Worst Spill You've Seen

[munster705]

Watching the Preakness undercard on TV this past Saturday in that turf race was the worst spill I think I can remember. Im glad Eddie Castro was alright, but the poor horse got trampled pretty badly. Anyone got better?

[Scurlogue Champ]

They showed a pretty good one on the Real Sports thing on HBO where Asmussen was interviewed.

[slotdirt]

At least it was on the backstretch and happened in a second. I've seen way worse than that - the British horse in the 2005 mile comes to mind. Fleet Indian, obviously, Go for Wand, of course.

[TheSpyder]

Watch the Grand National from England. It's over jumps...BIG jumps. Typically 43 horses start and about 12 finish.

Spyder

[KirisClown]

It was either 1994 or 95.. in the slop at Belmont.. Smart Little Boy and Scherbo.

[paisjpq]

all of them.

[Danzig]

this is a maudlin thread....

[jmj934]

We were in Ruidoso last fall for the all-american futurity, and they had a thoroughbred race on the undercard and a horse broke down right by the wire and it just layed there kicking and bawling. Finally, the ambulance came and whenever they went to give him the needle, the people with the tarp moved, so the entire grandstand could see the horse buck, kick and then fall to the ground. I have no idea why they moved the tarp. That was a awful sight to such a good day.

[pdrift1]

pine islands wasn't pretty either rip

[pdrift1]

i for the life of me can't remember the race or horse anymore but does anyone remember back to smarty jones preakness on the the undercard, i believe one of the stakes. a horse that went down and got back up and was just standing there with its poor leg. thats thw worst ive seen after a spill. its like get the damn tv off the horse. very upsetting

[sundaysilenceforever]

Hendrix was really bad, but we've talked about that already when it happened.
I prefer to remember him for the sweet boy and kind soul he appeared to be.

When I was a kid, about 11 or 12, I was in the truck with my mom driving up to the paddock. On that road to the paddock, was the "dead box". For those who might not know what that is, it is a 3 sided "stall" with high walls, where they would put horses who had broke down until the rendering guys could come take away the bodies. My mom would tell me beforehand if there was a horse in there so that I could hide my face. On this particular occassion, she forgot, and I saw a horse in there with a chunk of the rail entering the chest, and all the way thru, exiting toward the rear of one side. It was horrifying. My mom told me that the horse hit the rail and it came down, but was unable to veer out before hitting the end of the still standing portion of it. I like to think he died instantly. Of course, this was back in the days where the rails were far less safe.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

Amen.


There was one at River Downs last spring...last race of the afternoon. On a Friday. An otherwise beautiful day. He was at the low end of the food chain...3200-5000 claimer. On paper, not much talent to speak of. Maybe his 2nd or 3rd race ever. 3 or 4 yo. Grey. Still remember that grey mane. Right in front of the grandstand and I was on the outside rail. Maybe 20 yards directly in front of me. I felt the “thud” as much as I heard it. Seemed like forever before the medical team even knew what was going on. People screaming. “Where’s the help!?!” Women and children bawlin’. Men trying to be men with that glassy-eyed, concerned stare. Both horse and jock just layin’ there motionless. ****, what took them so long…I’ll never understand that. Finally, they got the jock strapped on a board and off to the hospital. They couldn't get the horse in the equine ambulance...tried draggin him in with the winch. He fought it. Barely budged. Couldn’t stand up on his own no matter how hard he tried. Broken femur or hip. Somehow they finally got him up…but he couldn’t stand on his own. About six guys helped him stay upright. Out came the tarps. Damn. Right after the injection, he bucked hard and crashed to the ground. Poor bastard. His once beautiful grey mane got all wet and muddy as they dragged his body into the equine ambulance. That was hard…

Oh God, I wish I wouldn't have read that.

[brianwspencer]

Worst spill I've ever seen -- not in the case of how graphic it was or how brutal it was -- but how it affected me:

Comprehensively


It was the day we planned for 6 weeks, me taking my 18 year old coworker to the track for the first time. And I was so happy that Comprehensively was running, not only was she going for the first time, she was getting to see my favorite horse up close. I had lost money already, so we stood around to watch my boy run in this race. I played a measly trifecta bet and a few dollars to win on him just because it's what I do.

He was midpack in the stretch, he wasn't going to threaten for the win, or maybe he was, but something went wrong. He stumbled, fought with all he had to stay up, took another step and lost it. Twyla went flying off of his back and onto the track, he flipped and twisted on the ground. He got up. I silently prayed, as fast as I ever have, that he would run off like I've seen so many times before. He stumbled. He couldn't stand up straight. He made his way inside the 16th pole, fighting to walk, seemingly unaware of what had happened or how it had happened. There he was being the horse that he is, giving every last bit and trying to find the wire, unburdened of his rider. He came right in front of us, and I saw his front right leg. Shattered. Flailing in all the wrong ways. I almost cried. And I started to as my friend looked at me, trying to understand how this horse meant so much to me. She had heard about him all day long, and I was so excited to share him with her. She caught on quickly from the look on my face and the tone of my voice that she caught during the few words I could manage to say. Mostly, "I'm going to cry." The man next to me shouted "on to the glue factory!" and it took everything I had to not lose it. For Twyla and the others risking their lives every second out there for his kicks. For these animals who love what they do. They do it for him.

His trainer stood with him, his right arm underneath his neck, patting the opposite side, as the boy refused to give up. Refused to lie down. Refused to be anything but the winner. Not believing that somehow his leg didn't work anymore.

