They now want to suspend the Jockey

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is seeking the suspension of Eight Belles' jockey after the filly had to be euthanized following her second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Gabriel Saez was riding Eight Belles when she broke both front ankles while galloping out a quarter of a mile past the wire. She was euthanized on the track.

PETA faxed a letter Sunday to Kentucky's racing authority claiming the filly was "doubtlessly injured before the finish" and asked that Saez be suspended while Eight Belles' death is investigated.

"What we really want to know, did he feel anything along the way?" PETA spokeswoman Kathy Guillermo said. "If he didn't then we can probably blame the fact that they're allowed to whip the horses mercilessly."

Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones said the filly was clearly happy when she crossed the finish line.

"I don't know how in the heck they can even come close to saying that," Jones told The Associated Press on Sunday. "She has her ears up, clearly galloping out."

Guillermo said if Saez is found at fault, the group wants the second-place prize of $400,000 won by Eight Belles to be revoked.

Saez, a 20-year-old Panama native, was riding in his first Kentucky Derby. He frequently rides for Jones.

A call to the jockeys' room at Delaware Park, where Saez raced on Sunday, went unanswered.

Eight Belles, the first filly since 1999 to run in the Derby, appeared fine until collapsing while galloping out after the finish.

The letter to the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority also sought a ban on whipping, limits on races and the age of racehorses, and a move to softer, artificial surfaces for all courses.

They also are demanding a public appology from the Jockey.

Many experts are saying the Saez had no way of knowing what was about to happen.

No way should he have to appologize...

Experts are also saying the horse just took a bad couple of steps galloping out.

Who are these people and why do they have so much power?

I am not an expert on horseracing by an means.  I enjoy watching the triple crown and hoping for another winner.

Do you think going to four years old would be old enough for the horse to be fully developed for racing?

As a horse owner of 3 arabian pet/riding horses, i could see that in mid stretch she was short striding with chopping steps. Horses will run on instinct when hurt and then when walking out will literally drop from their with-held pain. The young jockey probably was not able to "feel" any probs under his ride.

I am a proponet of the new softer surfaces for the horses benefit not from my long gambling career.  The loss of a quality horse as 8 Belles will maybe bring the arrogant Ky and NY tracts inline with SA,DM,HOLL.

For the PETA fools and some who have typed at this site on the fillie s death, come out to Nev and bring bales of hay and gallons of water for our wildhorses who die 200-300 yearly mostly from lack of food/water. Of course our natural horses make no one money and cost fed govt and therefore are deemed expendable. Sure its easier to bet NY tracks than the west coast ones i used to hit often. But if poly saves 1 horse an early demise then  im "all-in" as we say in Nevada.