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Filly Eight Belles breaks down after finish


Devilish34

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http://msn.foxsports.com/horseracing/story/8102718

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The filly Eight Belles finished second behind favorite Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, then collapsed with two broken front ankles and was euthanized after crossing the wire.

The field of 20 horses was galloping out around the first turn at Churchill Downs when Eight Belles suddenly went down on both front legs and jockey Gabriel Saez slid off.

"When we passed the wire I stood up," said Saez, a first-time Derby rider. "She started galloping funny. I tried to pull her up. That's when she went down."

An equine ambulance reached her near the second turn and tended to the filly.

"There was no possible way to save her," on-call veterinarian Dr. Larry Bramlage said. "She broke both front ankles. That's a bad injury."

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Amazingly sad for her and her owners.

Wow. whatta payoff for placing in the Derby. Here's yer barbiturates. At least they got her out of pain pretty fast. :saddevil:

I'm kinda thinkin she probably broke 'em before the end of the race, but was so jacked up, was able to run thru the pain til the rundown. :o unless they just went afterwards from all the stress. Amazing how these thoroughbreds in their healthiest can still have these breaks.

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