Eight Belles
| Eight Belles | |
|---|---|
Eight Belles at Churchill Downs, May 1, 2008, two days prior to the 134th Kentucky Derby
|
|
| Sire | Unbridled's Song |
| Grandsire | Unbridled |
| Dam | Away |
| Damsire | Dixieland Band |
| Sex | Filly |
| Foaled | 2005 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Gray |
| Breeder | Robert N. Clay & Serengeti Stable |
| Owner | Fox Hill Farms |
| Trainer | J. Larry Jones |
| Record | 10: 5-3-1 |
| Earnings | $708,650 |
| Major wins | |
|
Martha Washington Stakes (2008) Kentucky Derby 2nd (2008) |
|
Martha Washington Stakes (2008)
Honeybee Stakes (2008)
Fantasy Stakes (2008)
Eight Belles (February 23, 2005 – May 3, 2008) was a Thoroughbred racehorse owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms. She finished second to winner Big Brown in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs, a race run by only thirty-nine fillies in the past. Her collapse just after the Derby's conclusion resulted in immediate euthanasia.
Earlier in the year, Eight Belles made history at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, by being the first filly in the history of the track to win the Martha Washington Stakes (February 17, 2008, by 13½ lengths, setting a stakes record for margin of victory), the Honeybee Stakes (March 16, 2008, beating stakes winner Pure Clan), and the Fantasy Stakes (April 12, 2008).
Eight Belles broke down approximately a furlong (1/8 mile) after the wire, while being slowed after the race. She suffered compound fractures of both front ankles and was immediately euthanized because of the nature of her injuries.
Dr. Larry Bramlage, the on-call veterinarian, stated that Eight Belles' trauma was too severe to even attempt to move her off the track.
According to the Louisville Courier-Journal, Bramlage said the filly had fractures of the cannon and sesamoid bones in both front legs. That is the same type of break that was suffered by 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro in one leg.
...
Wikipedia