Blood on the track: the bell tolls for Eight Belles
I’ve never been especially interested in horses, and I almost never watch horse races.
One exception was the 1975 match race between the unbeaten filly Ruffian and that year’s Derby winner Foolish Pleasure. As we watched, Ruffian broke down towards the end of the race, and she ended up being euthanized. Ruffian is buried at Belmont Park facing the finish line.
I didn’t watch yesterday’s Kentucky Derby, but I heard about it and have seen photos. The remarkable filly Eight Belles suffered an unprecedented injury, breaking the condylar bones in both ankles after the race as she circled the track for the cooldown lap. She was euthenized then and there, the only time in the Derby’s long history that a horse has ever died in the race.
There is something almost unbearably poignant and even horrific about this sort of event, even to someone like me who’s ordinarily indifferent to horses. The trajectory from sharpest triumph (Eight Belles came in second in the Derby, making her a rare filly indeed) to deep sorrow, all in the flash of a moment and without any foreshadowing or understandable reason (except for the fact that racehorses have fragile leg bones relative to their huge weight, and the bones of fillies are even more delicate than those of colts) is a reminder of the uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of life itself.
Is it just my perception, or are such breakdowns getting more common among horses? The colt Barbaro, winner of the Derby in 2006, broke down at the beginning of the Preakness and was ultimately euthanized after a lengthy and heroic effort to save him involving about two dozen surgeries and other procedures (read the sad and harrowing details here).
Racehorses need to stand up to live, and the nature of Eight Belles’s injuries would have made that impossible. Sometimes, as in Barbaro’s case, the recovery process from the breaking of one leg leads to injuries in the others, and the horse becomes unable to stand and is put down for that reason. But Eight Belles would not have been able to stand even at the outset (scroll down here and see especially the comment from Bryan D., an equine veterinarian, who writes “there is no way to splint two fractures like this to even get her in the ambulance and to surgery”).
What’s more, at least one and perhaps both of Eight Belles’s fractures was apparently compound, which is often an unsurvivable type of injury even if the break only involves a single leg. Such fractures, especially if they occur on the race track, tend to be
highly septic (see this for everything you ever wanted to know, or didn’t want to know, about treating fractures in horses).
Racehorses are bred to run, and the champions among them have a fighting spirit that won’t quit. They hate to be behind, and will do almost anything to stay in the lead. This is their glory and, if injured, their nemesis, even if the injury is technically survivable.
When Ruffian died I couldn’t understand why, with all the advances in veterinary science, she could not be saved. But this account of her injury and the aftermath of her surgery makes it very clear. She simply could not stop running:
The first quarter-mile [of Ruffian’s 1975 match race against Foolish Pleasure] was run in a blazing 22 1/5 seconds, with Ruffian ahead by a nose. Little more than a 1 furlong later, Ruffian was in front by half a length when both sesamoid bones in her right foreleg snapped. [Her jockey] Vasquez tried to pull her up, but the filly wouldn’t stop. She kept on running, pulverizing her sesamoids, ripping the skin of her fetlock as the bones burst through, driving the open wound into the stinging sand of the Belmont track, tearing her ligaments, until her hoof was flopping uselessly, bent up like the tip of a ski. She was known for her incredible love of running and unwillingness to lose. She had never before been behind in a race.
She was immediately attended to by a team of four veterinarians and an orthopedic surgeon, and underwent an emergency operation lasting 3 hours. Tragically, when the anesthesia wore off after the surgery, she thrashed about wildly on the floor of a padded recovery stall as if still running in the race. Despite the efforts of numerous attendants, she began spinning in circles on the floor. As she flailed about with her legs, she repeatedly knocked the heavy plaster cast against her own elbow until the elbow, too, was smashed to bits. The cast slipped, and as it became dislodged it ripped open her foreleg all over again, undoing what good, if any, the surgery had done. The medical team, knowing that she would probably not survive more extensive surgery for the repair of her leg and elbow, euthanized her shortly afterwards.
I cannot read those words even today without tears springing to my eyes. RIP the valiant three: Ruffian, Barbaro, and Eight Belles.
The Washington Post has an article about racehorse breeding producing animals with lighter and more fragile bones, designed for speed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/03/AR2008050301707_pf.html
Like so many, I was watching on live TV when Barbaro broke his leg. As his jockey tried valiantly to pull him up, the horse took a few more strides, with that shattered lower leg flailing in a sickening way that a horse’s leg was clearly never made to move. A person with such an injury would crumple instantly to the ground, but a race horse is driven by its heart, not its head. It keeps running unless someone makes it stop.
