Horse death sparks debate about sport

Animals being pushed hard too young, some say

By Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Preston Gannaway / The Rocky

Pete DeSarno stands with a horse Monday at Colorado Thoroughbred Rescue, the refuge he runs with his wife in Wellington. They have six rescued horses. The death of Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby has brought out differing opinions on the business of horse racing.

The death of a racehorse at the Kentucky Derby has brought out differing opinions on the sport of racing.

Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles broke two legs just seconds after crossing the finish line Saturday, and millions of animal lovers wondered why the spirited filly had to be put to death.

Teresa Alcorn, owner of Spirit Ranch near Wellington, said Eight Belles' death could have been prevented if horses were allowed to mature before they are raced.

"They shouldn't be racing them at that age," said Alcorn.

"Their bones aren't developed, their joints aren't closed up. They're pushing them extremely hard in training and in a race of that magnitude, it's like taking a toddler out and expecting them to run a marathon."

She said that while races like the Kentucky Derby require that horses be at least 3 years old in order to compete, she said that is still too young, especially for fillies.

"A mare doesn't fully develop until they're 5 or 7," said Alcorn, who raises quarter horses.

"You will not find any competing in other thoroughbred events who are less than 7 or 5. They may be conditioning and using them younger but not jumping and competing until they're four."

She said that money has been the major factor behind horses being pushed to run at an early age.

"It's such a tradition for such a long time - who has the best horse and who has the youngest horse. It all falls back on making money - that's what it's all about," she said.

But former Kentucky Derby jockey Pat Day disagreed, saying there was little that could have been done to prevent what happened to Eight Belles.

"I do not think her problem was because she ran as a 2-year-old," he said. "They're bred for speed. Thoroughbreds are not like saddle horses. They're very fine-boned, with tiny ankles."

Day, a Louisville resident who retired in 2005, also said that most people who are involved in horse racing do it not because of the money but because of their love of horses.

"This didn't happen because the industry wasn't watching," he said. "This happened because it was an accident. It's a tragedy, in spite of the efforts of handlers, riders, in spite of everything, it happened."

Day said he's had horses suffer a broken leg during the course of a race, usually resulting in his being thrown from the horse, and the horse having to be euthanized.

"There was nothing that anyone could have done or would have done," he said.

Racehorses are marvels of speed and grace, but they put such explosive force on their skinny legs that fractures can be devastating, leading to no other option but for them to be killed, a renowned horse surgeon said Monday.

If Eight Belles' left foreleg fracture hadn't been so severe, if she had just been walking on a trail when it happened, they might have been able to save her, said Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, director of the Equine Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado State University.