by Jim Pettyjohn

Eight Belles was born on February 23, 2005. The beautiful gray filly, who stood 17 hands tall, was by Unbridled’s Song, out of the mare Away, by Dixieland Band. A near record crowd of almost 158,000 people were in attendance for Kentucky Derby 134. Eight Belles was the 39th filly in the Race for the Roses and one of only five to finish first or second. With her 2nd place finish in the Kentucky Derby she left us with career earnings of $708,000. As a broodmare she likely would have been priceless. As a spirit she definitely was priceless.

What a Kentucky Derby she ran!! In the most prestigious horse race on earth she set sail for Big Brown and crossed the finish line 4 lengths clear of 18 of the best colts in North America. With 17 hands of power, she was the only one with the class, talent, and courage to take the Big Guy on. She did it with one of the sweetest personalities to ever grace trainer Larry Jones’ barn.

How courageous was her run? Well, early indications are that none of the 18 colts that finished behind Eight Belles will go to the Preakness to challenge Big Brown. She was The One. That’s the kind of courage she had.

I guess all we can say is that she gave it all; she ran the race of her lifetime against a horse that may become the horse of a lifetime. I’m glad those of us who watched the race together did a ceremony for her. I know I’ll wear my Eight Belle’s hat with pride for the rest of my life. While it’s hard, very hard, I’m sure Eight Belles would not want her death to tarnish the brilliance of her achievement or the life that she loved. Thus, this statement avoids the politics of racing and public opinion. Eight Belles would want and deserve a celebration. You deserve that whether you die in the war in Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, or the war at Churchill.

As a tearful Larry Jones said, this was a filly who was truly loved. Us, we want more of her, but she was called; being truly a part of nature, she understood the call. I think of that great Van Morrison song, “Cry For Home”:

I'll be waiting I'll be waiting on that shore To hear the cry for home You won't have to worry anymore When you hear the cry for home When you hear, hear the call You won't have to think at all Hear the cry for home When I listen When I listen to the song Well it feels, it feels so free And you tell me You will come and go with me When you hear the cry for home When you hear the call You won't have to think at all Hear the cry for home

One fan wrote: Big Brown earned my admiration for demonstrating his supremacy; Eight Belles earned my love for demonstrating her virtue.

Thank you, Eight Belles, for the beauty of your heart that you have shown us, for the lessons from your heart that you have taught us, for the brilliance with which you shown, and for the precious gift that you will forever be. We will miss your flying mane and beautiful gray tail flowing in the slipstream of your grace. We love you, Eight Belles, we miss you, and we’ll see you again. Go run, girl.