Originally published May 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 4, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Unbeaten Big Brown comes through to win Kentucky Derby
Big Brown backed up his trainer's boasts with an explosive finishing kick and won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday — a day marred by...
DARRON CUMMINGS / AP
Kent Desormeaux reacts after riding Big Brown to victory during the 134th Kentucky Derby Saturday.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Big Brown backed up his trainer's boasts with an explosive finishing kick and won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday — a day marred by the fatal breakdown of the filly Eight Belles.
The cheers for the winner's decisive victory were cut short when Eight Belles, the runner-up, was euthanized on the track minutes after the race when she collapsed with two broken front ankles.
The unbeaten Big Brown took charge when the 20-horse field turned for home. Under the urging of jockey Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown cruised to a 4 ¾-length victory to become the seventh unbeaten Derby winner with his fourth consecutive win. The last one was Barbaro in 2006.
Eight Belles was attempting to become the fourth filly to win the Derby. However, as the horses galloped out around the first turn, the filly fell to the ground and jockey Gabriel Saez jumped off.
An equine ambulance came onto the track, but the filly could not be saved, said Dr. Larry Bramlage, the Derby's on-call veterinarian.
"When we passed the wire I stood up. She started galloping funny. I tried to pull her up. That's when she went down," a distraught Saez said.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Michael Phelps breaks 100-meter butterfly world record at U.S. nationals
Lance Armstrong stays a split second off Tour lead
NW Briefs: Hydros driver Jean Theoret: "I drowned" after boat flip
NEW - 09:14 PM
Mountains beckon riders in Tour de France
UPDATE - 07:52 PM
Sideline Chatter: Serena Williams doesn't believe in no-strings relationships

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
shopping

events for Thursday, Jul. 9th
- IKEA Summer Sale
- Impulse + Totokaelo Spring Inventory...
- Jaxx Boutik Summer Sale
- Girls Night Out at Magnolia Village
editors' picks
More shopping guides- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- UW Football | Tailbacks David Freeman, Brandon Johnson ineligible
- Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Experts work to untangle US, Korea cyber attack
- Nickels gives City Light chief $40,000 bonus
- Coffee City | New "sexpresso" stand coming to Ballard
- Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage law
911 - Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
614 - Health-plan costs soar for individuals
491 - Texas Rangers at Seattle Mariners: 07/09 game thread
220 - Teen charged in pit bull attacks ordered held after pleading not guilty
149 - World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
102 - Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
88 - Wednesday night notes
84 - Pay parking in West Seattle?
76 - House Dems want to expand secret briefings
61
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- World's largest solar plant may be built in Cle Elum
- Rick Steves' Europe | Beware of new and classic travel scams
- Happy Hour | Ruth's Chris has super rib-eye sliders and quality cocktails
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Grab the kids and hop on Amtrak for a stress-free getaway to Portland
- All You Can Eat | "Top Chef": Seattle chefs tapped for Bravo knife fight in Vegas!





