Author |
Across the Fence: KENTUCKY DERBY TRAGEDY |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9094 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9094 Posts |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 4:09:56 PM
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Oh, that's horrible. I just think that is so sad. Poor, poor horse. I'm sure glad we don't do that to people.
Karin
Farmgirl Sister # 18 :)
Wherever you go, there you are.
www.madrekarin.blogspot.com www.madrekarin.etsy.com |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 4:13:00 PM
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I was watching too, and I came up to the computer to see if any of you had seen it. Very shocking. The race was over, they were showing the winner winding down, and then suddenly you see a horse down and the ambulances pulling up. She was running fine when she crossed the wire, to my untrained eyes. I was pulling for her to win.
I'm sure her trainer and the other staff are just heartbroken. |
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amyartgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
991 Posts
Amy
Junction City
Ohio
USA
991 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 4:19:09 PM
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Yes, very sad...I did shed some tears for her....The whole Barbero thing came back into my mind as this happened.
Farmgirl Sister #21 Heart of Ohio Farmgirls
Proud member of Bees w/o Borders and ArtFuL SisTeRs
http://artfulheart.blogspot.com http://farmgirltales.blogspot.com |
Edited by - amyartgirl on May 03 2008 4:21:46 PM |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 4:58:53 PM
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I saw it, also. I was very sad.
I don't know a lot about horses-do they know what caused it to happen? It just seemed like such a freak accident-both ankles breaking?
Jennifer Farmgirl Sister #104
"Nature brings to every time and season some beauties of its own". -Charles Dickens |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 5:37:47 PM
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Well...I guess there was a reason I didn't watch the race this year. I had to take Justin to work and I got tired of looking at all the silly rich people on tv and chose to go out marketing. I guess it's a good thing I did.
Having grown up on the racetrack, this is always SUCH a terrible thing to witness...and I've done so several times. Terrible, just terrible.
Again, glad I didn't see it and I won't turn on the tv this evening, either it looks like.
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"... NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 6:06:50 PM
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That is so sad!
Jennifer- Horse racing is horribly hard on a horse's body. It actually is not as uncommon for a race horse to get these types of injuries as it is for other "professions" of horses. The amazing speeds plus the weight of the jockey can cause anything from inflamation, to bone bruises, to stress fractures and full fractures. The filly probably caused stress fractures during the race, but did not feel it, then must have stepped wrong as she was slowing down and changing gaits causing the bones to fully break.
Alee Farmgirl Sister #8 www.awarmheart.com Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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whispering pines
True Blue Farmgirl
428 Posts
patricia
sedro woolley
wa
USA
428 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 6:14:23 PM
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That was very sad, not to many fillies race. She will be remembered, What A Girl!
"Greetings from the Gateway to the North Cascades." |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 6:16:39 PM
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How sad!! I wish they could just let them run wild and free...poor gal!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
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Aunt T
True Blue Farmgirl
73 Posts
Tricia
Robinson
Illinois
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 6:20:59 PM
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Oh I cried all evening and cannot stop thinking about it!!! Poor baby! I knew something was horribly wrong when all the trailers surrounded her and you could not see what was going on. They put these horses through so much. There bodies literally cannot take it. When is the pushing of these animals going to stop? I realize they must train, however is over-training ever been an issue the professionals need to consider??!! I think owners and trainers see dollar signs. The pictures of her ankles bent backwards on the internet are horrifying!!! ~Tricia
Wish It, Dream It, Do It! |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 6:36:23 PM
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I agree, Tricia. Why is this "okay", but dog fighting and cock fighting aren't. I don't see much of a difference between horse racing and the others.
http://plumcreekmama.blogspot.com/ |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 6:40:26 PM
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Alright...I'm going to say very little, because my feelings about horseracing run deep...deeper than I can say. Not just because I'm from Kentucky, but because my father and my grandfather were both jockeys, and my father lived his life for horses and the racetrack, riding, training and eventually working as a state steward, a "judge", if you will, making certain that rules were followed at every track he would oversee. My summer job was exercising horses at the trac,k, up every morning, breezing at 5 am. I have seen many horses falter and be euthanized on the track, just like she was. It is never easy to see.
Tricia, it's terrible...but sometimes accidents just happen...and, despite their size and a horse's almost otherworldly power, an injury to a leg can happen at anytime, training or no. To horses that run constantly, to horses that run once a year. It just happens. Like it does to any athlete. Please remember that these horses are indeed, athletes....you hear all the time about freak accidents with young (human) athletes as well as older. It happens...that's why I don't dance anymore, due to injury.
Like every business, there are good and bad people. But, remember...these horses are the cream of the crop and treated so. They are housed in the finest stables, they are treated by the worlds finest vets, and their EVERY move is observed. They are literally saved for races like these. I know that they are living, breathing, feeling things--they are also an investment, and they love to run. You protect your investment...you don't mistreat it and expect to earn any interest.
