Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Clemmie — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:52:03 GMT

Great column as usual from Lenny. I have no animosity towards Rick Dutrow. I agree with Lenny that he is refreshing after robotic interviews with Pletcher and the like. When I saw Rick walk away to the tunnel after the Belmont, shirt hanging out of his pants, covered in sweat, I saw the humanity of it all. Then they showed a shot of him taking off his tie near the paddock. In disgust. What bothered me were comments after the race from ignorant people about how the race was fixed. What would any horseman rather have, a triple crown or money?

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

MonicaV — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:52:34 GMT

Just read the article again and don't understand why it was written. Firstly, I think Big Brown had a huge fan base. How do you know Smarty Jones and Funny Cide were more popular? Were there any poles taken? You could very well be wrong in that assumption. It looked to me that the fans showed up to see this horse and were rooting for him.

Like I said in a previous post, I had nothing against the owners. I couldn't care less about how they make their money, it's not my business. I just didn't like Dutrow's slamming everyone else and calling Casino Drive a "Jap Horse". Talk all you want about how grear your horse is but don't be a poor sportsman by belittling everyone else. You call that refreshing? I don't. I call it detrimental to the sport to be honest with you. Nobody likes a big mouth like that. This is a sport in need of some great PR and Durtrow is certainly not the answer. Big Brown, yes, not his trainer. The horse has all the class in that act.

The only thing I've heard Dutrow say that showed any kind of class was early on he said that it didn't matter who trained the horse, he would still be a champion. That was the only thing he's said that was honest and classy AND refreshing!

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Monica V — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:32:42 GMT

I really didn't have a favorite for the Derby, maybe Col John because he's California based. The first comment I heard Dutrow make was the day of the Florida Derby and he said that Curlin's spotlight didn't last very long as it was the same day he won the DWC.

I actually think that Curlin's win was a little more impressive and a little more important than the Fla Derby. Right then I didn't like him. It got worse as time went on and the crass comment about Godzilla not being dead was unbelievablly tasteless and embarrassing. Dutrow obviously doesn't think before he opens that big mouth. I don't have anything against anyone who talks up their horse. His horse was phenomenal but to say the triple crown was a forgone conclusion is ridiculous. I think BB just regressed because of the grueling schedule. That and not having his steroids. I believe he was coming down from that and it made him edgy and upset and let's face it, that race is the toughest race there is. He had very little adversity up to that race and I don't think that he had such a bad trip in the Belmont. I just think he threw in the towel. Nothing against the horse. I don't believe he has a computer in his stall and reads all these comments. I think that, yes, he is the best 3 year old at the moment but some of the others are maturing and will give him some competition when he comes back. You can't argue about his derby or his preakness, beautiful wins but he just didn't have it for the Belmont and finished worst than any other horse that was poised for a triple crown. Could be because he had raced so little.

Who knows but I don't understand the defending of these people. This is all PR at this point. I never had anything against the owners, only the trainer who could have handled himself better. In fact, I don't know why the owners let Dutrow shoot his mouth off. That was the biggest problem as far as I can see. Now their trying to do some damage control. As far as I'm concerned, who cares?

Time to move on, get the horse back in shape and run him in the Haskell and see how he does. Let's see if he returns to form after that disaster. He may or he may not. A race will tell.

I think Big Brown is a wonderful horse but he has much to prove now and I hope he's given the chance. I also didn't like the slams to Curlin and I hope they face each other because there is a guy who posts on these blogs that says Curlin's connections will not race against Big Brown like he knows everything. I don't think they are in the slightest afraid of BB.

Bring him on and let's see what happens.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

VG — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:49:47 GMT

I think part of the reason why fans are turned off by Big Brown is that his status as a champion has not yet been proven. Unfortunately, this year's crop of 3 year olds has been very inconsistent. With the exception of Big Brown, they don't seem to be able to transfer their form to other tracks or surfaces. Big Brown definitely was the best of the bunch. That being said, however, I don't believe that he has ever been tested in the way that a champion to perserve in the way that champions often are. Barbaro, for instance, had a running style similar to Big Brown. Barbaro was fleeter of foot than most of his rivals. But during the Florida Derby, Dale Roman's horse refused to let Barbaro pass him by and Barbaro had to gut it out during the stretch run. Likewise, Street Sense and Any Given Saturday had to gut it out during the stretch run in the Tampa Bay Derby. Rags and Curlin also gutted it out during the stretch run in the Belmont with Rags never giving up despite stumbling at the start and being parked out 3-4 wide throughout the entire mile and a half race. Hard Spun always gave his best despite the track and distance. Big Brown has never shown us that kind of grit and determination. I think that is what ultimately turns off people to Big Brown, his unproven status as a champion. Add to that Dutrow's bragging about Big Brown's greatness and it is easy to see why, like Rodney Dangerfield, he doesn't get much respect.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

