Breaking News! Eight Belles Euthanized!

The Kentucky Derby was marred by a terrible injury and death. Fox Hill Farms' Eight Belles had been chosen to run in the Derby, and the previous day, her trainer, Larry Jones, had success with Proud Spell in the Oaks, so everyone was hopeful that this big grey filly out of Unbridled's Song and Away by Dixieland Band would do well in the Derby against the boys. She had previously had a record of 9: 5-2-1, and in 2008 had won all four of her races leading into the Derby. She was a big gal who people said was even larger than Winning Colors who was the last filly to win the Derby.

She held a steady 5th out of 20 throughout the race, and then in the final turn, powered her way to a solid challenging powerful second place finish. But on the faraway, as she was galloping down, her jockey said that she pulled funny and then went down. She broke both her front ankles, and one ankle broke through. This injury is painful and fatal. So, she was euthanized on the track yesterday. She was born on 2/23/05 and passed on 5/3/05. During her short life, she raced at Delaware Park, the Fairgrounds, Oaklawn Park, and then last at Churchill Downs where she showed her fierce powerful nature.

I am happy to say that at her last race at the fairgrounds, on January 21, 2008, she won by 15 lengths and was written into history as "simply much the best."

Octave, Panty Raid, and Rags to Riches

In these photos by Cindy Pierson Dulay, Barbara Livingston, and Equisport Photos, you see the lovely competitors for this year's Eclipse Champion Three-year-old Filly Award -- Panty Raid,Octave and Rags to Riches.

Octave was foaled April 13, 2004 and purchased for $350K at the Keeneland Sales in September 2005. Her parents are Unbridleds Song and Belle Nuit by Dr. Carter. Her record was 13: 4-7-2 and she earned $1,660,934, so she definitely paid back her purchase price! She won 2 Grade 1 races, the Mother Goose and Coaching Club American Oaks, and was runner-up in the Fairgrounds Oaks and Kentucky Oaks. She was purchased by Darley Stud to be a broodmare, and she retired in November 2007. She'll be bred to the freshman sire, Discreet Cat.

Panty Raid was foaled March 8, 2004, Violet's birthday, but a year later! Her parents are Include and Adventurous Di by Private Account. She was purchased in April 2006 for $275K at the Keeneland Sales. Her race record is 9: 5-1-1 and she has earned so far $1,052,380, again, earning her keep! She won the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.

Rags to Riches was foaled February 27, 2004 and her parents were A.P. Indy and Better than Honour by Deputy Minister. She was purchased at the September 2005 Keeneland Sales for $1.9 million! So far, she has earned $1,342,528, so she hasn't quite paid herself off yet. However, she did give her human parents a big dose of pride in winning the Belmont Stakes and earning the NTRA "Moment of the Year" by kicking the butt of Curlin, this year's Eclipse Horse of the Year winner! She won her Champion three-year-old filly Eclipse Award and was a runner for Horse of the Year, losing to the boy she beat -- another story of a great gal falling to the politics of the old boys network! Aargh. Anyway, she not only has won the Belmont Stakes, but she has also won the Kentucky Oaks (practically yawning, it was so easy) and the Santa Anita Oaks and Las Virgenes Stakes.

Such lovely girls!