The 134th running of the Kentucky Derby was held on Saturday, May 3rd at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The grandstands held 157,000 spectators, who were on hand to watch 20 three-year-olds compete in the first leg of the Triple Crown. The run for the roses first place finish was worth an estimated $2,000,000.
The race turned out to be filled with excitement and tragedy. Big Brown took the crown and the second place finisher Eight Belles had to be euthenized in front of the throng of race watchers after breaking both front ankles at the finish line.
Eight Belles came into the Derby on a four-race winning streak. As reported by Sports Illustrated, Eight Belles was attempting to become the fourth filly to win the Derby. Her owners chose to keep her out of Friday’s Kentucky Oaks so she could run with the colts in the Derby. She collapses at the finish line after suffering catastrophic ankle injuries.
Dr. Larry Bramlage, the Derby’s on-call veterinarian, said the filly’s injuries were too severe to even attempt to move her off the track. “She didn’t have a front leg to stand on to be splinted and hauled off in the ambulance, so she was euthanized,” Bramlage said.
Trainer Larry Jones paid tribute to his fallen filly saying, “She ran the race of her life.” He defended having her run against 19 colts in the Derby saying:
It wasn’t that. It wasn’t the distance. It wasn’t a big bumping match for her. She never got touched. She passed all those questions … with flying colors. The race was over, all we had to do was pull up, come back and be happy. It just didn’t happen.”
Winning jockey Kent Desormeaux had this to say about the tragic turn of events for the second place finisher:
Eight Belles showed you her life for our enjoyment today. I’m deeply sympathetic to that team for their loss.”
Big Brown managed to stay free and clear of traffic and performed magnificently for jockey Desormeaux. This is his third win. Earlier victories were aboard Real Quiet in 1998 and Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. “It was smooth sailing all the way,” Desormeaux said. “The horse was very comfortable.”
Check out more photos HERE. Check out 134th Kentucky Derby race video below as well as the activity surrounding Eight Belles immediately following the race.