Snapshot: Horse Being Euthanized at the Kentucky Derby
Do you know what you are looking at?
This is a photograph of the last moments of the life of Kentucy Derby second-place winner Eight Belles.
The young filly finished the race, despite being repeatedly, mercilessly whipped by her 20-year-old jockey Gabriel Saez. At the end, she appeared fine. Then, Saez galloped her out (a sort of cool down and celebration) for a quarter of mile.
She collapsed, having broken both front ankles.
Fighting, no doubt, to calm concern in the crowd, vets and officials rushed to Eight Belles’ side. And immediately euthanized her.
Saez won $400,000; Eight Belles was murdered in front of all the Kentucky Derby attendees - but, I guess if you are one to attend and bet on any animal sport, you are not one to be bothered by a needless killing of the animal. I mean, if you bet on her to win, she still finished and got you a decent return, right?
Of course every animal rights group is quickly throwing punches at the event, but PETA’s voice is strongest, making CNN headlines today for lobbying the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority for further investigation (i.e. Did Saez know the horse was injured?).
May 25th, 2008 at 7:10 am
For all you simple minded people who think you know every thing you know nothing at all!
Eight Belles was humanely euthanizsd “NOT MURDERED” as you claim! She was not “WHIPPED” like you want all your little puppets to believe. You know absolutely nothing about horseracing and there for you do not have the right to speak for everyone!
I believe that you and your so called group owe some peoople and appolgy. You accused many people of wrong doing just to get your self noticed. Well heres a challange for you if you can do it. If you have so much concern for the well beign of animales why are horses still going to slaughter houses. The boarders of Mexico and canada are still allowing horses to brought in to their countries for slaughter. So stop being a know it all pain n the ass and do something productive for a change. STOP OUR HORSES FROM BEING SLAUGHTERED!
Emma Brown