Amongst my accumulated knowledge of the not-so-practical variety, I happen to know a thing or two about the sport of thoroughbred racing. At its best, the sport showcases the astonishing athletic gifts and courageous tenacity of the most noble equine breed on Earth. (Try and watch Secretariat at the Belmont in 1973 and keep the hair from rising on the back of your neck.) At its worst, the sport exploits these wonderful animals for the cheap amusement of no-account problem gamblers and the decadently expensive amusement of the idle rich. (Try and watch this loser handicap the 5th race at Penn National in November and not shake your head in disgust.)
I didn't bet on the Kentucky Derby this year, and I didn't really follow the pre-race speculation. We turned the race on just in time for the post parade, where I spotted the strapping black filly Eight Belles -- moving along the post parade with a relaxed and easy gait. Immediately, I said to Jessica: "What a pretty horse, I think I'll root for her."
10 minutes later, Eight Belles had run a tremendously gutsy race to beat all the boys in the race except the derby champion and possible superhorse -- Big Brown. 15 minutes later, Eight Belles was dead. She had shattered both front ankles shortly after the race -- most likely because she'd literally run her heart out when she could have taken it easy. She was the only horse in the field who tried to follow Big Brown after he put on his devastating burst of speed around the turn for home. In the picture above, you can see she's "all out" trying to catch the big colt...
I hope you'll take a minute to read this NY Times article [So Young, So Strong, So Sad] by Jane Smiley -- the author of the excellent thoroughbred racing novel Horse Heaven. Smiley traces Eight Belles' courage and tenacity to her pedigree.
I have a friend who trains a jumper who is a relative of Eight Belles, a son of her grandsire, Unbridled. When my friend got the horse, a woman he knows, a steward at Santa Anita, told him to watch out, because Unbridleds tend to be unsound and fearless, and my friend has found this to be the case. Where most horses have at least some caution, my friend’s horse will try anything. His mental toughness and competitiveness always take over, no matter what the circumstances.
