When a horse goes down during the Triple Crown
Elaine's report on her fab Kentucky Derby party prompts me to ask all of you who watched the Derby with your families last weekend what you told your kids when they heard the filly Eight Belles went down.
After learning about it Saturday night, I was so glad that I had completely forgotten to turn on the race. My daughter in particular would have been both penetrating in her questioning and devastated at the news that the horse had to be euthanized.
Fortunately, I gather that most of this happened off camera. But it's been all over the news. And it seems like we're just recovering from the Barbaro tragedy.
Any suggestions/stories about how to handle the awful sight of a racehorse being injured, should something similar happen again at the Preakness?
On a happier note, I haven't forgotten Elaine's request for a Black-eyed Susan mocktail; great idea! Look for it soon. In the meantime, if you have a tried-and-true recipe, please post below.
(Photo of Eight Belles after being injured at the Kentucky Derby by Brian Bohannon, Associated Press)
Comments
There was some other tragic event in the news when Barbaro was euthanized. I was more upset about the horse.
I also missed the race and I'm glad, because I was upset to hear about 8 Belles. Loss of life is always sad, even when it's "just a horse."
I'm in the middle of the 'Seabiscuit' book by Laura Hillenbrand, and it's obvious that while these horses are money makers for their owners, many owners and trainers are also attached to the animals. So i feel badly for the group that lost 8 Belles.
As a vet tech, I see animals euthanized all the time. It's never something you really get used to.
Posted by: Kayris | May 6, 2008 3:18 PM
If anyone has had to deal with loss of a pet, and explain it to their child, it could be similar to this. Maybe someone here could share their thoughts from a pet standpoint?
I think with Eight Belles it's particularly a tough conversation because of the euthanization.
We had a great-grandparent pass away, and we tried to be somewhat straightforward. Fortunately, we had been previously coached by fellow moms to stay away from equating death with "sleep."
Posted by: Annelies | May 6, 2008 9:52 PM