By ED FOUNTAINE
May 7, 2008
Trainer Larry Jones has been on an emotional roller-coaster since his filly Eight Belles suffered a fatal breakdown galloping out after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby.
Yesterday, Jones' grief gave way to anger as he lashed out at the attack dogs, ranging from PETA to sports-talk radio hosts to Internet stalkers, using rumor and innuendo to blame him and jockey Gabriel Saez for Eight Belles' death.
"It's been a nightmare," Jones told The Post from his barn at Delaware Park. "It's bad enough we lost the horse. These people saying we messed it up make it worse."
PETA claims Eight Belles was injured during the race and called for Saez to be suspended.
"When PETA started, it's heart was in the right place," he said, his voice boiling over, "but it's gone from good intentions to using tragedy to raise funds. Not at my expense! Not one of them called to say they're sorry. I'm as much of an expert on PETA as they are on horseracing, because they know nothing."
Jones also was incensed by "some guy talking on a radio show who said the only way a filly can compete with colts is if she's pumped up on steroids. What a jackass. I have not given one cc of anabolic steroids to a horse since 1997, when they found out what damage steroids can do."
Jones insisted that Eight Belles' necropsy include a test for steroids. The results are due next week.
An anonymous Internet posting claimed Eight Belles' front ankles were injected before the race.
"She never had a joint injected since she was in my care," Jones said. "I'm as anti-injecting as any trainer out there."
While Eight Belles received the minimum doses of Bute and Lasix, like most other horses, "She was not overmedicated. Proud Spell (Jones' filly who won the Oaks on Friday) got the exact same treatment.
"There was no issue with this horse. I don't have anything to hide, and I don't like being accused of that. It makes me sick that some people want other people to believe that (garbage)."
Jones is heartened by the fact that many have rallied to his support.
"A lot of my fellow horsemen called to assure me we didn't do anything wrong," he said. As for Saez, "Some really good jockeys called to say 'we're going to defend this kid.' "
