Owner Haunted by Derby Filly's 'Horrible' Death

Eight Belles' owner is still shocked and saddened by the death of his filly, put down at the end of the Kentucky Derby—but believes she belonged in the race, reports the Palm Beach Post. Rick Porter switched from celebrating his horse's thrilling second-place finish to mourning her death within minutes. "It's the bottom of the barrel," he said yesterday. "It's just a horrible feeling."

Porter doesn't think having a racing commissioner would have prevented the "freak accident" that broke the filly's front ankles when they slammed into one another, but thinks that having one could "get everybody on the same page" concerning thoroughbred safety. He'll remember Eight Belles as "a beautiful, mild-tempered, talented filly that gave her life giving it all to be second in the Kentucky Derby." (More Eight Belles stories.)