Breakdowns on Big days

[nfliehman]

Originally Posted by pointman

Frankly, I believe that Eight Belles should have run in the Oaks and not the Derby. I believed it before the race and even though she ran teriffically, she had to run her heart out to chase that monster which probably contributed to her breakdown. It is a shame that Rick Porter wanted to get into the Derby so bad, they should have learned their lesson from Rags last year. While Rags won the Belmont, it was at the cost of her racing career. It is a shame, this one could have been one of the great fillies.

I agree but at the same time im thinking it was just a freak thing that happened. I told my girlfriend before the race I would gladly lose the money I bet yesterday on that race to see all the horses come out healthy and unfort it just didnt happen that way. I wish they wouldnt have shown her on the ground though...

[pointman]

Originally Posted by nfliehman

I agree but at the same time im thinking it was just a freak thing that happened. I told my girlfriend before the race I would gladly lose the money I bet yesterday on that race to see all the horses come out healthy and unfort it just didnt happen that way. I wish they wouldnt have shown her on the ground though...

I agree 100%. I am not the only one that questioned the decision. Deb, I think you read way too far into what I said. I didn't say that she couldn't run against the boys, but it is where she was spotted for the first run against them is what I question. If they wanted to go to the Derby, it may have been a better decision to run her against the boys in one of the preps. I am not a big fan of Porter and believe that he was just dying to get a horse in the Derby, which IMO, and it is only my opinion, had more to do with entering her in the Derby instead of going into a spot where she was better placed. As far as Rags, IMO, and again it is just only an opionion, she was never the same horse after the Belmont. It took quite some time to just get her into a race.

[Danzig]

i think had rags or eight belles struggled in their races vs boys, you'd have a point. but putting in a good effort doesn't lead to injury. fighting an unfamiliar surface, or not running right due to discomfort-yeah, that can lead to injury. they both did so well, i don't think the fact that their opponents were of another sex had anything to do with it.
both fillies put in races equal to their male counterparts in previous races. the 10f derby was a first for all 20 horses yesterday.
for whatever reason, after the finish, eight belles went down. but i don't feel the fact she faced males was the contributing factor, nor the distance run.

[Danzig]

and i apologize for my tone in my previous post. i'm in a foul mood, and i'm taking it out on the wrong people.

[Payson Dave]

Originally Posted by Danzig

and i apologize for my tone in my previous post. i'm in a foul mood, and i'm taking it out on the wrong people.

don't appologize....the filly had every right to be in the race....she beat all but one of the colts....her breakdown had nothing to do with the fact that she was running against colts...

[Danzig]

yeah, but i don't have to be a sarcastic smart ass about it either....

i think we could/should have more fillies trying more colts, they do overseas. but then something like this happens, and it sets us back. there's no reason why they can't compete against each other. eight belles showed us that yesterday, rags last year. as for rags' injury, her value imo had more to do with her retirement due to injury than the injury itself. i just think it's a sad coincidence that eight belles broke down after racing colts, but i don't think the fact she had just raced vs them had to do with it. but that's just my opinion, and there's really no way to prove or disprove it-or those who take the opposite view. but the way rick porter and larry jones and co must feel..i just hate to see anyone pile on them about the decision.
we want sporting folks, and then this happens...second guessing follows.