Of course the owner is going to say that the horse will keep on racing. But he is leaving the door open with several hints that Big Brown will be retired. He said it himself--the horse is worth $100 million, and can only be insured for half that amount. I do not believe they are going to risk an illness, injury, or injury in shipping with an animal that valuable. They won't breathe a sigh of relief until he is safely bedded down at Three Chimneys. But if I were Iavarone, I would be concerned about the possibility of having to cash in on an infertility policy now that Dutrow has admitted to injecting Big Brown on a monthly basis with an anabolic steroid to keep "his coat shiny." And then to say he doesn't know what the drug is used for, only that it makes their coats look better. If I am in charge of an animal valued at upwards of $100 million, I better know about everything that is ingested by that animal, from the hay, oats, and water, to the peppermints and carrots.  

How about some kind of handle generated fund to subsidize insurance costs for the sport's super-stars? Lots of details to work out, but nothing else seems address racing's biggest problem. We can promote jockeys, owners and trainers all we want, but that won't come close to offsetting the loss of the real stars.

Unless you are a multi Billionaire, the decision to retire to stud is overwhelmingly your best decision especially if you are an undefeated Triple Crown Winner. I'm sure most who want Big Brown to race would retire him if face with such a windfall of money (I'm included). Principal usually gets trumped by vulgar amounts of cash. I would retire him after the Belmont undefeated and let the imagination of the world go to work

The only way Three Chimneys can get their money back on this horse is to overbreed him.  Is that what RACING needs?  A horse that is retired early, before he "peaks" - with bad feet, and loaded with steroids?!

Jason....I just give the man a world of credit for returning your call.  If nothing else, it may show he cares.  Also wonder if BB were to lose the Belmont how that might affect a decision?  Thanks for reaching out to him.

I feel like the quarter cracks is going to bail out IEAH. There is a 100 million in question but insurance covers half of that in case a horse is injuried and must be euthanized. If a horse is insured, it is probably more valuable dead sad to say. Look at Barbaro, he was insured for 30+ million. If anything had happened to Barbaro, that money would go to the Jacksons. He was put to sleep and the insurance agency had to pay out.

I guess the point I am trying to get across is what is one company(or group of people) going to do with 100 vs 50 million. They win either way and plus money doesn't buy you happiness. (Anybody ever see E True Hollywood Story? Just trouble for anybody that has too much money)Give back to the racing world and let him prove himself against Curlin.

Iavarone talks about giving back to the racing community. Well give back and let Big Brown run after the Belmont and not report the day say he is retired cause of quarter cracks.

Perhaps Mr. Iavarone has been paying attention to what the fans are saying, or perhaps he is just giving you what you want to hear. We won't really know until it happens. Call me idealistic but I will hope that he does truly realize the importance of letting Big Brown race after the Belmont.  If those are his true intentions, then go Big Brown!  If it is just a line, I leave it to the racing gods to snatch this precious honor from his hands.

BTW Edzepplin - I agree that many people would be tempted by the money, but please don't assume that we are all so avaricious as to place money above joy. Maybe it's my upbringing or personal experiences, but if I had the chance to own a special racehorse, I would race him as long as he could and would. The joy this sport brings me has helped ease my pain during rough times; no amount of money could keep me from giving back to it if I could. Please limit your comments to your own opinions, and don't try to speak for the rest of us.

pleasechange my display name to Lorraine. Thanks

Wow! Thank you so much for calling the owner, and the fact that he returned your call is awesome! Not something I would have ever expected. I have a better feeling now about BB continuing to race after the Belmont, though I do agree with everyone that there are a few open doors for his retirement.

What is up with Dutrow stating that he gives BB steroid shots but doesn't know the effects or what it does? How can you be a horse trainer, and inject your horses with steroids, without knowing the benefits or adverse effects? I think he is blowing smoke. I did my own research, and "anabolic steroids are a synthetic form of testosterone. It makes it easier for the body to retain dietary protein, which helps the body naturally develop muscle."

Would that cause a horse to be infertile?

So they're thinking of racing him after the Belmont?  Oh, goody!  Aren't they so considerate! *eye roll*  What's another two or three races?  He's still gone at the end of the year.  He'll be remembered as the best three year old of 2008 and not much more in the history books.  He'll be remembered more for what he could have been than for what he was.

I AM skeptical.... what else would he tell you.