I don't care if he runs in Portland. I don't care that it was a 3200N3L race. I don't care that he bankrolled only 13k in his career. I care that he gave me something to be excited about. I care that he gave every ounce every time. Gamely. I care that he was a beautiful animal and a beautiful racehorse and that meant something to me. I care that every time I knew he was running I would find a way to get to the track to see him, it was a dream come true that he came to Portland to run in front of me, instead of on TV.

He was the 8-5 favorite.

So at least, if anything today, he was loved.

[fpsoxfan]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Worst spill I've ever seen -- not in the case of how graphic it was or how brutal it was -- but how it affected me:

Comprehensively


It was the day we planned for 6 weeks, me taking my 18 year old coworker to the track for the first time. And I was so happy that Comprehensively was running, not only was she going for the first time, she was getting to see my favorite horse up close. I had lost money already, so we stood around to watch my boy run in this race. I played a measly trifecta bet and a few dollars to win on him just because it's what I do.

He was midpack in the stretch, he wasn't going to threaten for the win, or maybe he was, but something went wrong. He stumbled, fought with all he had to stay up, took another step and lost it. Twyla went flying off of his back and onto the track, he flipped and twisted on the ground. He got up. I silently prayed, as fast as I ever have, that he would run off like I've seen so many times before. He stumbled. He couldn't stand up straight. He made his way inside the 16th pole, fighting to walk, seemingly unaware of what had happened or how it had happened. There he was being the horse that he is, giving every last bit and trying to find the wire, unburdened of his rider. He came right in front of us, and I saw his front right leg. Shattered. Flailing in all the wrong ways. I almost cried. And I started to as my friend looked at me, trying to understand how this horse meant so much to me. She had heard about him all day long, and I was so excited to share him with her. She caught on quickly from the look on my face and the tone of my voice that she caught during the few words I could manage to say. Mostly, "I'm going to cry." The man next to me shouted "on to the glue factory!" and it took everything I had to not lose it. For Twyla and the others risking their lives every second out there for his kicks. For these animals who love what they do. They do it for him.

His trainer stood with him, his right arm underneath his neck, patting the opposite side, as the boy refused to give up. Refused to lie down. Refused to be anything but the winner. Not believing that somehow his leg didn't work anymore.

I don't care if he runs in Portland. I don't care that it was a 3200N3L race. I don't care that he bankrolled only 13k in his career. I care that he gave me something to be excited about. I care that he gave every ounce every time. Gamely. I care that he was a beautiful animal and a beautiful racehorse and that meant something to me. I care that every time I knew he was running I would find a way to get to the track to see him, it was a dream come true that he came to Portland to run in front of me, instead of on TV.

He was the 8-5 favorite.

So at least, if anything today, he was loved.

Sorry you had to go through that. That's awful.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Bababooyee

In many ways, I kinda wish I could forget it. Then, similar to what brian said, I recall the fight in this horse. He never won a race...probably never broke a 40 Beyer. Broken, he fought and struggled to get back up. Refused the chains pulling him into the ambulance. And even the last volitional act of his life was just...so defiant. It seemed the epitome of Dylan Thomas' "Do not go gentle..." In some weird way, and while still much more bitter than sweet, I kinda feel blessed to have witnessed that courage and fight firsthand.

So many of us have memorable horses who we loved who had never done anything remarkable. I think that is a great comment on the love some people have for this game. A horse who is 2 for 13 and has bankrolled a measly 10K for winning his two races can leave the same effect as an undefeated Derby winner breaking down in his next race. It really is about the horses, and that fans can find a reason to fall in love with a measly 3200N3L claimer speaks volumes about our game and the fans.

[sundaysilenceforever]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

So many of us have memorable horses who we loved who had never done anything remarkable. I think that is a great comment on the love some people have for this game. A horse who is 2 for 13 and has bankrolled a measly 10K for winning his two races can leave the same effect as an undefeated Derby winner breaking down in his next race. It really is about the horses, and that fans can find a reason to fall in love with a measly 3200N3L claimer speaks volumes about our game and the fans.

Absolutely. Thank you.

[Zippy Chippy]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

So many of us have memorable horses who we loved who had never done anything remarkable. I think that is a great comment on the love some people have for this game. A horse who is 2 for 13 and has bankrolled a measly 10K for winning his two races can leave the same effect as an undefeated Derby winner breaking down in his next race. It really is about the horses, and that fans can find a reason to fall in love with a measly 3200N3L claimer speaks volumes about our game and the fans.

Very well put. Records and purses aside, the horse has an intrinsic value that you have to appreciate.

[_ed_]

Some horrible stories here.

The worst I saw was a G1 winner, a gelding called Cent Home. He broke a leg with a furlong to go, but wanted to catch up with the rest of the field with his leg flapping horribly. One of my favourite horses won the race but I didn't care, was too busy trying to keep myself from crying as the rider tried desperately to pull him up.

One of the images of that day that lives on in my mind is the jockey crouching on the ground where he dismounted with his face in his hands.

The worst thing was that the owner said the day before the race that it would be his last race before he had a nice well-deserved retirement.

[IrishofNDMan]

I haven't seen too many since i started following horse racing (which I am very glad about) but the one Johny V was involved with a year ago before the derby on Octave or Up an Octave was pretty hard for me to watch, made me feel pretty bad. I can't believe that people at the track actually wish for a horse to breakdown just so they can win their bet, pretty sad when you hear a guy saying "break a leg, come on, breakdown" pathetic!

[Riot]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

It really is about the horses, and that fans can find a reason to fall in love with a measly 3200N3L claimer speaks volumes about our game and the fans.

Amen to that.