I love horses..it's as simple as that. I am in awe of their beauty. I am in awe of their magnificent pressence. Every year I watch the Derby. I watch simply to see the horses. Not to watch the race, not to see them run but in admiration of their beauty as they are entering the track. I cringe each and every time I watch them run, literally with a knot in my stomach. I am disgusted with the industry and the demand that they put on young horses. I am done. I will not watch another race. Seeing that filly laying on the ground sickened me, knowing what her fate would be. My decision to never watch a race again affects no one, makes no statement, changes nothing. I am not attempting to start a debate about the pros and cons of racing. The debate would surely bring about heated arguments about the economic importance of the industry, the huge money it brings in, the many jobs it supportsand the fate of the over abundance of horses etc etc etc. So, how I feel may have no impact on anything or anyone ......but I will never show any form of support, even by watching another race. I am done.

However tragic it seems, it is just something that happens. It can happen to any athlete in any sport. Remember back a few years ago when Joe Theisman was still the QB of the Redskins and we all had to watch the replay of his leg snapping over and over again on Monday Night Football? Injuries are going to happen regardless if it is racing, trail riding, or rodeo. I have seen death and broken legs in horses while performing the jobs that their human owners put them in. Things of this nature happen, unfortunately it just happened to be caught on TV. What about the calf that died in the calf roping at the NFR in 2006? I hate to repeat myself but it happens.

I read this morning that Eight Belle's pedigree was choked full of horses that historically had weak front legs but had great speed. To me the worst part of this deal isn't the fact that the horse broke both pasterns, it is that some breeder knowingly bred horses with weak legs to get a runner that might make him famous.

It truely was a tragidy...I cried like a little baby! I agre with both of you...
I was in the money too, haveing bet on Brown to come in first, followed by Belle...but I could care less about that now. I doubt I watch another, much less bet.

Horses are born to run, foals are born to race each other in the pasture and man seems to be born to compete. The problems come when man, for the sake of his competition, messes with nature and produces the unnatural. And, in my humble, unscientific, unsolicited opinion, a two or three year old baby that stands 17 hands and weighs 1500lbs running at those kinds of speeds prolonged over those kinds of distances carring those kinds of weights is unnatural. I know, there are those who will argue that riding any horse is unnatural to the horse. However, riding a natural built horse in a natural environment at a natural speed is one thing, breeding a 4 million dollar freak of natural and then killing it for the sake of a trophy and a dollar is something else entirely. I am the seventh generation of my family born in Kentucky. Horses are in my blood, but I don't support what they are doing to those babies at the derby, any more than I support what the western world is doing to their babies in reigning, cutting etc. I'm all about riding, using and working a horse. I even like to see a couple of good, mature horses race from time to time. But I'm about doing it all wisely, with a sense of good stewardship and respect for the animal itself.

Horse racing is all about money, not horses. In my opinion the people involved are no different than the guy at the slot machine all night in Vegas. Again, only my opinion.

This was the first Derby I've not watched in years and years. I'm really glad I missed it.

While I understand that accidents happen, but I can't stomach running a horse to death, or making a horse do things that it's body just cannot handle.

You guys may have missed it, but two horses were euthanized at Rolex last weekend on the cross-country course. And now, we've given PITA yet another reason to come down on horse owners in general. Great.

What happened that horse owners forgot (or weren't taught) the cardinal rule - take care of your mount first, above all else. ?? I was taught that the horse's health and well-being is solely the responsibility of the rider - and the rider takes care of the horse before himself. The horse gets fed, watered and taken care of before I even think of doing the same for myself. I'd never considered doing it any other way.

But these folks have other people doing all of that for them, and don't care a thing about the horses at all. They ride them like the motocross guys ride their bikes and don't care about the consequences.

Probably be late for work, but had to check in on the Derby disaster posting. I do agree, that in breeding and putting too much strain on young horses is the cause of ever frequent racing disasters, but as one person said, two horses were put down at the Rolex event in Lexington and a rider will now face over a year of rehab, to walk again, let alone ride.

Poor breeding practices are not exclusive to the TB industry, halter horse breeders proudly advertise that their stallion is N/H; big muscle = wins and Impressive bred horses deliver the muscle.

The horse industry in Kentucky has been long sufferring for at least the last 15 years, all the world class Standardbred farms are gone! More and more horse farms are home developments. Peta may just be the death nail to the TB industry here. But racing probably did this to themselves, all in the pursuit of the dollar.

Got to go makes some dollars now myself, All stay safe; Graywolf

In checking the news reports after the race, the horse they put down was mostly just a footnote on the winners page. Imagine if pro rodeo was caught bucking a 2 or 3 yr old, let alone if it broke a leg in the arena and had to be put down in front of everyone. The public outcry would be heard around the world. I would venture to say that the entire sport of pro rodeo would be in jeopardy. But several race horse owners were quoted as saying "it's sad, but that's just part of the game".

I too was sick when I saw Eight Belles down. But what I chalk it up to and what I think is more sick (in my opinion) is the lack of quality breeding. It seems like its in so many breeds that horses are bred for looks, confirmation, and brains but not a sound structure that will last over time. On one discussion about the Derby incident, someone said that racing horses are being bred for peak speed at 3yrs and that's it. What happened to a horse being sound for 20+ years???? I am most familiar with QH and even with them its getting harder and harder to find the those structurally sound and correct horses that will with stand everyday ranch use. Who's idea was this??

I've got several 20+ year old horses that I use hard almost daily. They haven't really gone anywhere, people just don't want to wait on them. I believe that any time you use a horse that hard before their bones and joints are fully grown and developed, the chance of disaster looms. It's not just the race horse business, either. I see it big time in the cutting horse business, too. Working cow horse, reining, you name it. Everybody wants a horse to be a world champion when he is three. That is the problem, in my opinion. It's about making money, not having the best horse possible. Ir's why I've got some really nice colts that I REFUSE to register with the AQHA. Until they start being more about GOOD horses and less about big stud fees, I'll never register a colt.

I have a relative that is a big name in the cutting business. I see lameness a lot. It's sick. Use them up, if they show lameness, inject the hocks to show them, but DEFINITELY make some money breeding them. Was the problem genetics, or a product of overuse at a young age? Who knows in that instance? Nobody. But they don't care either. Just as long as they got the stud fee.

Look up a fella named Guy Allen. He is a steer roper. He is, by most accounts, THE steer roper. He uses horses in their teens to compete. They are sound. I read somewhere that he doesn't haul a horse to seriously compete that is younger than 12.

I don't even ride mine until they are three. I don't use very hard at all until they are six. Not only are my horses sound for a long time, they are more quiet, level headed and better at their jobs on their own.

Gotta go now. I am loading my 25 year old mare and my 26 year old gelding to head to a roping tonight. They have already both been used today, and they didn't really even get warmed up good just roping two little old cows in the pasture. Hopefully, I can ride them to the pay window tonite...like last week.