The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, also known as PETA is making their views heard after the tragedy at the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. They are seeking the suspension of Eight Bells’ jockey, Gabriel Saez, after the filly had to be euthanized following her second place finish.

Eight Bells’ had broken both of her front ankles while galloping out a quarter mile past the wire. She was the first filly since 1999 to run in the Derby and appeared fine until the end of the race. She was euthanized on the track.

PETA claims that Eight Bells was “doubtlessly injured before the finish” and requested that Saez be suspended while the death is being investigated.

“What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?” PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. “If he didn’t then we can probably blame the fact that they’re allowed to whip the horses mercilessly.”

This was Saez’s first Kentucky Derby and he rides frequently for Eight Bells trainer Larry Jones.

A letter written by PETA was sent to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority also asking a ban to be put on whipping, limits on races and the age of racehorses, and a move to softer, artificial surfaces for all courses.

Personally, I think that what PETA is asking isn’t unfair at all when it comes to the changes that could be incorporated into the sport of horse racing. The horses well being is obviously the most important thing to consider before profit and entertainment. It’s not uncommon for injuries to take place on the track and the suggestions they are making make sense. All sports have modified themselves to lessen injuries of the athletes and these changes may lessen the injuries of the horses. It’s something worth considering.

Second place finisher Eight Belles is euthanized following a collapse on the track at the end of the race. The loss overshadowed Big Brown’s commanding first-place finish.

Big Brown, the favorite heading into the Kentucky Derby, became the first horse since 1929 to win the Kentucky Derby from the 20th post position. Finishing close to five lengths ahead of the second place filly, Eight Belles, Big Brown makes a strong case to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

But the story of the day was not the win for Big Brown’s owners, the IEAH Stables, his trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. and his jockey, Kent Desormeaux. Sadly, that tragic ending would belong to Eight Belles, who ran the race of her life only to lose it in the end. Shortly after completing the race, the filly collapsed on the track, breaking both ankles to her front hind legs, and was euthanized right then and there.

What should have been a glorious win for the more than 157,000 horse racing fans in attendance turned into a tragic loss, one that sent shock waves around the world.

“The injuries were catastrophic,” said Dr Larry Bramlage, the track’s “on call” veterinarian. “She didn’t have a front foot to stand on. She was immediately euthanized. I have never seen anything like this before at the end of a race.”

The death of Eight Belles raises some serious questions…

While it is true that the horse racing industry is spending millions of dollars trying to make the sport safer, another sad truth is that death on the racetrack happens every day — nearly twice a day in the United States and Canada, according to Dr. David Nunamaker, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and the chairman of clinical studies at New Bolton Center where the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was hospitalized and then later euthanized. According to Nunamaker, fatal muscle and bone injuries occur 1.5 times per 1,000 starts.

With the Kentucky Derby this weekend every horse racing fan is getting ready for the big day. From party planning, to making your bets, if there is one day to go big or go home the Kentucky Derby is that day.

Most of us won’t be able to make it out to watch the race live so we are stuck with our TV sets. When I think of a horse racing party I think big hats, fancy cloths, mint julep and Benedictine Sandwiches. The recipe for this sandwich is found in almost every Kentucky Derby recipe book. If you want to try it for yourself here is the recipe.

Benedictine
1 medium cucumber, peeled and seeded
1 small onion
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
Dash of salt (to taste)
Green food coloring

Finely grate cucumber and onion (may use food processor). Drain well in a strainer, pressing down with back of spoon to remove all liquid. Add a dash of salt. Add drained cucumber and onion to cream cheese and mix well in food processor. Add 1 to 2 drops of green food coloring and mix to distribute color (should be pale green). Use on white bread as a sandwich spread, to make canapés or for a dip with vegetables or crackers.

I know that the cucumber sandwich and its variations remind all of us of our grandparents but you have to admit, drinking and wearing a big hat with a million feathers somehow reminds us of grandparents as well.

Let the Kentucky Derby party to begin. We all know about Mint Julep as the drink of choice but not this year. This year we are throwing out the bourbon and brining in the tequila. Churchill Downs has selected Brown-Roman Corp.’s Tequila Herradura as the “Official Tequila for Kentucky Derby 134.” This will be the first year that the track has chosen an official tequila.

Herrandura, which is Spanish for “horseshoe” makes this tequila quite fitting. The Kentucky Derby is only 4 days away so let the celebration begin! The race may be the fastest 2 minutes in sports but the drinking will go all day and into the night.

When I was three years old, I was watching Sesame Street. Big Brown, on the other hand, is less than a week away from racing in the Kentucky Derby.

