8 Days a Wreck

Obviously, racing horses is risky business (it’s not a sport). And being a business, there’s big money in betting on the non-sport of horse racing. There’s also a whole lot of regret associated it. At least, there ought to be.

Genuine Risk, Winning Colors and Regret are all names of fillies that have won the Kentucky Derby. Today, in the 134th “Run for the Roses,” Eight Belles attempted to become only the fourth filly to win the Kentucky Derby. Instead, she’s dead. Euthanized by injection in front of 157,770 on-lookers (the second-largest crowd in Derby history and the second-largest assembly of drunks outside of the Indy500), after breaking ankles on both of her front legs.

Starting from the No. 5 post, the filly came in second, although given that this beautiful horse is no more, it could be argued that she came in dead last.

According to Huffington Post, earlier in the week in Jeffersonville, Indiana, Hillary Clinton said, “I hope that everybody will go to the derby on Saturday and place just a little money on the filly (Eight Belles) for me. I won’t be able to be there this year. My daughter is going to be there and so she has strict instructions to bet on Eight Belles.” Well, Eight Belles gave her life to pay $10.60 and $6.40.

A few years back, Barbaro shattered his back leg at the Preakness and was eventually put down. Now, it’s Eight Belles. When will this cruelty end? It won’t unless you do something. You can start by…

• Neither attending nor ever again watching the Kentucky Derby on TV
• Joining PETA

The jockey who rode Big Brown to victory today said, “This horse [Big Brown] showed you his heart, and Eight Belles showed you her life for our enjoyment.”

Did you enjoy it? Eight Belles’ trainer, Larry Jones, said, “She ran the race of her life.” That’s for sure. Unfortunately.