STANTON, Del. -- The trainer of Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles on Tuesday ordered drug testing as part of a necropsy, intent on dispelling any suggestion the fallen filly may have been on steroids.
Larry Jones said the tests for performance-enhancing drugs will come back negative on Eight Belles, who was euthanized after breaking both front ankles Saturday.
"I guarantee there were no steroids ever on the horse," Jones said at a news conference at Delaware Park, site of the filly's first win.
Jones said he was responding to unspecified criticism that his horse must have been on steroids because of her size.
"We're taking a lot of abuse out there. ... We're being accused of steroid abuse because she was so large," he said. "I can tell you that [owner Rick] Porter goes to the sale to look for good horses and that's one of the things you look for -- a horse that's big enough, strong enough and fast enough to compete in big races."
Jones also took a swipe at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has been critical of jockey Gabriel Saez. PETA has said Saez should have known that the horse was in trouble and that he went to the whip too often.
"I think that it is really and truly the most ridiculous thing I've heard of," he said.
On Tuesday in Lexington, Ky., a PETA protest over the fatal breakdown of Eight Belles drew nearly as many defenders of horse racing as it did protesters.
About a dozen people from both sides held signs outside the offices of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.
PETA contends that horse racing is cruel. Their signs read, "Stop racing horses to the grave" and "Racing horses beaten and broken."
Horse racing supporters stood alongside them defending the industry from the attack with signs that read "I love horses" and "I support the sport."
Jones said PETA is capitalizing on a sad situation.
"When this started I feel like maybe their heart was in the right place," Jones said. "I think maybe they were generally concerned."
Larry Jones said the tests for performance-enhancing drugs will come back negative on Eight Belles, who was euthanized after breaking both front ankles Saturday.
"I guarantee there were no steroids ever on the horse," Jones said at a news conference at Delaware Park, site of the filly's first win.
Jones said he was responding to unspecified criticism that his horse must have been on steroids because of her size.
"We're taking a lot of abuse out there. ... We're being accused of steroid abuse because she was so large," he said. "I can tell you that [owner Rick] Porter goes to the sale to look for good horses and that's one of the things you look for -- a horse that's big enough, strong enough and fast enough to compete in big races."
Jones also took a swipe at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which has been critical of jockey Gabriel Saez. PETA has said Saez should have known that the horse was in trouble and that he went to the whip too often.
"I think that it is really and truly the most ridiculous thing I've heard of," he said.
On Tuesday in Lexington, Ky., a PETA protest over the fatal breakdown of Eight Belles drew nearly as many defenders of horse racing as it did protesters.
About a dozen people from both sides held signs outside the offices of the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority.
PETA contends that horse racing is cruel. Their signs read, "Stop racing horses to the grave" and "Racing horses beaten and broken."
Horse racing supporters stood alongside them defending the industry from the attack with signs that read "I love horses" and "I support the sport."
Jones said PETA is capitalizing on a sad situation.
"When this started I feel like maybe their heart was in the right place," Jones said. "I think maybe they were generally concerned."
