Posted on 05/04/2008 7:18:36 PM PDT by RDTF
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles' jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track.
PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky's racing authority claiming the filly was "doubtlessly injured before the finish" and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles' death is investigated.
"What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?" PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."
Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones said the filly was clearly happy when she crossed the finish line.
"I don't know how in the heck they can even come close to saying that," Jones told The Associated Press on Sunday. "She has her ears up, clearly galloping out."
Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second- place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.
Saez, a 20-year-old Panama native, was riding in his first Kentucky Derby. He frequently rides for Jones.
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(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Peta slimeballs would like to see every racehorse euthanized, along with all pets and domesticated animals.
Screw PETA!
Who the hell are they to demand anything of anybody?
I “demand” PETA disband until there are no more abortions!
We should just do away with every great American tradition because PETA or MADD or the Centers For Science In The Public Interest or the PTA or the UAW or the DNC or AFSCME says we should.
“PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky’s racing authority claiming the filly was “doubtlessly injured before the finish”
Because these socialist morons would know without even so much as a necropsy? The arrogance is stunning.
PETA = People Eating Tasty Animals. The hell with PETA. They are the who who killed hundreds of animals rather than try to get them adopted by good families. PETA is probably known for killing more animals than all the puppy mills and dog fighters in the country.
What is stunning is the stupidity of ANYONE who is associated with that idiot group...may their name rot in Hades.
PETA has no standing in any of this.
Hey, perhaps Free Republic ought to file a lawsuit against PETA for using up air and food resources that could be used on animals, instead.
I don’t like PETA either but I agree with suspending the jockey and investigating the poor horse’s death.
I traveled an hour every day (several years ago) to attend the court proceedings of a man who axed his dog to death in his front yard, in front of passerby’s and children. PETA was everywhere. They all appeared to be total NUTS.
One lady even carried a furry purse shaped like a cat - (glass eyes and all), and she petted that stupid “cat” purse during the entire trial - even talked to it as she petted the fur. It got national tv coverage.
Do you think people would bet money on jockeys racing around on PETA people?
I am sure the officials properly filed the compliant.
How do you know that wasn't her real cat?
Using the news to advance their agenda. Period.
yep
You understand you're taking away a man's paycheck. He can't draw unemployment if he's suspended.
And what basis is there for an investigation of the death? It has to be something more than the fact that a breakdown occurred. Racehorses are pushed to the limit, and they frequently break down, just as human athletes are frequently injured. It's not usually a catastrophic breakdown, like the wide receiver who broke his neck and was paralyzed, but it's not anyone's fault, unless you just want to stop the racing industry.
Of course, then somebody's going to have to feed all those racehorses, stallions, and broodmares . . . or they'll be turned out to starve because they can't be sold for slaughter in this country any more.
Unintended consequences all over the place . . . .
ROTF, Alouette!!!
I’d be the last one to defend PETA but there is talk in the racing community that Saez was PO’d at the filly and pulled the nose down after the finish line as punishment for a bad effort causing the injury.
This is a totally different claim than the BS PETA is spewing, but let’s face it, this kind of accident isn’t normal.
BTW, I checked on Saez before the race, he’s only a 20yo from Panama. Not unusual as far as jockeys go, but look at the trash swimming the Rio Grande. I was thinking maybe he was a young Edgar Prado. Darn glad I didn’t bet on him.
I’d pay good money to see that,as long as the jockeys don’t spare the whip....
You have to admit that PETA has some good-looking fillies in their stable, unlike the CODE PINK nags
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