I had not heard the story before about Ruffian smashing her leg apart while recovering from emergency surgery. At the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center, where Barbaro was treated, there is a heated recovery pool in which horses recovering from surgery float on a raft. In the water, they can thrash as much as they need to as they come out of anesthesia, but they won’t strike anything hard. Here is a picture of Barbaro being lifted out of the pool after one of his surgeries there.
What a beautiful animal! I think it’d be very easy to fall in love with horses, generally, but race horses especially. The whole image exudes grace and elegance.
That poor guy had more metal in his leg than bone.
As a lover of horses, not an owner of one, I found myself profoundly saddened. I was pulling for Eight Belles all the way, cheering the great, tall horse on. It makes me feel in some way just a bit guilty.
But as a former athlete, I still bear the pains that “going all out” requires of anyone, man or animal, that wants to win. Perhaps that is why horses approach nobility in our human realm. Because we know what you said is true; most of us would collapse and not go on.
I, too, clearly remember watching the Ruffian-Foolish Pleasure match race on tv and the horror of Ruffian’s sudden head-long collapse. Going into that race, she had won, I believe, all ten of her races and, as noted, had never been behind at any point in those races. Foolish Pleasure had won the 1975 Kentucky Derby, while Ruffian won the filly Triple Crown. There were many who believed that, if entered, Ruffian would have won that other Triple Crown.
While I usually watch the Derby, I missed this year’s telecast — I’m glad I did.
There is, I believe, also some merit in the concern about the breeding and fragility of thoroughbreds. Over these past thirty-plus years, they have been bred more for speed than stamina. This is reflected in the decline in the number of races longer than one and one-half miles — and there remain few at this last distance.
Neo,
Being that it’s May 4th and you were talking of Eight Belles, Ruffian other unfortunate race horses getting shot. I would like to wander a little off topic and remember on this day May 4th, the four students who were shot at Kent State in 1970. Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Sheuer and William Schroeder.
It’s been 38 years since that fateful day and a reminder, to me at least, that in these heated political times, with a war on, things could be much worse. I just to hope that such heated times do not return, despite the best efforts of some to bring them back.
I was in high school at the time, about 30 miles from Kent. I remember when this happened very well. I also remember how at the time, the two overwhelming local sentiments after the news of the shootings spread. There was outrage on the part of those who were against the war. Proof that every paranoid conspiracist theory about Nixon and his ‘henchmen’ were true. Then there was was also the much broader local sentiment that, it was about time and lets finish the job. I remember hearing that on more than a few occasions. Fortunately, neither school of thought prevailed. Everyone backed away from that ledge.
Thirty eight years later, looking out at the hateful and divisive politics, being cynically perpetuated by some in or running for office and many in the MSM. At the paralysis of the political class and the deep divisions as a whole and I wonder if perhaps we aren’t closer to that ledge today, than we were back then.
Just a thought in passing I had reading about the horses being put down, that I thought I ‘d share.
Animals that are bred (either through us manipulating it or just natural selection) to do some thing pretty much *must* do it.
It’s also common in dogs, people will purchase sheep or hunting dogs for apartment life and then things go down hill form there. If given a chance those animals will do what they are bred to do if it literally kills them. Hunting dogs will starve and thirst to death if you let them, ones that get injured will continue to hunt and whine when you make them stop. Put them in an apartment and they do their level best to hunt or herd animals (this normally comes out in destructive and wild behavior).
While there is something sad about an animal that dies this way I’m willing to bet that it was less cruel than “retiring” the animal to a farm – they race. It’s like taking the above hunting/herding dogs and giving them “the good life” in a an apartment. It’s not the good life and they would have been happier dieing doing what they were bred to do. Other than its relative youth there is nothing to be sad over – more sad would be the horse having to live out it’s later life in a stable unable to race.
We have been involved to one extent or another with horses for over 35 years and have loved them dearly.
One daughter who has worked in the equine industry and has always had a horse of her own, hates racing. Yet, she has competed in other athletic events in which horses have been crippled or died. She has nursed horses who do grevious harm to themselves for inexplicable reasons. Horses are big, strong, very athletic; but prone to panic and are not very bright. People use them in ways that bring out their great athletic attributes, but put them at risk. Because of their nature, horses are trusting, and yes eager participants.
