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Think “two,” or maybe “too.” It's been two years since Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro broke his leg coming out of the gate at the Preakness, ending his career and several months later, his life.
It's been almost two weeks since filly Eight Belles finished this year's Kentucky Derby in the number-two spot, and moments later, broke both front ankles and was euthanized on the track.
It's two days until the second jewel in racing's Triple Crown, the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. As for the other “too,” I'll get to that in a minute.
For this reporter, the horror of Barbara's demise was front and center. My wife, Paula, and I were seated near the finish line at the Preakness.
For the Preakness, the horses are saddled in front of the main grandstand. As Barbaro was being saddled, Paula said there was “a problem with the horse,” that he was overly agitated.
Young thoroughbreds are run as 3-years-olds and are used to running at tracks with smaller crowds. For one of the Big Three races - the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and the Belmont Stakes - the crowds are 130,000 or more, so the noise level and movement are new and disconcerting. Paula predicted Barbaro would not run a good race.
As the horses were being loaded into the starting gate, Barbaro broke through his gate. Paula said this was another sign Barbaro didn't want to run this day and was concerned he may have injured his leg on the false start. In any other race, the horse might have been scratched. But this was seconds away from one of the Triple Crown races and millions were riding on his performance. He was a solid favorite.
When the bell sounded and the horse broke from the gate, it took mere seconds for him to break down. His career, and ultimately his life, were over.
A pall came over the crowd. Normally, in a Triple Crown race, the cheering is deafening as the horses come around the backstretch and head for home. Not on this day.
Barbaro's struggle to live was well chronicled. Last year, Paula and I were again seated at the finish line for the Preakness.
In the final preliminary race before the main event, a horse stumbled and had to be put down on the track.
And now, Derby runner-up Eight Belles has met the same fate.
At the Del Mar track in California, 55 horses died in a two-year period.
The exploitation of these fine horses is now front and center on the sports pages across America. PETA has called for sweeping changes in the thoroughbred racing industry.
Many veteran trainers and owners say the problem is the age of these thoroughbreds - they are being pushed “too” early in their careers. Here are a few comments from the internet:
“Every day you see horses hesitant to go to the starting gate. The horses are stuffed into the gate for the sole reason that people have bet on that horse and removing the horse would impact the odds. Barbaro didn't want to go into the gate, then breaks through the gate early, and they stuff him back in there.” mrsplitty
“I own horses. I have watched racing since I was a girl, but I am done. The simple fact is that 2 years old is way too young to put this kind of stress on bones and joints. I don't know why they run 2-year-olds, but I bet it has to do with money.” Pam8
“I grew up with horses but will never ride again. Breaking his (a horse's) spirit, enslaving it, mutilating its body, and running it to death. Sad. Some reward for their legendary spirit and loyalty to man.” Miles West
“I have owned and trained horses for 45 years. The racing commission needs to raise the age of horses that race. Thoroughbreds are not fully formed until at least age 5, hence the susceptibility to break down. Racing is a beautiful sport when done correctly.” Mydogjelly
“Having been raised around horses and graduating from college with an equine degree, I can say that starting these horses as yearlings to be saddle broke so they are ready for their 2-year-old season is outrageous.” Blondecowgirl
“As a former jockey and trainer, I say that the age these horses are run, under these conditions, the stresses to muscles and bones is tremendous. Asking them to perform at this level is like asking a teenager to play in the NFL.” Themerlin
Larry Jones, Eight Belles' trainer, said after the Kentucky Derby, “They (horses) put their life on the damn line. She (Eight Belles) was glad to do it.”
Just a thought: Did anyone ask Eight Belles if she wanted to die that afternoon?
Editor's Note: Paula Hege is a former national champion in Western Horsemanship and is currently ranked in several classes in both Western and English.
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