I am also NOT impressed with IEAH and their behavior Derby week.  They pushed and shoved their way around Louisville and Churchill Downs like they felt people "owed" them something.

Mr. Schiavo was very pleasant, but the rest.... well, let me just say that I saw some real tacky behavior near the paddock on Oaks Day.  They need to be diffused.  It was an a "do you know who I am" replay a la Bob Baffert!

Lauren, specifically, anabolic steroids in human males can cause testicular problems and the shrinkage of said parts.  Steroids can also cause cancer, aggressive behavior, etc.

I am not an equine vet; however, I know what steroids are... and that if they make a horse "eat up" - that's "bulking up" and if it goes straight to his muscle, then it's a performance enhancing drug.

I have to say that I believe Iavarone is primarily in the business because he has been infected with an incurable horse addiction, just like many of the rest of us. For that reason, I believe that he will run the horse for the rest of the year, assuming the horse holds up.

I know he is a true fan of horse racing because he has the business background to understand just how fragile is the horse business, yet he decided to throw his own future into the business. He was successful on Wall Street because he has the big imagination, ego, and courage needed to believe that he can succeed where others have failed. The tracks are littered with people who have tried to profit in this business; for the moment, he appears to be succeeding at a very high level. He knows he has to make the hard decisions, therefore, he had to sell the big horse at the moment when he had the greatest promise to leverage. That means the horse doesn't get to run as an older horse.

I give Iavarone credit for being straight about his plans for the horse. I have a feeling if it were a reasonable possibility, he would enjoy watching the horse run more than we would.  

GREAT stuff, Jason-- I really believe you got MUCH more out of Mr. I than if you had him face-to-face with a steno pad taking notes. That said, I have to side with Jennifer, both on the optics and the substance-- as I also replied to Paula and Claire over on "Part I" (dang, we got some real horse nuts now blogging along with the handicapper pros), these quarter cracks are very painful and  this is really a chronic conditon, as us enduring fans of the great Buckpasser know so well, and as confirmed as recently as my visit last summer to Claiborne-- sidebar-- what an interesting contrast between Three Chimneys and Claiborne-- all VERY nice people and LOVELY horses, yet Claiborne out there in Paris seemingly in a time-warp, while Three Chimneys looks and feels like a 21st Century retro-French cheateau. I sometimes day dream thinking where my horse would go--I like that Three Chimneys gallops their guys, but to have my guy in the same breeding shed where Buckpasser dropped dead sadly before his time-- gave me literal goosebumps when I walked into the Claiborne breeding shed....

I do fear he will be overbred. He will have to be bred to 150 or mares a year to start recouping some of the enormous cost of his stud deal. And I am not thrilled with putting brittle feet into the gene pool. Oh how I wish for the good old days when stallions never bred more than 50-60 mares a season. And they have not even addressed the possibility he may shuttle to the southern hemisphere.

Start spreading the news: Big Browns’ on his way,

He has a date with destiny, New York, New York

Glue-on vagabond shoes,

Three weeks from today,

Right through the very heart of it, New York, New York

Brown will wake up in a city that doesn’t sleep,

To find he’s king of the hill, top of the heap

These little Brown blues

Are melting away

Take the Triple Crown as part of it

In old New York

If he can win it there

He can win it anywhere

It's up to you, New York, New York

I'm sick and tired of all the whining that Big Brown won't run in 2009. Let us put this in perspective. Curlin finished his US racing career in 2007.  He's not likely to run here ever again. His connections have no plans to run him on the synthetic track at Santa Anita, so kiss the Breeders cup goodbye.

Maybe people would prefer he runs until he's injured like Man O'War. Guess for some condemning a horse to a life of pain is preferable to them missing watching an interesting race.

Unless Big Brown is injured, an injury that a few weeks rest won't cure, his connections plan to run him in the Travers & Breeders Cup Classic.

Some people just seem to enjoy whining and moaning and blaming owners for doing exactly what is reasonable rather than enjoying the horse while he's still racing.

I commented on the first Big-Brown-post-Belmont blog, and then I saw the second one. While I agree it was nice of Mr. I to return the call, I remain skeptical the horse will race again.

Also, the Dutrow remark about the steroid ("I don't know what it is but it keeps his coat shiny") is just too much.