Racing is a complex situation. It is easy to say that horse racing kills horses because of the money–and there is certainly truth to that. One of the big knocks on thoroughbred racing, is that horse are run before they are fully maturre. On the other hand it is tremendously expensive to maintain a race horse and lucky is the owner who can support a horse until it matures adequately without some return on investment.
I expect that it is increaingly obvious to those in the thoroughbred business that changes need to be made. Public support for racing is waning; and events like those involving Ruffian, Barbaro and Eight Bellsy will turn many away. (Stangely enough it is the cheaper horse on the hard scrabble tracks who really need the reforms, but people don’t notice them.) I wonder if the people who worry about Polar Bears and spotted owls, will you collect money to prolong the existence of the magnifiecnt thoroughbred horse if the sport dies?
Tim P. I am not sure why you felt you had to interject your comments in this thread. Still, I am sure we all share your hopes; and if people will refrain from burning ROTC buildings or attacking USMC recruiting offices, then there is a good chance that confrontations such as the one at Kent State can be avoided.
Here is advice that I gave my children, and now my grandchildren: If you ever see anyone trying to provoke armed men, especially those who already have reason to be edgy (such as when guarding a sabatoge site), leave the area. If people start attacking them by throwing rocks, or actions of that nature, run don’t walk in the opposite direction. If you see someone instigating a riot, leave the area because nothing good is going to happen. Always keep in mind that police and soldiers are human, and no matter how disciplined can be provoked beyond their limits of endurance. If their tolerance level is exceeded someone is going to get hurt.
Not too many days ago, there was an article in the Wall Street Journal about racing horses. If I could, I would refer you to the wsj.com website.
The thrust of the article was that almost all racing horses have descended from (I think, I don’t remember) a horse named Fancy Dancer. He was a fast horse, but with weak bones. Both characteristics are held by his various, by now, great-grand-children.
Basically, racing horses have become inbred, and the risk of one of them being injured fatally is almost certain. I was sorry to hear of the death of one of the runners in the Kentucky Derby, but, after reading the WSJ article, I am not surprised.
I have never owned a horse and have gone horseback riding only a few times in my life. But, I will say this: they are remarkable creatures and you marvel at the degree of trust they put in us when we mount them and direct them. I’m not indifferent to horses – or to any of God’s creatures. Look, I’m not one of those who put animals at the same level as humans, but I still believe that we have an ethical duty to respect them and use them in a humane manner.
I did not see what happened yesterday at Churchill Downs. I got tired of the endless buildup to the race and turned it off, on account of the fact that the wife and I had to be somewhere. But, when we got home I read about what had happened on the web and I did find it sad. A magnificent animal had put forth such a gargantuan effort that it strained its very body to the breaking point, literally. I am sure the jockey, trainer, and owner were all very despondent over this. I know I would be. Hell, I can remember many years ago when our family dog was hit by a truck we were all in tears about it.
Only those who ride and care for horses can truly understand the bond that is formed between animal and human.
Another great filly that sacrificed too much on the track was Go For Wand, who broke down while edging ahead of Bayakoa down the stretch in the much-anticipated 1990 Breeders Cup Distaff matchup between the two champions. Ron McAnally’s somber post race comment: “Sometimes they give their lives for our enjoyment. “
Re J Otto Tennants comment on a recent WSJ article: the horse was Native Dancer and the reference was to the fact that all the horses entered in the Kentucky Derby had some lineage connection to Native Dancer. Native Dancer raced in the 1950s and lost only one race, the Kentucky Derby. He won the Preakness and Belmont. The large of majority of thoroughbreds racing today can be traced back to the horse named Eclipse. However, while racing fans often focus on the sire, for breeders the most important line in a horse’s breeding is the “bottom line”, the dam of the dam of the dam of the dam, etc.
It is sad indeed. Horse racing is a great sport and one that goes back to as long as men have ridden horses.
One of the problems with the Triple Crown as it is called is that the horses are two year olds. They are very young and immature. As a long time horseman it is well understood that racing a horse that young almost certainly has negative effects that carry on through the animals life time. Internal bleeding, leg injuries, eye injuries, etc. Most horses run that young do not last. For longevity in the racing game they should not be started until three. I have known of successful nine year olds. With proper care the animal can race a long time.
The main problem with the Triple Crown is the VAST amount of money tied into the prestige of winning the races. Stud fees can run into $100k and UP.
