Indignant trainer: Eight Belles not on steroids

The fallen filly who tragically snapped both front ankle at Churchill Downs last Sunday -- Eight Belles -- did  not use steroids, according to her trainer.  Story with the AP.

Th filly's trainer took some media hits when the big horse fell on Saturday after finishing 2nd in the Kentucky Derby to Big Brown.  Whispers said that a filly that tall had to be steroid enhanced.  No, says trainer Larry Jones:

The trainer of Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles on Tuesday ordered drug testing as part of an the autopsy, 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.

Hell's bells, it was mean suggesting the fallen horse juiced:

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."

Eight Belles's trainer is also peed-off at PITA:

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.

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."