Eight Belles

Watching the most exciting two minutes in sports on Sunday quickly turned into the most horrific 10 minutes just after Big Brown crossed the finish line first in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby.

NBC announcer Tom Hammond noted that second place horse Eight Belles was injured and being tended to by trainers and veterinarians.

Minutes later it was announced by one of the medical docs at Churchill Downs that the horse had to be euthanized after suffering two broken ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire.

I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t care anymore about the favorite Big Brown’s commanding win from the 20 spot, or the fact that I had put a small wager on the muscular filly to pull off the upset win. The horse was dead on the track, surrounded by equine ambulances.

It was only time before PETA would get in on the action, calling for the suspension of Eight Belles jockey Saez because the filly was "doubtlessly injured before the finish."

I’m not a horse racing expert in the slightest degree, but I did think about PETA’s outrageous claim for a while once I heard about it. My questions would be:

Why didn’t we hear from PETA before the Derby? Is this just a way to grab media attention?

Is it cruel that the horse what euthanized on the track, or would it be more cruel to try to save the horse?

Should the filly had been running with the colts to begin with? Only three fillies had competed in the Kentucky Derby before Eight Belles.

In a crammed 20 horse field, why would Saez risk his life, the horse’s life and the life of other competitors to win the race even if Eight Belles was injured?

Regardless, it was a depressing day for a sport that doesn’t need any bad publicity. Think the story will go away? Not anytime soon with the Preakness and Belmont still to go.