GoKandaly — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:38:04 GMT

I see lots of kids at the equine museum I work, and I can tell you the kids LOVED Big Brown - much more so than Smarty or Funny or any of the more recent Derby winners. They didn't care about any of the human connections.

Why was he so popular? I think it was something as simple as his name and the domination displayed in the Derby and Preakness. Now that the Triple is over, and BB's career is winding down, I think he'll be forgotten by the kids (and probably most of us) pretty quickly.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Tiznow2005 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:32:27 GMT

To Tiznowbaby,

I am assuming that you are a huge Tiznow fan as I am... so of course I was rooting for Da' Tara... and did he show... I hope that we have a Colonel John, D'Tara and Big Brown showdown again down the line... without steroids !!!!!!!!

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Wanda — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:53:29 GMT

Loved to read about the connections of BB, puts a different angle on all the hype about drugs etc.I just like to see a talented horse run.We may never know why he ran so bad in the Belmont but let's give him another chance.He's still a pretty nice 3 year old. It also shows that you don't have to spend millions to own a good one.That alone should get some new people in the game.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Bellwether — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 10:43:32 GMT

Got tears in my eyes ty...Long Live The King!!!

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Kekira — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 06:20:59 GMT

I for one was rooting for and still do root for Big Brown. He is a gorgeous horse and I think he is great, not fantastic but great. He deserved to win the crown, he proved he was better than his competition. I've watched him since the Florida Derby and he is a powerful horse. It's not his fault this crop of three years olds is relatively weak, nor is it his fault his connections were very arrogant during the Triple Crown bid.

And people, he's just a horse, all he wants to do is run and he's got the heart and the courage and the mind to do so. At Belmont, he just wasn't himself. He probably could have beaten the others, even off of steroids. BB is not human, the faults of others are not his own.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Sally F — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 00:22:53 GMT

GO, BIG BROWN!!!

Why are "us humans" so judgemental? I, for one, love Big Brown and want to honor him for his wonderful accomplishments to date and hope for the very best for this wonderful horse!

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

General Challenge — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 21:08:00 GMT

I don't think the unkindness is all directed at Big Brown. Dutrow's words and behavior made me pity the horse more than anything. His belittling and condemnation of other contenders and their connections was absolutely appalling and an embarrassment to the sport. On the Roger Stein radio show in L.A., he went so low as to call Casino Drive "that Jap horse".

I'd never let him lay a hand on a horse that I owned. Big Brown deserves better humans.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

fred g — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:40:45 GMT

Mixed feelings about Dutrow. I agree he's a brash character (a la johnny Campo), but so what! At least the guy says what he thinks without being PC (for lack of a better term)--thats refreshing! On the other hand, if racing in the U.S. ever got a uniform handle on drug use (legal and illegal) MANY trainers like Dutrow would be closed for business..or at least brought back down to earth

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Karen in Texas — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:06:55 GMT

Smarty may have had a catchy name, but he also had racing ability and the heart to outrun his pedigree. The human interest stories surrounding him were extra. Big Brown has not proven any sort of durability yet, and it is not his fault that his connections have no manners. That they may simply be mistaken about his abilities is not his fault either.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

CJCtheslew — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:52:24 GMT

I was rooting for Big Brown, despite the fact that he didn't have "warm and fuzzy" people around him (except maybe the story about his jockey's son).

Does anyone remember how Spectacular Bid----his trainer bragged just like Dutrow, and the jockey was worse badmouthing the other jocks?

So stop beating up on BB.

Re: the comment about BB coming out of nowhere: didn't a certain Horse of the Year (Curlin) kind of come out of nowhere last year?

There's others too numerous to mention here, but I'm sick of everyone being so mean spirited.

It was a sad TC, to see Eight Belles go down and to not see a Triple Crown winner (30 years)!

