Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Horse Racing Gets a Bad Rap Too Often
By Greg Melikov for the National Sports Review

June 21, 2008

Criticism often comes from those that have no idea how the thoroughbred industry operates.

The latest chapter in the blame game involves the unfortunate demise of Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby after running a valiant second, then collapsing on the Churchill Downs main track and having to be euthanized.

The salvos that fired soon after the tragedy were many: Fillies shouldn’t race against males, Eight Belles must have been on steroids, it’s a money hungry industry with no regard for the horses, etc.

Well, fillies and mares have raced against their male counterparts across the Atlantic for years and have done quite well. Tests proved Eight Belles wasn’t racing with steroids when she broke down in the Kentucky Derby after finishing second to Big Brown. And most owners and trainers of thoroughbreds would never think of throwing them to the wolves.

Several of my readers commented on the Eight Belles tragedy and were quite compassionate.

“I wanted to see a filly win,” wrote Marsha. “But the worst happened. It was not the owner’s, trainer or jockey’s fault. The old saying, ‘S— Happens.’ It did. A racehorse, with a big heart, broke her legs. Yea, fillies may not be as strong as a stallion, but look at women â€“ we aren’t either, but we get the job done. RIP Eight Belles. You did a wonderful job!”

“There is no reason why fillies can’t or shouldn’t race in the Kentucky Derby,” Connie observed. “However, fate has happened as it could have happened to any of the other horses, as we have seen in the past such as Barbaro. But everything happens for a reason. My heart goes out to her trainers, owners and everyone she has touched in her short life. God Bless!”

“She was a great athlete â€“ she beat all but one of the boys,” Warren remarked. “I wept when I heard of her demise. I agree with some of the others it was an unfortunate accident”

Now Congress has decided to poke its nose into horse racing, just like it recently did concerning steroids in pro baseball and team spying in the National Football League.

However, racing is attempting to correct such issues as drugged horses, catastrophic breakdowns and injured thoroughbreds with nowhere to go.

Alan Marzelli, president of The Jockey Club whose Thoroughbred Safety Committee recently issued recommendations to correct the problems, said he would like to see an industry-led central body for racing, not federal intervention.

On Monday, IEAH Stables, which owns Big Brown, told BloodHorse.com its horses would race without any medication except Lasix starting Oct. 1. Several horses are bleeders, trainer Rick Dutrow explained, and require Lasix to run.

“We’re beginning Oct. 1,” IEAH co-president Mike Iavarone said, “because the horses should be clear of all substances by that time. In addition, we are willing to allow racetracks to do pre- and post-race testing on all our horses, and we will pay all expenses.

Iavarone said he feels it’s time for someone to step up and take drastic action â€“ and he challenged all owners to follow suit.

Several of my readers recently suggested withholding steroids from Big Brown after he won the Preakness was one reason the 3-year-old performed badly in the Belmont.

“I think the poor horse was not used to running without steroids (Winstrol),” Paula Marie wrote. “It does not mean he’s not a great racehorse. But since Winstrol is legal, he should’ve probably stayed on that until after this major race. It may have been too hard on him physically because he was used to running on the steroid. I’m definitely against the use of steroids without a medical cause, but the time may have been too soon to get off of Winstrol.”

“People forget that horses aren’t machine,” Fred said. “They’re animals â€“ living, breathing creatures that have moods just like anyone else. He was just having an off day.”

“I believe it was Big Brown’s way of saying ‘enough already,” Pamela commented. “His hoof may have been sore, it was treacherously hot and he may have just not felt like performing. Good for him. I think the jockey did the right thing when he eased Big Brown up. I’m just glad we didn’t see another speeding ambulance out on the track and another tragedy.”

Big Brown can bounce back in the Haskell at Monmouth Park on Aug. 3. I believe he will!