This is what makes being a horseplayer so intriguing – and potentially rewarding. At age 3, Big Brown is the equine equivalent of a stud rookie, like Adrian Peterson or Al Horford. But at least they brought years of proven college results with them to the pros for handicappers to judge. Big Brown has been in exactly three races, including his maiden and an allowance.

Taking Big Brown at 5-2 (down from 3-1 last week) is largely an act of faith. His convincing Mar. 29 win at the Florida Derby provides an important piece of objective proof. However, Big Brown’s meteoric rise to the top of the futures market is based on the overwhelming consensus in the racing community that this wonder horse is a vastly superior genetic specimen.

1. Colonel John- We love his sire and because of this we think he can go the distance.
2. Big Brown- We remember his huge Florida Derby victory so why can’t he win another Derby?
3. Gayego- He made his first debut on dirt a winning one. The only horse to beat him was Georgie Boy and he’s not on this list.
4. Pyro- So he didn’t do well in Blue Grass because he “didn’t like the polytrack” oh boo hoo.
5. War Pass- Yes he did loose his last two races but he’s still a champ to me.
6. Monba- I’ll jump on the bandwagon for this horse just like everyone else.
7. Tale of Ekati- He has a solid foundation as a juvenile and I think he might give us a surprise.
8. Smooth Air- Just behind Big Brown at the Florida Derby, let hope this isn’t as far as he’s going to go
9. Recapturetheglory- I mostly just like his name but with every race he keeps improving.
10. Visionaire- Lets hope he can out do his sire, Grand Slam and have no difficulty making the ¼ mile trip.

Kentucky Derby Picks

The big surprise amongst the Kentucky Derby contenders is Big Brown. He is undefeated in the three races that he’s run, winning all quite handily. But there is something that people should know before putting big bucks on Big Brown.

Big Brown is one of these new super-horses bred for performance, with little attention paid to durability. His sire, Boundary, did not race until April of his 3-year-old season. He was brilliant in his first two starts, and was done for the year. Boundary is by the late Danzig, who managed only three starts and three runaway victories in 1979 and 1980 before he broke down and was retired. Big Brown’s dam, Mien, finally raced in September of her 3-year-old season. After two races and a maiden win at Pimlico, she was done for good. See a pattern here?

Does Big Brown have one more Kentucky Derby in him? We’ll see.

We’ve got one month left to go on the Triple Crown Trail. The Kentucky Derby is May 3; here are the remaining prep races. All are Saturday events, with Grade levels for stakes races in parentheses.

Apr. 5
Wood Memorial Stakes (I), Aqueduct
Santa Anita Derby (I), Santa Anita Park
Bay Shore Stakes (III), Aqueduct
Illinois Derby (II), Hawthorne Race Course

Apr. 12
Holy Bull Stakes (III), Gulfstream Park
Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (I), Keeneland Race Course
Arkansas Derby (II), Oaklawn Park
La Puente Stakes, Santa Anita Park
Northern Spur B.C., Oaklawn Park

Apr. 19
Coolmore Lexington Stakes (II), Keeneland Race Course

Apr. 26
Withers Stakes (III), Aqueduct
Derby Trial Stakes, Churchill Downs

The big story going into April is the rise of Big Brown to Kentucky Derby favorite at 3-1 on the futures market. His allowance win on Mar. 5 was breathtaking, and he followed it up by taking Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby. Phenomenal – and no April Fool, either.

The road to the Kentucky Derby got a little tighter last weekend with Georgie Boy’s win at the $200,000 San Felipe Stakes. Before Georgie Boy’s win, the contender race for the Kentucky Derby was a one-horse show. Before last week War Pass was the heavy favorite, but his last-place finish at the Tampa Bay Derby has vaulted Georgie Boy into the favorite position for the Running of the Roses in May.

Georgie Boy ran down Gayego and Bob Black Jack to prevail by three-quarters of a length in the Grade II, 1 1/16-mile event. There have been a couple of San Felipe Stakes winner that have gone on the win the Kentucky Derby. Sunday Silence did it in 1989 and Fusaichi Pegasus did it in 2000. Georgie Boy has a three-race winning streak going into the Kentucky Derby dating back to September at the Del Mar Futurity.

Saturday’s $500,000 Lane’s End Stakes at Turfway Park doesn’t feature any big-name Kentucky Derby contenders, but it’s still a major Kentucky Derby prep race (albeit a wide open one) and because it’s a grades stakes race it could give one horse a shot at the Run for the Roses in May. Halo Najib is the 7-2 morning-line favorite, with Cannonball the 9-2 second-choice for Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race at Turfway Park.

“Whoever wins this race jumps right into the (Derby) picture — and none of them is in the top 20 now,” said track oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

The Lane’s End has produced one Kentucky Derby winner, Lil E. Tee in 1992.

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