There are a lot of issues and theories as to what caused Eight Belles’ front ankles to break right after the hose finished second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby. A lot of people say it is the flaws in the breeding system. Others think that the young jockey Gabriel Saez forced her to run beyond her limits with savage whippings. Others say it was the track surface.
Track surface. Now there’s a thought. How can the structure and composition of a track surface kill a horse, one might ask? The track in Churchill Downs, the venue of the 2008 Kentucky Derby, is made mostly of hard dirt. Thoroughbreds that are still in the process of developing their bones have higher risks of breaking them when their hooves are pushed hard against the ground, pretty much what Eight Belles experienced. Eight Belles was pushed to run hard and eventually her ankles gave in and shattered. Her death brought to light the hazards dirt surfaces pose for thoroughbreds.
In a move to protect race horses from injuries and minimize the number of casualties, horse racing enthusiasts are calling for the usage of synthetic race tracks instead of hard dirt. For one, synthetic tracks are proven to be safer and are less prone to injure horses. Artificial racetracks also impose lesser wear and tear on race horses.
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