About an hour after the race, a visibly shaken Jones met with media.
Thrilled by her second-place finish, he said he initially was high-fiving people as he made his way down to the track. "We're thinking to win the Oaks and run second in the Derby with two fillies, we've had a remarkable weekend."
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 2 inches; 97 words Type of Material: Correction
Eight Belles: An article on the death of Kentucky Derby filly Eight Belles in Sunday's Sports section said that viewers at home watching NBC were left wondering as the network, seemingly caught off guard, failed to provide many details of what had happened to Eight Belles. NBC advises that it, in fact, had planned what to do in the event there was an accident, and did provide details, including the euthanization of the horse. After the horse went down, the network did not show the graphic footage, and showed only a distant shot taken from a blimp.
He said he then noticed Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown's jockey, didn't look like he had just won a Derby.
"He was a little bit solemn," Jones said.
After the race, Desormeaux said his horse "showed you his heart, and Eight Belles showed you her life for our enjoyment. I'm deeply sympathetic."
Jones said he eventually realized it was his horse that was down but didn't hear the worst had happened until he was informed by jockey Gabriel Saez.
"He said, 'Mr. Larry, they had to put her down,' " Jones said.
Jones couldn't believe it. "It's a quarter mile after the race," he said. "These things don't happen there."
Bramlage said there may have been micro-fractures that worsened as the horse cooled down.
Said Jones: "Things happen for a reason, but I see no reason for this. She had just run the race of her life. She went out in glory."
Jones did not blame the fatal injury on the dirt track, as opposed to a synthetic surface, or anything else.
"It's just the unfortunate side of this sport you're sometimes faced with," he said.
Jones talked about Eight Belles being a part of his family, saying, "I saw her every day."
At this point he began to choke up.
"I'm heartbroken," he said.
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larry.stewart@latimes.com
