Horse Racing

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

Eight Belles' injuries were nothing similar to those of Ruffian in 1975. In her match race with Foolish Pleasure, Ruffian shattered her right leg and kept running. Eight Belles' cause of collapse is yet undetermined. Both front legs broke beneath her. She went down immediately. What caused the fall? Nothing like this has been seen before. Falling forward and breaking two legs is not something that happens to a horse in normal stride.

All Thoroughbred foals born in the Northern Hemisphere have the same birthday, Jan. 1, each year so that their racing registry may be kept accurate. Example: only three-year-olds race in the Kentucky Derby, etc.

Sharing a Barbaro, or an Eight Belles moment is a good thing. The Sport of Kings should not come to a halt because of Eight Belles' freak accident. Yes, let's take an intelligent, closer look at safety.

Never watching (a race) again would be like never driving your car again because a car accident killed members of your family.

According to Larry Bramlage, D.V.M., growth and development of the bones of young horses partially depends on their active use. Race horses must practice their game, and practice makes stronger bodies.

The jury is still out on the subject of synthetic surfaces. Is it more, or less safe?

Bloggers responded to the "Safety First" blog presented by NTRA president and CEO Alex Waldrop. All fans of horse racing may converse about Eight Belles' tragedy. An accident of this nature on the biggest stage of American Thoroughbred racing should be discussed. That's healthy. Accusations surrounding something no one could possibly alter are not.

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

War Pass: (circled with his Derby-bound stablemates) "All right, guys, this is the big one. Now it's up to you."

Anak Nakal: "I don't know if I feel well..."

Cool Coal Man: "There's a filly, you know."

War Pass: "Hey! Knock that off, both of you! You go to win!"

Anak Nakal: (snifflilng) "What about the filly, Your Highness?"

War Pass: "What about her? She knows the score. She belongs in that silly Oaks. Did you speak to her, Nakie?"

Anak Nakal: (pushing a hoof nervously through the straw) "Well...I --"

War Pass: (eyes rolling) "Oh, good grief! Don't tell me you're falling for her?"

Anak Nakal: (brightening) "She's sure pretty. That dark gray and those big brown eyes."

Cool Coal Man: "Geez! Why don't you just give her the quarter pole lead?"

War Pass: "Is this serious, Nakie? Did you have a hay date?"

Anak Nakal: (ducking his head) "Well..."

War Pass: "Knock that off! Don't be confusing those big brown eyes with today's target, the real Big Brown! Ohhh -- Man, you'll have to occupy the filly!"

Cool Coal Man: (smiling) "Cool!"

The Derby is run, and the filly breaks down and is immediately euthanized after placing second To Big Brown. In the Zito barn, the mood is subdued.

Anak Nakal: (sobbing) "I should have wished her well. I bullied her like you said. I...oh, dear Pegasus..."

War Pass: "Knock that off, Nakie! You did your best. It's about winning!"

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

Saving Thoroughbreds from catastrophic injuries has been going on for quite some time. Owners get walloped with unlearned pans when they make life-altering decisions for their horses. Early retirements are criticized as greedy gallops to the breeding shed, while screams go forth for more performances from favorites like Smarty Jones.

Now, rants and raves over the tragedy at the Kentucky Derby. The racing industry is cruel, it's said. Do something! The reality is that Thoroughbreds weigh over 1,000 pounds and run, racing, or not, on four thin sticks that have a suspect blood supply and no muscle below the knee and hock. Unfortunately, they do, at times, break without warning.

The Chapmans, who owned Smarty Jones and smilingly absorbed the public's brief adoration gained from their dual classic champion's two-year career, were harshly criticized for their decision to retire Mr. Jones to stud while he was hot.

Did we want his safety more than his next performance? After his fantastic Triple Crown effort, Smarty was diagnosed with bruised canon bones on all four legs. It wasn't life-threatening. But the Chapmans had one horse to support their retirement. So they chose to collect stud fees. So we could look forward to more Smarties.

Did we really want to see Smarty run himself into the ground, risking permanent, or fatal injury? The Chapmans were wise.

Charismatic, Lion Heart, Invasor, Rags to Riches, Teuflesberg, and War Pass, all champions, all had their careers shortened by fractures that may have healed. Their owners retired them.

Why risk it?

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

Yes, Big Brown was inexperienced (three career starts) in his Kentucky Derby, the world's most prestigious Thoroughbred showcase. Yes, he was starting from the impossible Post Position 20.

Only Regret (1915) had beaten the first jinx and only Clyde Van Dusen (1929) had beaten the second one.

So, yes, in the end, I went with the odds -- against Big Brown. My trifecta and my backup trifecta went head over heals. Except for Denis of Cork. I scored one of six.

Big Brown is a fantastic Kentucky Derby champion. And I'm not just saying this -- that in my deepest of hearts, I was rooting for him. He looked good. But those odds.

And I just had to go with those odds against. Maybe this will teach me my lesson -- go with the heart and guts. Leave the odds to others to fuss with and sort through.

