HORSE RACING

Fans return after tragedy at Derby

Associated Press

LOUISVILLE, Ky. --

Frank Daniels stood outside the paddock at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, thinking about the day's first race while watching a rebroadcast of the Kentucky Derby.

Daniels is a racing fan who's been coming to Churchill Downs for 35 years. His eyes stayed fixed as Big Brown surged to victory. A split second later, filly Eight Belles followed. "She didn't look hurt, did she," he said.

What the replay didn't show is that Eight Belles would be dead a quarter-mile later after breaking both of her front legs as she galloped out. Daniels rolls his eyes at the controversy. He's seen a lot of racing and a handful of injured horses put down. He considers what happened to Eight Belles an accident.

While saddened by Eight Belles' tragic end, many patrons said the furor over her death is overblown.

"It wasn't the track; it wasn't the breeding," Brian Johnston said. "It was a fluke."

Though the Kentucky Derby Museum has received some letters and a flower arrangement in support of Eight Belles, there hasn't been the kind of overwhelming response to her death that accompanied 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's injury in the Preakness.

The fans at Churchill Downs on Wednesday already appeared to have moved on.


Quick Job Search
Enter Keyword(s):
Enter a City:  

Select a State:

Select a Category:
  - Advanced Job Search
  - Search by Category