Triumph and Tragedy at Twin Spires

Kent Desormeaux rode Derby favorite Big Brown to win the 134th Kentucky Derby. Finishing in second was filly Eight Belles, who was injured in the race and immediately euthanized after compound fractures in the front legs. Coming in third place was Denis of Cork (27-1), ridden by Calvin Borel, who won the Derby last year with Street Sense.

Big Brown was the 52nd favorite to win in the 134-year history of the Kentucky Derby, and finished in 2:01.82. He was also the first horse to win from post position 20 since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.

Larry Bramlage, D.V.M, who was on-call from the American Association of Equine Practioners, said that the filly broke both front ankles as she galloped out nearing the backstretch. She then fell and threw jockey Gabriel Saez, attempted to regain her composure, and then partially collapsed again as she was attended to by emergency personnel and outriders.

"Unfortunately she had to be immediately euthanized, there was no possible way to save her. That's an injury that is just too painful. It's a bad injury to both front legs," said Bramlage.

Eight Belles was the first filly to start in the Derby since 1999.