This has been a strange year in racing. As a longtime fan, I dreamed of seeing another Ruffian. At the Derby I sort of did, and it was sadder than I could have imagined. I dreamed of seeing a 12th Triple Crown winner, and now I believe that I will. But this horse's connections, for me, are really hard to take. It all seems like that adage about being careful what you wish for because you might get it.

While you are reading and blogging today, go read the Bloodhorse article regarding the ADW/signal wars.  While none of us bet these types of sums (I sure don't - I could run my stable on what some people bet in a year) - it proves my point that the "powers that be" in racing/breeding are out of control with their bickering.

When we start losing the big bettors, then we're in trouble..... the sport is sinking in popularity, racetrack corporations are all about greed, owners don't race their horses to race except to have future breeding prospects, and the fans are left out.

Big Brown certainly isn't the answer to the sagging popularity of racing.  The whole "industry" as it has become doesn't need Eight Belles' committees either to solve the problems in racing. The breakdown of Eight Belles or Barbaro isn't the problem - the problem lies with the "industry" it has become.  It is no longer a sport, and the fan public realizes that.

What fun is there in watching racing if you don't know the players (i.e. jockeys, etc.) and the horses don't stick around long enough to develop feelings either way.  I leave out the feelings about the owners and trainers because some are just not lovable.... but some are, and have great stories.

We need to see some research on steroid use in horses.  We mostly hear about the negative effect of steroids but they must have been created for a reason, don't you think?  In humans, steroids, in proper dosage, protect the body from cancer or combat the grueling side effects of cancer treatment as well as those from other diseases.  Most diseases cause weight loss & steroids help to maintain weight & stimulate the appetite.  Nutrition is one of the keys in fighting and preventing disease.  As far as horse racing, it's common for a horse to lose weight between races especially around age two to three.  They're traveling all over & prone to various conditions.  I think there are other ways to go about it but can we see why it shouldn't be used & when it should be?

Lmaris: I couldn't agree with you more. Let's enjoy what we have now while we have it. Let's pray all the horses in the Belmont come out of the race with no injuries and I hope the racing God's want this TC as much as the rest of the world does. Let's give BB the credit he deserves despite his connections. I see a lot of complaining about this and that instead of enjoying the moment. I for one am glad Iavarone called back. I said this in an earlier post but don't think it got posted. I wish I could walk in their shoes right now. Just to see what its like. Just once.

FastG45: That was cool.

Um, unless I'm mistaken, Man o' War didn't 'run until he [was] injured.' He was retired after a match race at 3 because in the days when weighting handicap races was a fine art he was being asked to carry increasingly more weight and his owner was afraid he'd break down. Man o' War is remembered today despite only racing at two and three -- but how many times did he run? 21 times. (And he pulverized older horses, too.) Big Brown's record really can't stand up against that, even if he does run in a whole two more races after the Belmont.

My feeling is that as long as horses are raced to be bred rather than bred to be raced, the sport will have problems. Stallions retiring at three to stud is only one symptom. It gives racing a shortage of big name horses in action fans can identify with, and it does not promote breeding horses for longevity or soundness. Somehow we are going to have to correct that balance. I'm afraid I haven't any bright ideas how.

The fact that the worry about his breaking down and the investors losing their investment to me is also a sign of how overly fragile racing Thoroughbreds have become. There is no equine sport with quite as much money invested in it as top level racing, but there is a substantial amount of money in others as well. There are million dollar stallions in show jumping too, and some of them compete well into their teens, without huge worries about their breaking down. Granted, for a number of reasons (such as the use of AI in warmbloods) you cannot directly compare the sports or breeding, but it's still an interesting counterpoint.

Melissa: you make some good points regarding steroids. Your points are exactly why it is such a difficult subject to tackle. My daughter has to take steroids to keep her airways open because she has chronic asthma. There are some benefits. As a horse owner (and proud owner of two retired racehorses) I see the respitory problems simple dust can create. It is confusing at best and hope the industry will start and continue some valid and valued research on the subject. In the meantime, although Dutrow is saying he gets a healthier horse with a shiny coat, these trainers also are aware of the stimulant factors. Make no mistake, most of these horses are using them. Not just BB.

Well? So?

Forget about the money - forget about the racing fans. The real reason they should race this horse is because we haven't seen this caliber horse in THIRTY years. Not since Affirmed.

It seems like after three DECADES, when racing finally gets it's star ... you would want to BURN his name into the history books - not just scribble it in.