Farmgirl Sister #80, thanks to a very special farmgirl from the Bluegrass..."She was built like a watch, a study in balance ... with a neck and head so refined, like a drawing by DaVinci"... NY Newsday sportswriter Bill Nack describing filly, Ruffian. http://www.buyhandmade.org/ |
Edited by - KYgurlsrbest on May 03 2008 6:43:43 PM |
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Amie C.
True Blue Farmgirl
2099 Posts
Finger Lakes Region
NY
2099 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 6:43:50 PM
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Well, in dog fighting and cock fighting the animals are meant to get hurt. Every time. Them getting hurt is the point of the sport. In horse racing, it is a tragic accident when it happens. I agree that everything possible should be done to prevent harm to the horses, although I don't know enough about race track practices to comment on the specifics.
But in contrast to what happened to Eight Bells, Big Brown had a great race. He looked like an animal who was doing what he was put on earth to do and enjoying it. |
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Aunt T
True Blue Farmgirl
73 Posts
Tricia
Robinson
Illinois
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 7:32:07 PM
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My hats off to Eight Belles as well MaryBeth. I just do not understand how TWO front ankles can be broken????
Wish It, Dream It, Do It! |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 8:46:41 PM
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My mother use to show horses you know high hurdles and things of that sort. Horse like these lots of times are actually treated better than the children of the person who owns the horse. As with out that animal they can not participate in the sports they love the animals do have fun with it they get excited when they get near rinks and tacks. they want to show off and run it is who they are. I was a long distance runner as a kid and teenager made it to the state level of junior Olympics. But you know I had to stop my freshman year do to to many injuries. I still have times when I can't walk from it I definitely can't run like I use to and at times that really bothers me as I use to love going out and running 10 miles for fun now I can't run one with out pain. i can relate to the horses they want to run it is fun. I would push myself when I was younger to run I would wrap my damaged knees and ankles and keep running till I would have both knees and both ankles wrapped and still I would run. It is what is in you the animals have it to I have seen it. No one is forcing them to do something they don't already want to do.
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe Farmgirl Sister #115 my bloghttp://sunshinescreations.vintagethreads.com/ my web store vintage threadshttp://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=79144 |
Edited by - sunshine on May 03 2008 8:47:20 PM |
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kydeere40744
True Blue Farmgirl
1132 Posts
Jessica
Kentucky
USA
1132 Posts |
Posted - May 03 2008 : 9:16:55 PM
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Jonni - you are absolutely right. These animals are the cream of the crop. We sat and watched the race, made no bets. I've been to Churchill Downs a couple of times and it is a beautiful place, but I really like Keeneland to be honest because it is so much of the true bluegrass smack dab in the middle of horse country.
During the Rolex International events last weekend, two horses had to be put down because they were injured doing a couple of the cross country jumps. They said it was mainly because the riders miscalculated the steps, etc. One of the riders is still in the hospital recovering from surgeries, etc.
A horse is a powerful beast of an animal, just like any other. They are trained in what they do best. Accidents do happen, unfortunately. You never know when something will happen and most of the time it is without warning. A horse could step on something wrong. Kinda like going down the road and you get a flat tire from a nail in the road.
All you hear in Kentucky is the horses. They are beautiful, but there are SO many beautiful and wonderful things in our state and in the field of agriculture. I could go for days on horse stories because I've been around it since I was little. Most usually get in the business as a hobby. There are several famous folks that have farms just down the road from us and I've been fortunate to have visited quite a few in the area from work & from friends.
There is a good story to all of this...the roses that were made for the Derby were arranged by Kroger, a local company that promotes local agriculture. They dedicated the race & the drape of roses to the military members.
Here are some photos and such of different Derby happenings: http://www.heraldleaderphoto.com/derby/2008/
~Jessica in Kentucky & Farmgirl Sisterhood #137~ Be sure to visit my blog & Crafty Clipart for some of my photographs: http://bluegrassprincess.blogspot.com/ http://www.craftyclipart.com |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2008 : 06:13:51 AM
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We have a big horse trial here called the Red Hills Horse Trials, and this year two horses died of heart attacks, and one rider was paralized. Nothing like that has ever happened here before. It shocked the whole town. So sad....I feel bad for the jockey who was riding her.
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2008 : 06:20:31 AM
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I posted this as a matter of fact. the Kentucky Derby is a prestige race. I did not post this to be a sounding board for right or wrong. I love the Kentucky Derby---I love horses. All i said was Hats off to Big Brown and Hats off to 8 Bells. Stuff happens. Lets move on now. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com "Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
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Aunt T
True Blue Farmgirl
73 Posts
Tricia
Robinson
Illinois
USA
73 Posts |
Posted - May 04 2008 : 06:23:49 AM
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Agree! I LOVE THE KENTUCKY DERBY TOOOOO!
Wish It, Dream It, Do It! |
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Across the Fence: KENTUCKY DERBY TRAGEDY |
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