My picks of Monba to win, Colonel John to place, Denis of Cork to show finished like this: 20th of 20, sixth, and third. Hmm... A backup trifecta (chosen because after War Pass's injury put him out of the Derby, and Pyro's last previous race was a bomb, and I didn't have a clue who to boost in the wide open mix that was left) went like this: Cool Coal Man, Tale of Ekati, Adriano, and they finished like this -- 15th (oh, dear), fourth (whew, okay, not too bad), and 19th!

From now on, it's the heart that will lead!

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

Big Brown breathtakingly dominated and won the 134th Kentucky Derby May 3. Filly Eight Belles gallantly chased him, then inexplicably collapsed after finishing second, and was lost.

Athletes collapse. Sports are about gladiatorship.

Horse racing will not go away any more than will baseball, or basketball, or the truly "manly", inhumane, gladiator-arena-spectacle of football. Which we love to watch.

Violence is part of our sporting culture. It won't go away. Alas, it is the human way to risk breakage and adversity, even violent endings.

Do we mistreat and abuse horses to get them to compete, or to refine their natural instinct to run? There's a small percentage of that, probably, as there is a percentage of humans who choose to abuse their athletic bodies to compete on a higher level.

We must attack the percentage, not the whole.

Where is the wrong? The blame? The wrong is not in these sports themselves. The wrong is in those who give in to the temptation to alter human, or animal chemistry to enhance performances. Ability is natural. Correct fuel -- food -- is our natural available enhancement.

Eight Belles suffered an underlying cause of collapse. Horses do not run in a stride that requires them to put both front legs forward at the same time. Eight Belles was in distress that caused her to collapse forward with both ankles hitting the ground at the same time and unable to hold her falling weight.

I've seen horrific breakage. Compound fractures. Flailing legs. Ruffian. Union City. I've never seen a horse still able to stride correctly break two legs at once. Barbaro broke one leg and continued to run in correct cadence on three other legs. So did Ruffian, amazingly. And Union City.

Eight Belles collapsed before the breakage.

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

Okay, here we go, analysis and prediction, Kentucky Derby, 2008.

Barclay Tagg colts do better than expected, or less than their talent indicates.

Monba, or Cowboy Cal will make overdue trainer Todd Pletcher a Derby star.

Gayego is to like, but the colt's post position stinks.

Big Brown. You gotta love this guy, a Curlin-like mix of heart and brawn and wide open throttle, but PP No.20 is problematic. So far in Derby history one horse who started from there won the Derby.

Cool Coal Man, if he talked to War Pass, and if he comes in with an all for one, one for all stable attitude, could win going away.

Anak Nakal. Say what? Leave it to CC Man.

Recapturetheglory. Nope. Not in this race.

Colonel John. Everything's in place. Too perfect.

Adriano has a smart jockey (Edgar Prado) and an unbeatable sire (A.P. Indy). This boy could surprise.

Pyro. He'll rebound to find true redemption, or bounce into space-like oblivion.

Denis of Cork of the smooth, versatile talent and the patient jockey (Calvin Borel) might put out all his potential in exchange for a wreath of roses.

Eight Belles. If a filly can...

Big Truck. Big motor stalls in traffic.

Visionaire. Can't see it happening.

Court Vision. Bad verdict.

Z Fortune. No fortune here.

Z Humor. Not funny.

Bob Black Jack. What's in a name?

Smooth Air. Could be a fierce wind.

So...if my trifecta of Monba, Colonel John, Denis of Cork fails to fire, here's my safety net three: Cool Coal Man, Tale of Ekati, Adriano. See you at the track!

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Remember those TV shows in the fifties? Top cowboys had neat horses who followed their every move and responded to their every comman. The bad guys just had ordinary steeds.

Autry had Champion and Rogers had Trigger. Who had a gray named Traveler? Famous southern general Robert E. Lee, of course.

In fictiion, we had The Black Stallion (1941). The Black was a wild Arabian horse who, through an accident at sea, came into the hands of young Alec Ramsey. Thus was begun a twenty plus book saga created by then college student Walter Farley.

Who could forget the stunning telling of the heroics and survival of Black Beauty (1946) by Anna Sewell? Also in 1941 was the down-to-earth, My Friend Flicka, by Mary O'Hara.

Names to remember. Like Somebeachsomewhere, this season's Standardbred champion. The all-time best Standardbred name might be No Pan Intended from the Peter Pan Stables in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

Whirlaway was a great handle. Swooping speed comes to mind, and the 1941 chestnut Thoroughbred Triple Crown champion had that.

Seattle Slew was good. The 1977 Triple Crown champ was named for his owners' places of residence, Seattle and the Florida slews (swamps, or Everglades).

Then there was Alexander the Great's mighty Bucephalus, the strong warrior.

Last year, we lost the Thoroughbred Yes Its True. That brain tingler name always stirred my imagination. What's true?

Got memory lane names?

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

If only twenty of 35,000 Thoroughbred foals born annually are permitted to compete in the Kentucky Derby each year, what happens to the other 34,980?

Why are domesticated cats and dogs being euthanized and horses being slaughtered into the millions by the end of every year? Why do bears invade human garbage cans?