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Harrison — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:55:34 GMT

It's a sad fact of human nature that too many people enjoy seeing a champion fail or discover a great person was actually, well, human. There's a whole cottage industry busily digging up 250-year-old dirt just so they can say "See, Washington wasn't perfect."

They don't like people who hide behind "no comment" (such as Nick Zito when asked about giving Da'Tara steroids) and they don't like others being frank about their failures.

They just want to see people (or their horses) lose so they can feel superior.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

vtb — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:50:07 GMT

Up until the Belmont I wanted to see Big Brown win the triple crown. But after hearing Rick Dutrow run his mouth that whole day about how Big Brown could not be beat I was glad to see his "sure winner" come in dead last.

GO CURLIN!!!

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Paula — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:49:20 GMT

IEAH is trying to muscle tax incentives for their "for profit" equine hospital, some of the key figures in this organization lied about their backgrounds, yet they want us to forget this and say "hey, they're bringing in NEW business" for racing. I don't particularly care for their kind of "business" and it has nothing to do with ETHNIC background, but a lack of ETHICS!

Sorry, no sympathy for them here. Sorry the horse "feels" he's suffered.... the horse is a victim of his breeding and his connections.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

normajean81258 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:04:45 GMT

Wonderful article, thank you. We do have stop being so tunnel visioned and realize that these people have families that love them and lives outside of the negativity you read in the media. There is always more to a story and hopefully there will be more to Big Brown's! I heard about the Equine Hospital and it warms my heart. Thanks for this article, It's good to read something more upbeat.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Red65 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 02:32:27 GMT

I was not rooting for Big Brown to win the Crown and it had nothing to do with his connections. I just didn't think he had the qualities of a Triple Crown Winner. He just doesn't have the look. He is a beautiful horse, and even a good horse. He just isn't a GREAT horse.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Dreamer's Mom — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:56:18 GMT

So true that horses do not pick their people-how many of you out there feel like giving a hug to Bobby B or D.Wayne? Barclay Tagg isn't exactly the first guy you would choose to have dinner with either.

I, for one, am still hoping Big Brown races again. Now that his "value" has gone down maybe his people will reconsider and send him back out. He didn't lose this fan.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Tiznowbaby — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:27:47 GMT

Well Lenny, why would I be emotionally invested in Big Brown? He pops up on the scene and the intentions are clearly stated that he will be retired posthaste. While his trainer was rightfully proud and confident in his horse, did he have to trash the other horses? That's not refreshing honesty, that's just tacky and rude. Loved the picture of Ivarone with his arms around BB's neck after the loss in the Belmont, but would it kill him to take off his sunglasses now and then. And while you're trashing us fans about who we like and don't why don't you ask yourself why you didn't write something sooner about the ownership group? I would have liked to have known a little more about them.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Whimsy — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:18:56 GMT

I don't like Big Brown. It has nothing to do with the people directly connected with him. (Though I do disagree about Dutrow being refreshingly honest. Either he is a nasty, bragging idiot, or an awful lot of reporters hate him and arranged to make him look like one.)

I dislike Big Brown because he came out of nowhere (I wasn't able to see any of his races prior to the Kentucky Derby) and was hyped as the horse that couldn't be beat, which always annoys me. There was probably no happier person than me at the moment I realized he was NOT going to win the Triple Crown. This proved, once again, there is no "sure thing" in horse racing. Why can't the news media remember that from one day to the next?

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Kincsem — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:28:28 GMT

Horses don't pick their people.

I try to ignore the people around a particular horse, and focus upon the qualities of that horse.

That said, there is a thing called class, and part of having class is not to ridicule another man's horse (Canonero II, anyone?). Association with a good horse is not a license to make tacky comments.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

dailyimpact — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:24:18 GMT

nice piece, but a galloping pharmacy simply does not appeal to everyone.

re: Rooting Interest - by Lenny Shulman

Matt M. — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:02:00 GMT

The beauty of racing is that everyone finds their own horses to root for and it can sometimes be a reflection of the connections. Iavorone actually comes across as a pretty nice guy in interviews I've watched. I was even getting a kick out of Dutrow, but was really turned off when he started knocking John Servis's work with Smarty Jones. Come on....Servis took a horse from maiden to the step of the Triple Crown. He's not being handed accomplished horses like Dutrow is. I hope BB comes back strong this summer.....sould be a great Saratoga story!