It seems like at this rate ... if it is SO pointless to have a Triple Crown winner - they won't race again - we should just cut the entire thing. Move on.

Place the value on the things that matter;

Horses that can and WILL and LOVE to run for YEARS. Horses that can take the distance. Classic horses.

Not the pansies we have today. Not the OWNER pansies we have today.

Hahah - A triple Crown for 6yos. That would make everyone happy BUT the breeding shed.

And whoever said that you have to be a multi billionaire to not retire your horse for money ... why was Bernardini retired?

I have a long history with athletes in organized professional and amateur sports, and this gives me a little background on the use of medications in athletes.  In Olympic-eligible figure skating you can't even use something as simple as a sudafed for a stuffy nose.  The list is there for a reason.

In racing, the medications are not used or allowed in Europe and abroad like they are here, so why not, if there is a real therapeutic use for steroids, how come other countries ban their use entirely, along with other medications?

Steroids are often not used for medical therapy in racing/breeding.... they are often used to pump up small, underdeveloped yearlings and two-year olds, and they are also used to "pump up" the muscle quality in horses in training.  It's a shame that the "industry" has convinced racing authorities they need these medications.

Ask Rick Dutrow to look you in the eye and tell you that he doesn't know that Winstrol can "pump up" his horses.  He readily admits he uses it but that it IS allowed.  In other professional SPORTS, athletes cannot use ANY of these supplements and medications - even in training.  As in the case of many athletes - once found in your system you can be banned for life, or have to turn over Olympic medals, as well.

I know from taking steroid medication due to a back injury that steroids don't leave anyone's system in 72 hours.  The effects are long-lasting.

Pretty soon, the federal government is going to be telling the racing and breeding industry that no medications are allowed... including the ones that could be considered therapeutic.

In light of the recent negative spotlight, do we really want the Feds making an example out of the racing community?

Big Brown is the real deal.  You can't argue that after his Derby and Preakness.  Brilliant performance in the Derby, Preakness

just okay, not as brilliant as Smarty Jones.  This could be a triple crown year but more than likely it won't be.  Too tough for horses that are bred for speed and that's what we breed them for nowadays.  He just might do it but if they put Col. John in as a fresh horse, that's trouble.

last year's 3 year old crop was much stronger.  Not much competition in this year's.  Maybe a couple.  The thing that has bothered me the most is Mr. Dutrow's bragging.  If you have a horse that great, you don't have to tell anyone, the horse will do the talking.  His blatant remarks about Curlin make my blood boil.  His horse has all the class in that act.  As for money grabbing owners, that is not the case.  If BB is retired after the Belmont it is to keep him from injury and possible catastrophic injury.  Also, if he loses his value goes down as a sire.  Racing is just a prelude to the real business....horse breeding.  If he excels as a sire, his fees will go up but if he doesn't, his fees will go down.  That's simply good business.  He will be very well taken care of as a stallion.  I've been to Three Chimmneys and he will be living very well.

I too would love to see a match up with Curlin.  Would be good for horse racing, not so good for Big Brown.

God Bless Mr. Jackson for keeping Curlin around.  Remember when all the big horses raced at 4 sometimes 5?  I do.  We'll never know how truly great Secretariat would have been.  He just kept getting better and better.  Smarty Jones is another.  How great would he have been if given the chance to prove what else he could do?

I don't believe a bit of what Big Brown's owner says. This country in an economic funk and even the rich are cautious with their money. Thus, I do not see why (according to Iavarone) the owners would risk losing $50 million dollars if something were to happen to Big Brown.

Like with anything else (especially gas prices these days), there needs to be restrictions in place in order to prevent things from getting out of control, which, in the case of horse racing, appears to be the premature retirement of quality horses.

My suggestion is simple (actually it's the only thing I could think of). In order to keep horses running as 4 and 5 year olds, the NTRA should require that horses may not be entered into graded stakes races (if not all races) unless the horse was sired by a 5 year old or older stallion. Thus, if such a rule were implemented, this year's foals of horses like Street Sense and Hard Spun would be precluded from racing. Owners of quality horses would then be faced with the question of whether to retire a horse at 3 and let them just sit around for a year not earning a dime, or racing them as a 4 year old to make some money.

Just a suggestion...

