This is what happens when PETA is given too much credibility

[Rasputin_Vol]

FOXNews.com - PETA Wants Eight Belles' Jockey Suspended After Filly's Death - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

NORFOLK, Va. — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles' jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track.

PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky's racing authority claiming the filly was "doubtlessly injured before the finish" and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles' death is investigated.

[JTrainDavis]

That fact that they are given any credibility whatsoever when it comes to this story is unbelievable, and they are now being empowered to keep screaming their drivel by the amount of publicity this hissy is getting.

Its a freak accident, one that will happen on occasion with racing, and it is doubtless that Saez feels terrible about what happened, as by nature, horsemen love horses.

But it was something that was going to happen regardless, just the way things work.

[Fine Vol]

PETA can be stupid. That horse was worth a ton of money believe me they would have done whatever possible to save that horse. Jockey had nothing to do with it.

[allvol123]

I doubt most people consider PETA a credible organization. That being said, a culture such as the horse racing community can always stand to scrutinize itself and learn from such events as this.

[doozer]

i wish the people of PETA would get trampled in a stampede.

[JTrainDavis]

Originally Posted by allvol123

I doubt most people consider PETA a credible organization. That being said, a culture such as the horse racing community can always stand to scrutinize itself and learn from such events as this.

There really isnt much to learn, unless they are all going to bring horses along more slowly, and breed for durability, which will never happen, especially in the big 3 year old stakes races. The polytrack was an attempted change, but the difference in fatalities has been fairly insignificant (about .5 diffence per 1,000 starts), They are just big animals with small leg bones running very fast.

PETA should stick to hitting the water with brooms during fishing tournaments.

[allvol123]

Originally Posted by JTrainDavis

There really isnt much to learn, unless they are all going to bring horses along more slowly, and breed for durability, which will never happen, especially in the big 3 year old stakes races. The polytrack was an attempted change, but the difference in fatalities has been fairly insignificant (about .5 diffence per 1,000 starts), They are just big animals with small leg bones running very fast.

PETA should stick to hitting the water with brooms during fishing tournaments.

Again, I could not care less about PETA. I heard several comments from the local morning sports talk show from callers that sounded very involved in the sport. They mentioned the same things you did. One also mentioned that the horse was having trouble decelerating during warm ups, perhaps this is something that should be taken into consideration? Polytrack is a synthetic surface? Churchhill Downs uses dirt correct? They also make attempts to make for a hard surface for fast times which I doubt is good for the horses.

I'll just go by the idea that there is always opportunity to learn. It might be small, but it is there. But overall you are correct, high money at stake and this appears to be so random that major changes are not needed.

[MG1968]

PETA really should stick to trying to get the Fishkill river renamed.

[Vol Mania 21]

PETA is def. not credible. they are a bunch of goons

[checkerboard_charly]

Screw PETA and anyone who backs them.

[hmanvolfan]

The only time you hear from PETA is when some kind of tragedy occurs. Damn ambulance chasers.

[toxicdonut]

People think PETA is credible?

[hmanvolfan]

Nooooo.

[Lexvol]

Originally Posted by JTrainDavis

There really isnt much to learn, unless they are all going to bring horses along more slowly, and breed for durability, which will never happen, especially in the big 3 year old stakes races. The polytrack was an attempted change, but the difference in fatalities has been fairly insignificant (about .5 diffence per 1,000 starts), They are just big animals with small leg bones running very fast.

PETA should stick to hitting the water with brooms during fishing tournaments.

J, you are correct. The primary issue is the breeding, and we all know that isn't changing anytime soon. I am curious to know where your got polytrack stats. I know the first installed was at Turfway. The season before installation they had 27 catasrophic injuries, the following season they only had three. I think the poly track may help, and would hesitate to pass judgement until it is consistently installed and we have a few more years of data to analyze.

[JTrainDavis]

Originally Posted by Lexvol

J, you are correct. The primary issue is the breeding, and we all know that isn't changing anytime soon. I am curious to know where your got polytrack stats. I know the first installed was at Turfway. The season before installation they had 27 catasrophic injuries, the following season they only had three. I think the poly track may help, and would hesitate to pass judgement until it is consistently installed and we have a few more years of data to analyze.

I honestly can't tell you where i saw it, but it was a week or so prior to the derby, and the numbers stuck in my head, as i thought there would be more of a difference. It was something like 1.47 catastrophic injuries per 1000 starts on Poly, and 2.14 on Dirt.

Like you said, though, if we can get a good 5 year snapshot of similar tracks with similar levels of competition, the picture will be alot clearer, and perhaps there can be a solution of some kind.