Trainer Larry Jones, a bit tearful at times, spoke to the media in an impromptu press conference in the Churchill Downs media center about the injury to and euthanization of Eight Belles.
Accompanied by Dr. Larry Bramlage who spoke earlier, Jones said that as the race ended he didn't notice any distress and began to work his way through the crowd to the track to unsaddle the filly.
"I had a lot of trouble getting through the crowd, getting to the track and a lot of the horses were already unsaddled and going back," he said. "And we finally got down to the track, and I saw Kent (Desormeaux) coming back and he really -- you could tell, that it was not like he just won the Kentucky Derby -- he was a little bit solemn, and then that is when we first heard that a horse had broke down and I just figured it was one of the ones that had maybe run poorly."
He said that even when he looked up and noticed that jockey Gabriel Saez was riding back with NBC's Donna Brothers he still didn't know what happened until Saez told him that Eight Belles was put down.
"I thought how can you put a horse down? I guess, I mean we're used to trying to save them, so that's when I took off running and caught the ambulance and rode over there and needless to say when I did see her -- it just had to be done," Jones said. "She had no way of being saved."
He said that if she had been in distress or had a trouble race he would have second guessed himself, but her second place finish doesn't make him think that, and he said she ran "the race of her life."
"It wasn't the race, it wasn't the fact that there were 19 boys in there," he said. "It wasn't the distance of the race, she finished a mile and a quarter well."
I asked him what he thought about the criticism that the sport would likely get about dirt being an inherently dangerous racing surface.
"This just wasn't a track issue," Jones said. "All we have to do is gallop and stop and come home."
"I'm not saying that every track should go back to dirt; I'm not saying that every track should go to synthetics, but this track today, in my wholehearted opinion, was not the issue with what happened today," he said.
Jones said while he was aware that such a high-profile death will be unwanted news for horse racing, that good can come from the incident too.
"Lots of good things have happened with the Barbaro fund, and we don't know what's going to happen with the Eight Belles story -- she got a lot of notoriety this week, and she probably got more notoriety after the race than we've ever imagine, we don't know what will happen. It could be lots of great things come out of it, it could be the worse day of our life and nothing good could happen."
"It's the unfortunate side that every now and again you're faced with, it's something that -- it's unforeseen, you know, this is the bad part," he said. "I did get to see my son yesterday, and I got to see my daughter today, but I got to see Eight Belles every day. She was our family, she's been with us for a year -- a lot of great footage with (ESPN's) Jeannine Edwards today, and I guess it will be my last ride on her," Jones said as he began to choke up.
"Losing animals like this isn't fun," he continued after he gathered his composure. "This is the unfortunate side, I don't know what to say -- we're heartbroke. We're going to miss her."
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Larry Jones on the Loss of Eight Belles
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8 comments:
Jones apparently galloped Eight Belles himself at times. He's not a small man from what I can see. Certainly not as small as the average exercise rider. Could that have contributed to the horse's fragility and subsequent breakdown?
Dean Richardson, who operated on and cared for Barbaro at New Bolton, said on CBS Evening News Sunday night that the size of Eight Belles might have been a contributing factor...too much weight on too fragile legs.
Our hearts are with Larry Jones and the family. She was a special girl, and will be remembered. Please pass our heartfelt condolences on to all her loved ones. We're praying for y'all.
I was so proud to see the filly, Eight Belles, place in the Derby. She ran a magnificent race and I thought she might give "Big Brown" a challenge in the Preakness. Sadly, we will never know. I hate it when these beautiful animals are hurt so badly. I cried my eyes out and still grieve today for this magnificent filly lost too soon and too young. My deepest condolences to Larry Jones, Richard Porter, and all those connected to Eight Belles.
When are jockeys/trainers going to stop running the *&^% out of horses that are not yet fully mature? And then to act like this injury has never happened before or is rare?!?!
Running horses under 3 yrs old = tragedy! How many more are going to be maimed, perm disabled and euthinized, most before they even get to racing! This has got to STOP! Don't run them until they are 3 and fewer horses will break down.
It breaks my heart to see things happen like this. Eight Belles ran a great race and she ran it strong. She was a big strong filly and sometime this just happens. Larry Jones is a great trainer and obviously loved that horse and I cant imagine the pain that he is feeling now. I will keep Larry Jones and all the staff who cared and loved this filly everyday in my prayers and hope that time will heal your pain soon. Eight Belles you will be missed but never forgotten in our hearts and memories. I still cry about you today but I am so glad I got to see you run like a champion thank you Larry and owners for sharing this beautiful horse with us. Eight Belles RIP
Once again, this event brings up the hard issues we must deal with in horse racing. As one commenter mentioned, we must increase the age these horses are allowed to race. We must also curb the abuse of pain killers along with other drugs that these horses are allowed to take prior to races. The US is one of the only countries that still allow this practice. If a horse does not feel pain, there is less likelihood of a problem being diagnosed by the rider or trainer. Eight Belles was a beautiful animal. Her life was lost so that we as a society can wake up from our dream in thinking that horse racing is being conducted as a safe and animal friendly sport.
It is unfortunate that Larry Jones has to endure the criticism of the Eight Belles breakdown. He seems honest and ethical as a trainer, and wants to do the best by the horses in his charge, and seems very likeable, personable, and giving to the media as well.
As a lifelong racing fan, I think that medications and possibly whips should be done away with in America, and should be addressed by the owners and the industry at the top level, before racing attendance drops to a point where it can't be supported any longer.
The breeders as well need to slow down,re-evaluate methods and motives, and absorb a profit drop for the welfare of the horse, or else risk a longer term loss from changes prompted by animal rights groups. It may mean money or job loss in the short run, but I would hate to see forced changes come down that would cause track closures altogether. Racing has got to evolve, or risk being winnowed out.
In the meanwhile, Larry Jones and jockey Saez are being criticized by people who may or may not fully understand the racing process. Neither one could control the end result of the Derby, and we are still big fans of them and wish them all the best in the future.
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