May 6, 2008 8:52 am US/Eastern
Eight Belles' Death Puts Horse Racing In Spotlight
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Horse racing is under an unflattering spotlight by critics after Eight Belles' fatal injury at the Kentucky Derby.
by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Horse racing is under an unflattering spotlight by critics after Eight Belles' fatal injury at the Kentucky Derby.
Mary Bubala has the latest from Pimlico, where the second jewel of the triple crown will be run in 12 days.
As the only filly racing the Kentucky Derby, Eight Belles showed magnificent speed and strength, striding across the finish line second, only to collapse on the track moments later, both front ankles shattered.
"She didn't have a front leg to stand on to be splinted and hauled off in the ambulance, so she was immediately euthanized," said Dr. Larry Bramlage.
It took spectators several moments to grasp the reality of what was happening and when they did, the response was swift and severe.
"These horses are really expendable commodities," said Rep. Ed Whitfield.
Animal rights groups are calling for the jockey's suspension and demanding stricter regulations be enforced within the horseracing industry.
It's not something those in the business want to hear.
"We've put everything into them that we have and they've given us everything they have. They've put their life on the damn line here," said Larry Jones.
Keith Dane is the director of equine protection for the Humane Society of the United States.
"The horses just don't hold up to the rigors of racing these days and we believe that they're being started too early, run too hard," he said.
Other factors Dane says are of grave concern to the Humane Society are steroids and pain-masking drugs used on racehorses, hard dirt tracks that don't offer the padding needed to brace their heavy frames and young horses being forced to run before their bones have fully formed.
"The public doesn't know much of what goes on in the racing industry. They see the three races a year that are typically televised and when horses are dying in that they know there is a problem but they don't know the extent of the problem and the racing industry really needs to address it and acknowledge it and own up to it and make changes," Dane said.
Horseracing experts estimate two horses per day either die or suffer career-ending injuries as a result of racing.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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