Kentucky Derby Week Ends With Injuries and Death

Written by PETA

Posted 05-04-2009

How anyone can still tune in to watch horse racing, especially after Eight Belles broke both her ankles and was euthanized at last year's Kentucky Derby? Well, some mint julep–sipping, tacky hat–wearing folks still do—and for them, this past week was another showcase of horse horrors.

Monday: Raspberry Kiss and Dr. Rap, two young Derby horses, were involved in a collision that resulted in a broken hip, and eventual euthanasia, for Raspberry Kiss.
Friday: Stormalory, who was projected to win the American Turf, suffered fractures and was euthanized.
Saturday morning: I Want Revenge, the Kentucky Derby fave, was scratched early in the day because of an ankle injury and is expected to be off the racetrack until at least summer.
Saturday afternoon: The Derby's projected winner, Friesan Fire, had part of his hoof ripped off right after the start but managed to finish the race, bleeding the whole way, 18th of 19 horses. (Somehow, I'm not surprised that Friesan Fire is trained by Larry Jones with Gabriel Saez as the jockey, the same duo who sent Eight Belles to her early grave last year.)

thedowneyprofile / CC
"He got hit real bad leaving the gate," Larry Jones said. "He's bleeding. If you see blood on the track, it's his."

All of the above occurred at just one track during just one weekend, but injuries and death are routine at racetracks.

Anybody want to guess what the upcoming Preakness and Belmont Stakes have in store for horses?

Written by Karin Bennett

Tags:

house, Maxim, horse racing, Kentucky Derby, Eight Belles, The Exorcist, horse, I Want Revenge, M.D., Friesan Fire, Churchill Downs, Stormalory, thoroughbred

Recent Comments

Robert Johanansen commented:

May 28, 2009 6:10 PM

Cindy just reda your post very powerful speech please join my abuse prevention organization. We need a good writer. beastsoflegandyahoo.com
Robert Johanansen commented:

May 28, 2009 5:56 PM

In response to horsefan So what if the humans get hurt it was THERE choice to participate in the sport if some guy wants to get in a car and drive around in circles at ridiculous speeds and he gets hurt it's his OWN fault. Nobody shved him in the car and forced him to race to the death. If people must have this type of sport why can't we just go back to good old hamster ball racing? Then again they would probably turn that into an abusive excuse for murder too.
JJ commented:

May 18, 2009 3:39 PM

To Amy S Marie and Lorrie You said exactly what I was going to say. Horses are bred to run and nothing's going to stop that. You're probobly the most on target people here. Glad to see i'm not the only one. And to the people who are just blowing me and these guys off Come on!!! PETA is an amazing organization but that's you're big problem. The moment someone doesn't agree with you then you just write them off as "hateful" or "stupid". Horse racing can be a wonderful sport if we just work on improving it rather than simply ending it.
JadeLight commented:

May 17, 2009 10:05 AM

I think that something was left out here In the horse racing industry breeding is also a commonality. Mares may be bred many more times than is natural in the wild. This injures their health. In some cases ovum are taken from quality mares and mixed with sperm from quality studs then the fertilized eggs are placed in nonquality mares as a surrogate. This is continued over and over again more often that would occur in the wild. Nonquality offspring are often taken away from the mare in order to be able to bred that mare again. You may question the veracity of what I am saying. I have seen this for myself because I was a breezer for a year in Virginia. That was enough for me to see the abuses that occur in the horse racing industry. It is far deeper than running horses in an unnatural setting whipping them to make them run faster and euthanizing them because that is cheaper and more humane that treating them. Not all horse want to race either but are pushed to do so by their owners. Otherwise there is monetary loss. It is about the money not the horse. Don't think so? Look at the purses and then you will understand.
linda darbidian commented:

May 16, 2009 12:13 PM

THE WORLD HAS BECOME FULL OF SELFISH AND GREEDY PEOPLE.TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK THEY GIVE NO THOUGHT TO THOSE ANIMALS. SHAME ON THEM.
amanda m commented:

May 15, 2009 12:09 PM

many of these comments are UNBELIEVABLE! horseracing is an activity designed to USE horses to make $$ for RICH people. the treatment of race horses is shameful. a horse's natural instinct is to run not die on a track with silk banners on for the amusement of a gambling crowd of leering selfish jerks.
Julie commented:

May 15, 2009 1:51 AM

I can't believe that Animal Planet actually aired the show "Jockies". I was horrified. The openeing scene shows a horse breaking its legs and falling. Is this what entertainment has come to? I was sickened by it and Animal Planet should be ashamed!
Terri commented:

May 14, 2009 10:46 PM

Thank you Marie and Lorrie who obviously know something about horse racing. Is it perfect? No. But as a retired jockey and veganI can assure you people in the business are in it because they LOVE horses pure and simple. Like Lorrie says donate to the thoroughbred retirement funds. They were primarily created by people in the industry. And as for the gal who hot walked for 2 weeks. Sorry about your experience...I started hotwalking at Keeneland in Lexington KY when I was fifteen and met some of the kindest men grooming horses I've ever met. The adored their charges and mentored me. As did the trainer who allowed me to start galloping horses. I'm not in the business anymore but they are precious memories. I love horses and I'm also a PETA member. I believe PETA has been instrumental in the industry taking itself to task. So good work PETA but just like you're not going to make everybody stop eating meat you're not going to stop thoroughbreds from doing what the were bred for and that is RUN.
Amy S commented:

May 14, 2009 10:20 PM

I do not support nor watch horse racing. When I was young and watched my first race on TV saw the horses being beaten with the whip to make them run faster.... I was disgusted. That was 30 years ago. I think horse racing should be illegal. These billionaire owners should be spending their money on helping animals or people. Selfish selfish selfish!!!
Kelly commented:

May 14, 2009 9:49 PM

Horse racing sucks no matter what way you look at it. I think it is so dumb to look at a track and watch a bunch of horses running around it to win a race. Sports should be for humans not horses. Whoever is sick enough to go to a horse race and watch the poor thing be killed on the track becuase it couldnt go anymore will pay I promise.

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