<![CDATA[Deadspin: 2008 kentucky derby]]> http://tags.deadspin.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/deadspin.com.png <![CDATA[Deadspin: 2008 kentucky derby]]> http://deadspin.com/tag/2008kentuckyderby http://deadspin.com/tag/2008kentuckyderby <![CDATA[Death Looms Over Churhill Downs]]> The death of Eight Belles - the second place finisher in today's Kentucky Derby - makes it pretty difficult to get all that excited over Big Brown's dominating performance. The commentators love to speak of the beauty and humanity of these creatures, yet nobody seemed to mind celebrating before the filly's body could be removed from the track. Brian of Awful Announcing is one of many who profited off of the doomed horse's performance, and I bet they feel equally crappy inside. And I bet they'd feel a lot less crappy if they sent their winnings and betting slips to me, which is why I'm including my address at the end of this post. In real news, the Louisville Courier-Journal has the depressing details.

Eight Belles crossed the finish line second in the Kentucky Derby today and then jockey Gabriel Saez heard the worst sound possible - a pop.

Saez said the filly did not take a bad step, but he heard the pop and tried to pull her up.

"I tried to get her to stop," he said. "I tried to get her to stop, but she wouldn't stop."

Dr. Larry Bramlege the on-call veterinarian from the American Association of Equine Practitioners said the filly had a condylar fractures of both front legs. That is the same type of break that was suffered by 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro in one leg. She was euthanized on the track.

Speaking to media this evening, trainer Larry Jones said, "There was no way to think about even trying to save her. She ran the race of her life."

And now I'm depressed again.

Remember, send those winnings to:

Unsilent Majority
c/o Deadspin
The Internet

]]> http://deadspin.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=386891&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[They're Ready to Run For the Roses]]> The little people are mounting their steeds, which means the most exciting two minutes in sports (setting aside the final two minutes in almost all other highly contested sporting events) can't be far behind. Oh wait, they're playing "My Old(e?) Kentucky Home. This could take a while. Hey, an ex-boybander and country singer with a bunch of T's in his name! All the stars are out for this one folks. In case you were wondering I have my meager dollars on Z Fortune and Z ...uh...the other Z one. Call me a compulsive analyst, but my research tells me we're due for a reverse alphabetical finish. Continue after the jump for updates on all the excitement as the horses inch towards the starting gate.

-So far so good for Big Brown, but the odds on the big fella breaking a hoof in the next ten minutes are razor thin.

-They're heading into the starting gate, and so far none of the horses have flipped out and bit a jockey.

-Well Nibbles decided to nap through the race, but I assured him it was quite exciting. Big Brown is your winner and it isn't close.

-The jockey's son just got a face-full of ample bosom.

-HORSE DOWN!

-Incredibly sad news, the filly Eight Belles fought hard but went down with two broken front ankles. She was put down immediately.

-If you must joke, at least keep it tasteful. That means no jokes about Yum Brands and horse meat! You people are ruining journalism you know.

/hopeless

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