What caused Eight Belles' catastrophe?

How exactly did Eight Belles break her ankles. Sadly, I couldn't watch the derby. What happened? I missed something big...how was she doing in the race(s)?

Sadly, it was actually after the finish (she came in 2nd) and not caused by anything obvious that I could see..

Do you think she might have been pushed too hard or something?

Racing young horses is a very hot, emotional topic, so I won't wander into that mine field with my own opinions, but I'll just say that we have very sturdy, strong boned Paints and don't even lope them before they are 3 yrs old.

We watched the Derby. I don't approve of horse racing but my husband wanted to watch it. From the starting bell to the finish I was praying "please God don't let anyone get hurt". Guess he wasn't listening They didn't show (at the time) her getting injured. It must have happened at the finish of the race. When they made the announcement we both sat here and cried.

From what I have read, it did happen after the end of the race when she was being pulled up. I have read reports this morning, though I don't know if they are true or not, that the track requests(ed) that the jockeys pull up early because they want to get to the ceremony (to save time on TV) rather than let them run them out another 3/4 mile or so. If you were watching, you could see even Big Brown was so fresh after being pulled up at the finish that he dumped his jockey. If this is true, so much the sadder (and shameful).

If that's true, that really burns me - horses need a good 3/4 mile to even think about slowing down.
Without reading this, I thought they had pulled up early - I couldn't believe it. It's very very unsafe to pull them up too hard.

They said on the this mornings news show that the track was very hard "like concrete" too. That's just awful
They are talking about changing the track surfaces but too late for Eight Bells

From what it looked like on tv this morning they pulled her up early and she got all rubber-legged and off balanced and her ankles just gave out. Sad.

I didn't watch it, but I heard this on the news. :(
Yeah, it's a shame...ah, that's one reason I don't like horse-racing.
But anyway, yeah they say they might change the track so it's safer, but too late now right?

I watched her fall, the poor girl...her ankles were all messed up. :( She had to be euthanized right on the track!