The answers to these questions raise more questions.

When people fail to understand, or to benefit from the value of the animals with which they share the earth, they miss out on a great bounty. Most animals readily adapt to the human way when treated with respect and a measure of love.

Dogs who snarl are kept by people who snarl. Bears pound on garbage cans because they are hungry. Humans are turning their environments upside down. Domesticated animals destroyed by the thousands and millions, in particular horses, cats, and dogs, suffer that fate because man is a poor steward of the dominion he was given.

Perhaps God Himself made a mistake.

Must we destroy our beautiful companions simply because we cannot find ways to control their sheer numbers, or to adequately care for our own environment?

Dogs and cats and horses who cuddle are cared for by people who take proper advantage of their animal companion's capacity to love. These loving animals may act differently when abused.

Horses race because men train them to do so. What happens to over 34,000 racing prospects per year?

Why do roosters fight?

Why do dogs bite?

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

"Horse Sense" (# 5) explores the impending death of 1986 Kentucky Derby Champion Ferdinand.

Ferdinand: (Standing in the lineup of death row.) Nervous whinny.

Other: Return whinny.

Ferdinand's bridle handler: "Whoa, boy. Don't get nervous on me."

Ferdinand: Whinny to other. "I am nervous."

Friend from inside the first building in front of Ferdinand: High whinny. "Ferd?"

Ferdinand: Nervous whinny. "Al? Al! Are you in line?"

Al: "Yes! The first building. It's terrible in here!!" High whinny.

Ferdinand: "Al -- Al! What is this? There are wretched odors here, and I can smell blood!"

Al: "It's slaughter, Ferd! I saw Lucky, and he...he screamed, Ferd, when he went into the next room!"

Ferdinand: Nervous whinny. "What do you mean, Al? Slaughter? Is that the smell? What are they doing to everyhorse?"

Al: "Don't come in, Ferd --"

Other whinny: "Al? Ferd? What's going on? I'm in the holding corral on the other side of the first building. What's going on! What is this?"

Al: "Princess?"

Other: "Yes! Al, please, what's happening!"

Al: Screeching whinny. "Oh, Princess --"

Ferdinand: "Al! Hold on --"

Al: "Ferd! Don't come in --"

Ferdinand: "I'm being held. I can't break free!"

Al: "Princess! Jump the corral fence!"

Princess: Frightened whinny. "It's too high! I can't!"

Al: "Try, Princess! Try!!! Oh, dear Pegasus, they're coming at me! Ferd! Get away! It's slaughter, I tell you! They're killing us in here! Go! Now!"

Ferdinand: "Al! I can't get away!" Half rearing, calling with whinny of fright and confusion.

Al: "Run, Princess! The fence! Go, Ferd! Go! Oh, no --"

Ferdinand: "Al? Al! Talk to me, buddy! Al?"

Princess: "Ferdinand?"

Ferdinand: "Princess! Are you tied?"

Princess: "No."

Ferdinand: "Then jump, Princess. Jump! I smell blood, and it's stronger now. Al! Al! Pegasus, no. Jump, Princess! Al? Al!"

FACT: In 2002 in Japan, Ferdinand was "disposed of", most likely in a slaughterhouse, his U.S. owners learned after they had launched inquiries through reporter Barbara Bayer.

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg

It was an epic contest, and one wonders what might have transpired between masculine Curlin and outstanding filly Rags to Riches in their scintillating 2007 Belmont Stakes battle, won by the lady by a very short nose.

It could have been this:

In the starting gate:

He: "Filly, what are you doing in a man's race?"

She: "Bite me."

He: Snort.

She: Whinny.

Breaking from the gate:

He: "Got jump?"

She: "Move aside for some real pedigree."

He: "Ouch, Girlie, Girl."

She: "My daddy is A.P. Indy. What do you have?"

He: "Muscles." Snort. "And my dad's an up and comer."

She: Mane shaking. Whinny.

Into the first turn:

He: "You going to race, or what?"

She: "I'll see you in the lane, Fella."

He: Snort.

She: Whinny.

Through the backstretch:

He: "Let's see what you got now, Pretty Miss!"

She: "Catch me if you can, Big Boy!"

Turning for home:

He: "After-burners on, Girlie, Girl!"

She: "Better dig in, Sport!"

Down the lane:

He: (huffing) "You're good, and you're beautiful!"

She: (puffing) "Back at you, Handsome!"

He: "I'll pull this off yet!"

She: "Don't think so!"

He: (grunting) "Here's the wire!"

She: (laughing) "Here's my nose!"

Galloping out:

He: "Hey, Beautiful, how about a little nibble later?"

She: "Well...Yes, you earned it, Handsome."

Curlin, third in the Kentucky Derby, winner of the Preakness Stakes, and second in the Belmont to the lady's nose, went on to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders' Cup Classic. He was voted Horse of the Year, then went half way around the world and scorched the competition in the Dubai World Cup Classic.

Rags to Riches dealt with misfortune; a hairline fracture ended her racing career. In 2008, she has been booked to the successful sire, Giant's Causeway. Perhaps she awaits Curlin's retirement!