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Big Brown’s Derby Win Spoiled by Death of 2nd-Place Filly
3-May-2008
Written by: E. Van Dril
Eight Belles had to be euthanized following the race.
Unbeaten horse Big Brown won this afternoon’s Kentucky Derby from the 20 post (an unlikely place for horses to win from in the Derby), but his day was spoiled by the fatal breaking of both front ankles of the second-place horse, Eight Belles.
Eight Belles, the lone filly (female) in the field, was in agony immediately after the race, and had to be euthanized on the track just a few moments after the race.
Big Brown, though, took control of the race upon coming to the homestretch (the last straightaway), winning by 4-¾ lengths. He became the seventh unbeaten Derby winner with his fourth-consecutive win, the last was Barbaro in 2006.
As Eight Belles rounded the turn after the race was completed, she pulled up lame and jockey Gabriel Sauz jumped off. An ambulance was called onto the track, but it was too late and the filly could not be saved.
“When we passed the wire I stood up. She started galloping funny. I tried to pull her up. That’s when she went down,” Saez sadly said after the race.
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