Derby tragedy

The Kentucky Derby is an American horse race, the first jewel in the famous "Triple Crown" of Thoroughbred Racing.

A mile and a quarter dirt track open to three year olds, geldings/colts carry 126 pounds, fillies 121.

Saturday, the second place finisher of this year's Derby, a filly name "Eight Belles", broke both front legs after the finish line and had to be euthanized on the track.

PETA is faulting the jockey's use of the whip.

Others are faulting horse breeders for breeding large stock on weak legs.

Others claim steroid abuse.

My understanding is that the filly broke her legs after the finish-I don't think the jockey was whipping her at that point. I would be more interested to know what the jockey's hands were doing at the time of the breaks-or what the footing was like, if she stumbled with too much momentum?

Poor breeding seems doubtful.
I hope horses that survive fractures are not used for breeding, but perhaps they might be.

Change of management and training techniques might be at fault-for example, if current practice dictates that a racehorse be stalled all day unless training on the flat, and their muscles do not properly develop as a result?

Steroids might be at fault, or so could anything that has changed about grain and hay rations-a different pesticide in livestock use, genetically modified crops, are two examples.

I had the pleasure of seeing the famous Triple Crown winner, Secretariat, win all three races on live TV. He was an enormous, powerful colt, and still holds the Derby record, one of only 3 under two minutes. His trademark was to come from behind-and each quarter mile he went faster and faster, until he would overpower the lead horse and literally dust them-one of the crown races he won by 30 lengths!!! Yeah, I was out of my seat cheering him on!

Horses broke legs back then too-I remember seeing the hopeful filly Ruffian being put down after falling at the start of a race.

Many tracks are changing over to a synthetic based track base and reporting a decrease in injury.

Hopefully the autopsy and video scrutiny will help find some answers as to what happened to "Eight Belles".

I missed the actual race coverage so perhaps I will venture over to You Tube. :)