The Kentucky Derby is horse racing at its finest, until the finest have to be sacrificed for the sport…

I had only watched it a few times, half-interested, at that.

Ah, to reflect on the great winners of the past, you know, the Triple Crown club; Seabiscuit, you complete me. Seattle Slew, Oh, you!

This last weekend I happened to catch most of the broadcast of a very muddy Derby race, and it brought back some very emotional memories accompanied by a flood of tears.

Segue from then til now…ten years ago, a rock cover band I was in played a gig for a private Kentucky Derby party. It was quite the affair; fancy tents, lots of banquet tables, and generous hosts. And, lots of Seattle rain. Thank goodness for the tents…

Private parties are always the best! Familiar with the usual requirements, I had studied up for this one. Not being shy, I had asked around about Eight Belles, a mare, who was to be one of the few mares to race with the big boys.

After the party got rolling, a little satin purse was passed around for us to choose a horse’s name out of. Can’t quite remember why. Must have been a prize-winning lottery!

No matter. I relished the feeling of reaching my hand in to the betting bag full of promise, the one from which I surely knew I would select the winning steed. I had chosen Eight Belles!!

Having done my derby research, I was very excited. She was a mare running with the boys, quite the honor.

And then, it was time for the race…

What can one say when experiencing that level of emotion?

In the heat of the race, my dear Eight belles broke her legs trying to keep up with the boys.

It wasn’t but a few minutes later was she put down on right the track.

RIP to a beautiful, bountifully-hearted creature. You most likely gave more in your three years on this crazy planet than many a human in would or could in his or her lifetime.

Hardest gig I had to sing. Tough memories. Tougher for them that knew her, I’m sure.

Should the boys and girls run together? Can they compete? Obviously, the answer is yes, unless you’re an equine…

"Eight Belles (February 23, 2005 – May 3, 2008) was a Thoroughbred racehorse owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms. She finished second to winner Big Brown in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs, a race run by only thirty-nine fillies in the past.[1] Her collapse just after the Derby's conclusion resulted in immediate euthanasia."

Where do we go from here? The only opinions that seem to matter are those of the richly endowed; the horse owners, the bettors for sport.

It’s all for sport and money, that will never change. The best we can hope for is a hello in the direction of continued humane treatment off the field of play, and perhaps, on it.