Eight Belles Trainer Demands Drug Test
By Kathryn Brim

Upon accusations that Eight Belles was given steroids, her trainer, Larry Jones, ordered a drug test to accompany the filly’s necropsy yesterday to prove that she was clean.

Jones and the filly’s jockey, Gabriel Saez, have received continuous criticism from a variety of animal welfare groups since the tragic Kentucky Derby accident, where Eight Belles was euthanized after she broke both front ankles galloping out after her second place Kentucky Derby victory.

Activists are claiming that the filly was given steroids to increase her size, and whipped excessively by Saez forcing her to breakdown after the race. Jones and Saez both adamantly deny these claims, with the backing of the Jockey Club and race officials. Race stewards reviewed the race, and acknowledged that there was no indication of mistreatment by Saez or that the filly was injured prior to the race’s end.