Eight Belles Wasn’t On Steroids, Says Trainer Who Probably Injected The Filly With Steroids

Ok. That headline is misleading because there’s no proof that Larry Jones, Eight Belles trainer, injected the filly with steroids. But there’s a controversy brewing that raises concerns about the filly’s unusual size. She was much larger than most three year old fillies and allegations have been raised on the possibility that trainers injected her with steroids in order to enhance her bust size and speed. On that note, Larry Jones says ya’ll be fools.

“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 she was so large.

“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 thing you look for — a horse that’s big enough, strong enough and fast enough to compete in big races.”

We can’t make a sound judgment call until some source reports on the results, but there’s also speculation that the horse was too young to race. And a filly racing against 19 colts is also something that’s been shrugged off as fodder. If the horse was injected with steroids–which isn’t beyond a doubt seeing as her limbs basically fell off–then Mr. Jones should be strapped to a colt and drug around a track for 2 minutes. That and a groin kick via hind leg of horse would suffice as well. That’s all if steroids were involved. If he’s clear, then no hard feelings, meng.
Earlier: Eight Belles Coverage
Trainer: Eight Belles was not on steroids [LATimes]