Herald Journal Blog

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA, is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles’ jockey after the horse had to be euthanized when it broke two of its ankles in the Kentucky Derby Saturday. Gabriel Saez was riding the horse when it broke its front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the finish line. PETA seems to be assuming it was the jockey’s fault somehow. The breaks happened after the race was over. I didn’t see the race on TV, but I heard as soon as Eight Belles took a weird step, Saez noticed and tried to pull her up. He didn’t try to run her into the ground during the race. This sounds like another extreme over-reaction by PETA. Suspending the jockey won’t accomplish anything.