Racing them that young is a disservice to fine animals.
That just breaks my heart.
There’s an opportunity for racing to clean up its inbreeding act before PETA and company start moving in on it. Perhaps someone could tell me if this would work: trace the bloodlines of animals that have suffered leg breaks and compute weights for risk in their family tree, counting injuries as higher risk, racing careers without injury as negative risk, and non-racers as neutral. Then refuse to allow horses in the top 20% to race, and refuse to register the offspring of pairings that would produce offspring in the top 25%.
I get an uneasy feeling when stories like this get morphed into a call to end all risk and tragedy from life. Which inevitably translates into a demand that we live life less abundantly.
Seems to me we bemoan the human as being no longer a part of the natural world. Then attempt to rectify it all by behaving most unnaturally.
“Seems to me we bemoan the human as being no longer a part of the natural world. Then attempt to rectify it all by behaving most unnaturally.”
The term “natural world” means different things to different people. To some, it means the physical universe, as opposed to the nearly unlimited imaginary ones people invent; to others, it means the portion of the physical universe beyond the control of human civilization; to still others, it means the imaginary worlds like the Garden of Eden, where all beasts live in peace and harmony, free of the basic needs to eat or drink except when required for dramatic impact.
Often entirely new definintions are invented on the spot, as a cloak to hide some really screwed up personal beliefs. The number of words being abused this way is increasing with our ability to communicate, and seems to be related to our instinctive need to retain some measure of privacy in an increasingly scrutinized environment.
I don’t follow racing much, except for an occasional story which may have an interesting take.
So my memory is kind of occasional, too. But, such as it is, I believe most winners of any note are described as big, burly, muscular. IOW, not like the long-legged speed machines which are described as having been inbred.
Problem is, fragility can be a problem during training, too. So a good runner might be incapable of even entering a race if suffering from a training injury. Having some orthopedic and muscular oversupply might prevent training injuries, as well as racing injuries.
Race horses are ultimate examples of the might of artificial selection, just as Russian wolfhounds. Selective breeding for speed champions is the ultimate form of artificial selection. It inevitably produces animals very unfit to survive in normal conditions, fragile by design. Gracility and robustness of skeleton are opposite traits, widely dispersed in all mammal species and so very malleable by selection. Race horse compared to normal horse is like Formula 1 car to mass production car. It would not survive even slightest traffic incident.
Why has the jockey been suspended?
Below is a link to an 10/06 Washington Post story on the trend to artificial track surfaces. A comparison of the incidence of injuries on dirt tracks vs. grass and “polytrack”, would be interesting.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101801725.html
For those interested, this link has a long story — also from 2006 — about artificial track surfaces. The verdict was that they do dramatically reduce “castastrophic” injuries to horses.
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=2477611
The “money” paragraph:
More significantly, the California Horse Racing Board, emboldened by a tenfold reduction in the catastrophic-injury rate at Turfway, has passed a rule requiring all five of the state’s major racetracks – Bay Meadows Race Course, Del Mar, Golden Gate Fields, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita – to replace their dirt courses with synthetic surfaces by the end of 2007. The total cost, according to California racing officials, could exceed $40 million.
Also, there would be fewer jockey injuries.
Some factoids…
The triple crown races are for 3 year olds, not 2 year olds.
All “thoroughbred” horses trace their sire lineage to 3 stallions that were paired with English mares back in the late 1600’s, early 1700’s. The three were Byerly Turk, Darley Arabian, and Godolphan Arabian.
No matter what date they were actually born, all thoroughbreds born in the northern hemisphere advance in age to the next year on Jan 1. (In the southern hemisphere, it is Aug 1st.) In other words, a horse born on July 26 2006 becomes a 3 year old on Jan 1 2009 and is eligible to run in the Kentucky Derby.
The Kentucky Derby is the longest *continuously* run sporting event in the world. It just completed it’s 134th running.
The KY Derby used to be 1 1/2 miles long – the same as the Belmont Stakes. But in 1896, the race was shortened to 1 1/4 miles because it was decided by horsemen that 1 1/2 miles was too long for a 3 year old so early in the racing season.
I have been to every Ky Derby since 1995 because I work security in the Churchill Downs press box. I watched this years race from the press box balcony.
Oops…
I should have said: “The Kentucky Derby is the longest continuously run sporting event in the nation.”
SteveH
They never understand if risk and death are removed you never reach beyond yourself.