What a beautiful little girl and how tragic. I honestly, never really thought she's make it as tough competitor come the backstretch. I guess it goes to show just how much heart races like this take and how odds can turn in an instant. I really cannot believe she was able to make it across the finish line - wow.
See, what just tears me about Thoroughbred racing in particular is that breeders are now breeding either for really thin, light, smaller bones density or they are breeding for tall, big strided, heavily muscled horses to race. If you look back at the "original" TBs, they were smaller and stockier, definitely way more proportioned... but now in trying to obtain a lighter, more aerodynamic, big strided horse...they are actually breeding them to be more fragile and grueling races definitely have a huge detrimental effect on their bodies - the constant concussion from their hooves pounding the track, the speed, the weight - there's really nothing there to support them and it's just a matter of time before something happens; they're either going to break down or retire with soundness issues.
And, yes, it doesn't help that they are only 3 years old...Thoroughbreds are slower breed to mature anyways...I don't see why they have to be pushed that hard that early in life.
I do have to say that Big Brown did impress me... I didn't really think much of him, only running 3 times before the Derby, regardless of all that was raving about him, but if I had to pick a horse that I think would have the biggest chance of breaking down it would be him - did anyone else hear about his foot condition? He needs special shoes that cost about $200 dollars a piece or else he gets huge quarter cracks in his hooves and is dead lame. I really hope to see a Triple Crown Winner in my lifetime, so I'll root for him anyways... (I really thought Barbaro could have done it, but there's those accidents again...).
RIP Eight Belles
