The Derby 5/3

[Garibaldi]

Big Brown is getting a lot of pub, but breaking from 20 is going to be hard. If he gets it done, and barring injuries, could be a very real shot at getting the Triple Crown.

I like Pyro and Gayego along with Big Brown

 

[lostman]

Horrible news, after the race Eight Belles broke both front ankles and was immediately euthanized. She made a great run to come in second. Sad day.

 

[Larry T. Spider]

I am a little disturbed about how the YUM people and the gov keep talking about what a great day it is when they just put a horse down on the track.

 

[TahoeHorn]

I was so excited about the impressive performance of Big Brown, and looking forward to a Triple Crown. Now I'm ill.

 

[TXBabe97]

Big Brown was impressive. I had picked Eight Belles for the win. That was so sad and horribly depressing.

 

[Garibaldi]

Sad day indeed. She looked like a great horse. I think this fits:

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields were glory does not stay
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.

 

[DAGMAR]

Has anything like this ever happened before? I have only watched the triple crown races for about the last 10 or so years

 

[Garibaldi]

Horses have been euthanized after the Derby before, but I don't think it's ever been a front-runner with the story that Eight Belles had with her. She was good and she was impressive in her showing today. She belonged.

 

[VYFan]

I only saw a replay on youtube; I couldn't tell whether the filly stroked out and broke the legs or the legs went first. Did they discuss that?

 

[eflow24]

Horrible news after a GREAT race. Big Brown has a real chance, but what a run by the philly. Horrible ending and such a freak accident.

 

[Chest Rockwell]

In reply to:

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[madscientist]

can anyone explain to me what it is about a horse's anatomy that they cannot recover from broken bones in their legs? is this unique among animals?

 

[mishatx]

In reply to:

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[lostman]

They used injection to put her down.

A horse is really running on its toenails and its ankles are not much bigger than a human ankle, but supporting 1500 lbs. Previous poster was correct in that to get a leg to heal they have to keep weight off it totally. If I read correctly, she had compound fractures. Not good. And even if you could get them to keep weight off the legs to heal, you have a host of other problems such as foundering that can get them even as they heal.

With a horse of that value, they would have tried to do everything possible to keep her, but injury to both front ankles would have made recovery too difficult for the horse.

 

[snow leopard27]

Norm Hitzges' pick apparently finished dead last.