When the Belmont Stakes rolled around several weeks later, Big Brown came in last place. Dutrow had announced that the horse wouldn't be injected, because he didn't want to push him too hard due to so many races in a short period of time. But the drastic difference in the colt's performance brought extra attention to the questions surrounding the capabilities of doped horses.
Was doping the only factor in the Derby win? Further research showed that Eight Belles' inbred pedigree might've been to blame, as well. Native Dancer, a record-breaking racehorse in the 1950s, was in the filly's pedigree. And Native Dancer's career came to an early end due to the chronic ankle inflammation that rendered him unsound.
Every one of the horses that raced at the 2008 Derby carried Native Dancer's blood, but Eight Belles' family tree traced back to the unsound stallion four times. The impact of Eight Belles' breeding on her bones is speculative; for one report, by ESPN, see the live-link box.
Industry Response
Government scrutiny and media heat have triggered serious responses within the horseracing industry. Several days after the 2008 Kentucky Derby, The Jockey Club created the Thoroughbred Safety Commission, which has proposed serious racing-safety reforms.
In early July, Kentucky's governor replaced the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to give the issue of steroid use priority. On July 14, the KHRC voted to limit toe grabs, a type of stud on the front horseshoes that provides more traction.
Both the TSC and the KHRC plan to vote on steroids' legality by the end of the summer, which will be significant and influential steps in the industry. The KHRC's decision will determine whether steroids will be used on Kentucky racetracks going forward.
Outlaw or Reform?
Controversies in the horseracing industry aren't new. Some equine enthusiasts we talked to say that everything about racing is downright cruel, and it would be a good thing to just ban it all together. No more racehorses sent to slaughter. No more questions about steroids or how hard a horse can be whipped or what sorts of horseshoe studs should be allowed.
But it's not that easy. For one, erasing the sport would have a sizeable impact on our country's economy. According to a 2005 American Horse Council study of the horse industry, racing contributes $26.1 billion to the United States' Gross Domestic Product annually.
And the sport contributes considerably to many state economies-the KHRC cites it as the state's No. 1 industry. Therefore, reform, rather than a total ban, might be the logical next step.
Our government and horse racing's leaders are at a crossroads at which they must evaluate the importance of racehorses' well-being. As they do, consider voicing your opinion on this issue. For how to do so, see the live-link box.
Lauren Anne Back is the associate editor of The Trail Rider and contributing editor of MyHorse.com.
Live Links
To see the photos from the Kentucky Derby, click here
To read the letters sent out by the Committee on Energy and Commerce, click here
To read ESPN's report on Eight Belles' breeding, click here
To read about the Humane Society of the U.S.'s outlook on change in the sport, click here
Voice your opinion by writing to the National Horsemen's Benevolence & Protective Association, the Committee on Energy and Commerce
