would be sad.  Especially if it was a Thoroughbred that had just gotten second place in the Derby.  Yes, death and injury is a possibility in any sport, but that doesn't make it any less sad.  Haven't you ever had a pet that you loved?  Apparently not, otherwise you would understand.

But I agree that PETA is being ridiculous, and as always trying to get any publicity they can.

Answer 8

I think it's very sad.  Just a horse to who?  To you, to it's owners, to people who happen to love horses? I SADLY have to PARTIALLY agree with PETA on the fact that these horses are too young and undeveloped to be racing. I don't agree with suspending the jockey but I do agree with placing some stricter guidelines for the horses age and condition before being allowed to race.  But no animal is just an animal to me.  They are God's creatures and we are here to protect them, not exploit them.

Answer 9

I am a member of  P.E.T.A.

People

Eating

Tasty

Animals

I think Eight Belles will taste good to Fido, who then will taste good in Chow Mein..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt8xcYb72...

Answer 10

plain and simple...it sux...

she was a great racer and now she is dead...no way around the fact that nit isn't fair.  I do believe PETA needs to get anew hobby or something, they are over reacting, it was an accident; no body wanted this to happen to Eight Belles but it did. :-(

I cannot agree with you saying "it is just a horse" simply because i love animals, and i needless to say love horses.  But besides that, I'll agree with pretty much everything else you posted i this question.

Answer 11

You are right for the most part, Ant. PETA IS taking advantage of this tragedy in the worst way possible- but I knew they would the instant I saw the films of the filly's collapse. PETA is acting this way because they know that a tragedy like this one plays right into their philosophy that animals should not have to be exploited or mistreated so humans can have a few minutes of entertainment- and racing IS exploitation, at least in THEIR eyes. Most of the people who run PETA are ignorant when it comes to the real issues which surround a tragedy of this type- and the vast majority of them know nothing at all about horses, racing, breeding, or the sport. Even their spokespeople can't give interviews to the press without giving scripted answers, because so many of them are so ignorant and don't know what they are talking about. PETA's attempts to get Eight Belles' jockey suspended and to get the prize monies forfeited are prime examples of just how ignorant they are- it's great that they want to get the sport made more humane and safe, but they are going about it in completely the WRONG WAY. Making a public scapegoat out of the jockey is not going to solve anyone's problem, let alone do anything for the sport- but you can't convince a hypocrite like the ones who run PETA of this. That jockey did nothing wrong- he's been cleared not only by the trainer, but by the STEWARDS as well- and these are people who work for the state Racing Commission, and are not actively involved in actual racing. You don't shoot the messenger when you don't like the message- and this is what PETA is attempting to do by pursuing this course of action.

I also think you are right about this blowing over eventually. Eight Belles' trainer has already said he wants to move on and get past what happened, as has her owner. Her jockey has resumed riding at another track- and he had a bunch of winners yesterday and the day before. We have a presidential election to decide, wars to fight, and a horrific humanitarian disaster to deal with in Myannmar. Just give it time- this will fade from the radar screen, as people find something else to worry about. A lot of us are also worried about how we are going to pay for food and gas this summer, and that is a much bigger concern than what is going on in the racing world right now. Good question !!

Edit: To CMW: Barbaro DID NOT DIE IN A STAKES RACE. He died of a DISEASE, many MONTHS AFTER his initial injuries, which actually healed up, incidentally. Laminitis is a horrific disease which is believed by most experts to be responsible for the deaths of between 100,000 and 300,000 horses EVERY YEAR in the US alone, and many millions more worldwide. There is NO CURE for laminitis, and very few effective treatments for it- and the horses who die from it come from all walks of life. Most are not famous, like this colt was. Did you know that Secretariat died of the same disease? Or that he was 19 years old at the time, and had been retired for many years? Being retired and no longer running didn't prevent him from getting sick, did it? For you to say that Barbaro died during the Preakness is totally false.

Answer 12

She was murdered

Answer 13

Maybe PETA should focus it's attention on the aspect that these horses are being bred to break down.  That is cruel and should be illegal.

The breeding industry has diluted the bloodlines so much by going for speed that it should be no surprise that these fragile animals break down.  ESPN reported that 2 a day go down at track all across the country.

I take it you do not own a pet.  Would you miss your pet if something happened to it?

I' ve seen many breakdowns in high profile races - Barbero Timley Writer - Ruffian - Go For Wand.   It breaks my heart to the point that I do not watch any of the races live anymore.  i will watch the replays because they announcers will warn you if there is anything bad going to happen.

Answer 14

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. I don't see the big deal, these horses are treated better than a lot of people. They are well fed with balanced diets, they have heath care, and someone houses them.

PETA doesn't like making them race, guess what in the wild they would run all out own there own in large groups. At least on the track they get to run on an even surface-less chance of being injured there don't you think. Again they have doctors at these races in case of any problems, such as a life threatening injury. In the wild a horse with 2 broken ankles would suffer for weeks, starving from being unable to walk, and more than likely eaten alive by a predator...that sure sounds ethical to me.

Answer 15

let's not beat a dead horse here!

Answer 16

Well it certainly is a loss on several levels.  The owner of Eight Belles is out a champion horse now, and it is always sad when an animal has to die or be put to sleep, so it is a tragedy.  PETA is being ridiculous, I do agree with you there.  But then again, would you expect anything different?

Answer 17

it's sad, it's the fact of racing, lets move on.

Answer 18

i think it is very sad that Eight Belles broke her legs/ankles (i've heard both in news reports).

as for PETA, i think they are a bunch of hypocrites...they probably eat meat and wear leather shoes and belts, like most people

regarding the question of using a sling for Eight Belles, she had broken BOTH FRONT legs, so using a sling would not have been an option, as it is not like she can walk about on her hind legs the way we humans do...

furthermore, we humans have much stouter legs relative to our total body mass than do horses....

as for blowing over in about a month...i doubt it...people still remember Barbaro, and Seattle Slew (who won the Derby 31 years ago this day, the died exactly 25 years later)

incidentally, i heard reported on NPR this morning (5/7) that all 20 entrants in this year's Derby were descended from the same Sire (though not all were his own first generation offspring--i don't think any were first generation...there was likely a generation or two in between)

Answer 19

It was tragic and sad, but the owner absolutely did the correct thing for her.