Shoveling manure

Further proof that we live in an age when accidents can’t just be accidents:

The animal-rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has called for the jockey riding Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby to be suspended.

Why? Well, the filly broke two ankles and had to be euthanized. And PETA is looking for someone to blame.

PETA says jockey Gabriel Saez should have sensed the filly was in trouble or that the accident was about to happen and pulled up instead of applying the whip.

PETA is, of course, full of horse crap on this.

Saez didn’t pull up the horse because he’s a jockey, not a futurist. He didn’t know the horse was about to have a tragic injury.

And — this is the key point, for anyone who cares about facts — Eight Belles was not acting unusual. She was behaving like a thoroughbred that likes to run.

And — this is the second key point — the accident didn’t occur during the race. The horse was galloping out a full quarter-mile past the finish line.

In other words, it was an unforeseen event commonly referred to as an accident.

I know that with humans, usually an accident can’t just be an accident. Someone has to be blamed or sued, or both.

At least we ought to agree that when an animal has an accident, we’ll call it an accident, and we won’t blame or sue anyone.

There’s enough real animal cruelty in this world. PETA ought to fight that.

Racehorses that run in the Derby are extremely valuable and pampered accordingly.

Sometimes they break a leg and have to be put down.

It’s sad. It’s also called “an accident.”