PETA wants 8 Belles jockey suspended

[WildKat]

PETA wants Eight Belles jockey suspendedUpdated: May 4, 2008, 6:12 PM EST 427 comments add this RSS blog email print NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - 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.

Triple Crown

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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.

"What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?" PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."

Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.

Saez, a 20-year-old Panama native, was riding in his first Kentucky Derby. He frequently rides for Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones.

A call to the jockeys' room at Delaware Park, where Saez raced on Sunday, went unanswered.

Eight Belles, the first filly since 1999 to run in the Derby, appeared fine until collapsing while galloping out after the finish.

The letter to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority also sought a ban on whipping, limits on races and the age of racehorses, and a move to softer, artificial surfaces for all courses.

[Rhino8266]

Not familiar with all the specifics but shame on PETA for putting the blame of the death of this filly on this kid without so much as a half ass investigation. Peta does wonderful things but they are way out of line with this accusation this early.

[RanPicks]

The Prez of PETA needs to be shot. What friggen idiot.

[Bozzie]

Race day medication rules need to be changed.
I was reading we are the only country to allow horses to be medicated on race day.. The article points out young race horses are too fragile to have any medication that can mask pain or enhance performance in any way.

The article also said medication had nothing to do with 8 bells

[smitch124]

Originally Posted by WildKat

"doubtlessly injured before the finish"

"...allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."

huh? I think PETA may have some valid points in their criticisms of Horse Racing but they always muck up their points with absurd hyperbole.

[dapkavorkian]

Originally Posted by WildKat

Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.

Are the connections not suffering enough with the loss of Eight Belles? Why would PETA want the money to be revoked? Thats just horrible!

[WildKat]

Originally Posted by dapkavorkian

Are the connections not suffering enough with the loss of Eight Belles? Why would PETA want the money to be revoked? Thats just horrible!

I think to at least make a point.........I'm all for safety for the horses and the jockeys, so at least something good might come from this discussion..........

[PHILLYBIRDS20]

I heard Mike Tirico invterview the head of PETA yesterday. this woman is an attention hound just looking to get her name an organizations name out there. Tirico asked her 3 times if the jockey in this race did anything different than the jockeys in the previous race, and she could not and wouldnt answer the question. Tirico did a great job and made this woman look like the pos she is.

[RanPicks]

Props to Tirico