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Md. Trainers React To Eight Belles' Death

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May 4, 2008 8:00 pm US/Eastern

Md. Trainers React To Eight Belles' Death

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WJZ) ― The Kentucky Derby broke records--an amazing finish for one horse and a tragic ending for another.

Jessica Kartalija reports trainers are setting their sights on the Preakness.

It was a triumph for Big Brown, the first horse to win from the #20 post position since 1929.  Seconds later, heartbreak as the race's only filly, Eight Belles, goes down.  It was a somber day for trainer Larry Jones, who moved his base to Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton just this year.

"These things are our family.  They've given us everything they have.  We've given everything we have.  They put their lives on the damn line here and she was glad to do it," Jones said.

At Pimlico, the talk around the stables is about what happened at the Derby.  Trainers say you can analyze it all you want, but the thing is, unfortunately these things do happen.

"You just can't foresee these things," said Holly Robinson.

She has been training horses for more than 30 years.

"I felt sorry for the horse. I felt sorry for the connections and I really felt sorry for Larry Jones.  Trainers spend 24/7 with their horses," she said.

The demise of Eight Belles brought back memories of Barbaro, who shattered his right hind leg at the start of the 2006 Preakness in Baltimore.  But unlike Barbaro's breakdown when all eyes were on him, this injury happened while millions of fans were focused on Big Brown's undefeated performance.

"I was watching on TV and I couldn't see it and all of a sudden they flash on that and I said, `When did that happen?  What?'  Sometimes they get tired and that's what I was hoping that was what happened," Robinson said.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.  Eight Belles broke both front ankles and had to be euthanized.

"You love your horses.  You're out here seven days a week, so I tend to fall in love with my horses," said trainer Steve Hinds.

Last year, Eight Belles' trainer Larry Jones came in second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness with his horse Hard Spun.

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