Derby Debacle: Dr. McIlwraith Offers Insight on Eight Belles Catastrophy
We were all cheering for the filly coming down the stretch. We knew she couldn't--wouldn't--catch Big Brown Saturday afternoon. But this was something special. The two of them out front...the others trailing down the track.
And then came the announcement. Eight Belles was down on the track. Eight Belles fractured both front legs. Eight Belles was...dead.
I wonder how many people switched off their televisions when Big Brown crossed the line, and never saw the disaster. Lots, I hope.
I can still hear everyone in the room moaning "Nooooooooooo" in unison. What else could you say?
Well, lots of people have lots to say. From PETA to CNN to even our local newscasters here in Boston.
Whichever side of the debate you want to join in, do. But do your research first.
For starters, read this article in today's Rocky Mountain News from Colorado. It is an interview with Colorado State University's Dr. Wayne McIlwraith, director of the Equine Orthopaedic Research Center at Colorado State University. Dr. McIlwraither offers examples of cases he has worked on with multiple-limb fractures and why there was no option to save Eight Belles.
I will list some other horse health references as I find them. For now, I think the interview with Dr. McIlwraith is one of the best resources available.
Stay tuned. Stay hopeful.
Labels: Colorado State University, Eight Belles, Kentucky Derby, Wayne McIlwraith
posted by Fran Jurga @ 5/05/2008
3 comments
3 Comments:
Thank you Fran for putting up some actual FACTS instead of running off pure emotion as the drive by media is doing.
I am pretty d*mn sick of the blame laying and finger pointing going on....
Dr. Wayne's article was very informative, thank you for posting it.
I don't believe the debate should be whether she should've been put down or not but whether horses breaking down is a big enough problem for the breed association to address it.
I also don't believe that there should be a debate over horse racing...I mean we're humans we race everything and accidents will happen in every type of horse event - stopping horse racing will not by default save all horses from injury and death. Most of those horses are treated better than people - there is no ground to stand on there.
How big a problem is breakdowns really? Is the press just covering it more making it seem like there are a lot of race horses breaking down? Or are the numbers really up?
Many breeds have taken active steps to eliminate poor conformation and genetic diseases even if it means flat-out prohibiting registration of offspring of certain blood lines. As in AQHA's case they had to take drastic steps to eliminate HYPP from their genetics this was hard for breeders as those bloodlines were popular and their was a lot of money invested in them. But for the good of the breed HYPP had to go.
Is it time for the thoroughbred breed to take the same action with their skeleton structure?
Eight Belles' Legacy
In the wake of Eight Belles death last Saturday, many people have expressed frustration at feeling they can have little influence on preventing more racetrack deaths. For the casual fan, or the horsewoman/horseman not intimately familiar with horse racing, the huge number of racing-related groups, commissions and organizations seems like an impenetrable maze.
But there is something we can do - sign the petition supporting the Grayson-Jockey Club's Welfare and Safety for the Racehorse Summit recommendations.
Are these recommendations perfect? No, but they represent a beginning to unifying the racehorse industry community in reaching a common goal.
Are the recommendations and the Jockey Club's newly formed Thoroughbred Safety Committee slanted to favor the industry? Likely, but they are also first steps toward improving the welfare and safety of the racehorse. They are certainly more thoughtful than the reactive demands put forth by some animal "rights" groups and reflect a body of current and future research by the country's top veterinarians and academics.
By signing the Racehorse Welfare petition, we can show our support for the Summit recommendations - and the need to move forward in an expedient fashion. It also sends a message to industry stakeholders that they need to actively participate in and financially support the TB Safety Committee and Summit recommendations.
If you also spend a few minutes looking through the diverse list of industry contacts and stakeholders, you can get see why unilateral demands on the industry that don't address core issues are ineffectual, and also how important it is to support a unifying entity such as The Jockey Club to effect change. Your comments next to your signature will also provide valuable input to stakeholders.
When you sign the petition, your emil address will not be displayed. You may also post as "anonymous" if you wish.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/RacehorseWelfare/index.html
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