Eight Belles (February 23, 2005 – May 3, 2008) was a thoroughbred racehorse owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms. She finished second to winner Big Brown in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs, a race run by only thirty-nine fillies in the past. Her collapse just after the Derby's conclusion resulted in immediate euthanasia.
Earlier in the year, Eight Belles made history at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, by be...
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Eight Belles (February 23, 2005 – May 3, 2008) was a thoroughbred racehorse owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms. She finished second to winner Big Brown in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs, a race run by only thirty-nine fillies in the past. Her collapse just after the Derby's conclusion resulted in immediate euthanasia.
Earlier in the year, Eight Belles made history at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, by being the first filly in the history of the track to win the Martha Washington Stakes (February 17, 2008, by 13½ lengths, setting a stakes record for margin of victory), the Honeybee Stakes (March 16, 2008, beating stakes winner Pure Clan), and the Fantasy Stakes (April 12, 2008.
Eight Belles collapsed immediately after crossing the wire, while being slowed after the race. She suffered compound fractures of both front ankles and was euthanized on the spot because of the nature of her injuries.
Dr. Larry Bramlage, the on-call veterinarian,...
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