Melissa-- your cogent comment and questions nicely frame some of the key issues. At least of the "big seven"  steroids, three that I can recall occur naturally in an in-tact horse. The current technolgy allows for testing of maybe 20 more, and even if those were banned, there are probably another 70 or so out there some trainers will turn to because at present there is no testing protocol(either via blood or urine) to detect them. As for the benefits, the research is mixed, but there is general agreement for horses they do make our friends "feel better", measured in terms of enhanced appetite and wilingness to train, but at what price, literally and figuratvely, boith in terms of equine health and growing public perception this makes the sport inherently dirty. So, yes, we need both more research, more and better testing, and most importantly, uniform rules imposed by a single sanctioning body to make them stick on the Dutrows, Pletchers, Biancoines and Asmussens of this world. Complex topic for sure.

Huge money is going to kill this sport as sure as it could rebuild it and this jerk is right up there with what will kill it. Thank God for Jess Jackson, a man who truly understands the sport and not just "business".  What a waste of a good horse, and frankly, I'd like to know if he will mature into a better or worse horse so I know what to expect if I ever get my hands on one of his offspring.  

When push comes to shove, a lot of these guys have no respect for the sport or the rest of us that participate in it.

The rich guys will do what they do, end of story. I've found in all business, when dealing with people that have so much money, they don't even know how much they have, that they just want more. I'd like to whine and plead but in the end they will decide one way or the other. Retiring horses in their prime, when they just love to run and have no health issues, is extremeky detremental to the sport. As the sport continues to lose the betting public, the connections continue to retire these horses for the almighty dollar. I agree with many of the comments here today. The sport loses a lot when you can't warm up to trainers, owners or the horses that just go away....

As for Dutrow's steroid use: I was under the impression that these are legal drugs not banned, and not performance enhancing. If he gives them to all his horses they must be approved. And I agree that if I owned race horses, I'd want to know exactly what everything is that goes into those horses. But again, with as much as a trainer does, isn't that the job of the Vet as well? Equine Vets know what the horses can and can not have. Just a thought. I know that right now, I'm done second guessing this whole mess!! It's taking away from the excitement of the Belmont. I'll wait til he runs on the 7th, THEN I might have to start, but then again... It goes back to, they will do wahtever they please......    

MonicaV..

"Racing is just a prelude to the real business....horse breeding." ???? You're kidding right?

I'm sorry but that's the thinking that IS killing the sport! And without the sport, no need to breed.

Lmaris: I completely had to erase your comments and move on because you used an incorrect example.  Man O'War was retired at the end of his 3 year old year because 1. the weights they were assigning him were huge and 2. no one would race against him.  He was not injured and lived out a happy, long life in the breeding shed. Next time check your history before you say something.  It makes you look...well...dumb, and it negates everything you are saying...even if  what you have to say is worth while.

That being said, I don't think BB will race after the Belmont.  Should he?  Maybe...maybe not.  His feet aren't perfect and that's always a danger.  Because of that I am not quite sure he should be bred either, but that's just me.  For all those that want to see him race again, hope that he's sterile and comes back to racing after being useless as a breeder. That would probably be best for the breeding end as well...as people have mentioned, do we need to be breeding untested horses with possible lameness issues? No, but we'll keep doing it.

Curlin is running at CD in the Stepehen Foster, that's US. Jess Jackson deserves credit for buying out the owners so that Curlin could run again.  

The following is an article from the NY Times about Winstrol in horses, published right before this year's KY Derby. It is excellent.

therail.blogs.nytimes.com/.../the-last-winstrol-derby

"The only way Three Chimneys can get their money back on this horse is to overbreed him.  Is that what RACING needs?  A horse that is retired early, before he "peaks" - with bad feet, and loaded with steroids?!"

Paula,

Northern Dancer also had quarter cracks, would you have been against retiring him to stud too?

And as for Big Brown being "loaded" with steroids, what evidence do you have that he's loaded with anything?  Getting a small injection of Winstrol once a month isn't my idea of being loaded with something.

If I had a beer once a month, would you say that I was loaded with alcohol?

I have to say that for a blunt "tell-it-like-it-is" kind of guy, Dutrow's assertion that he really doesn't know what Winstrol does to a horse was pure-gold comedy. I'll bet he and the boys had a big time laughing over that one back at the shed row. Anyone who has ever seen a gym full of body builders knows exactly what physical changes steroids can cause with continued use. The stories about "roid rage" are common enough, just think about  the wrestler, Chris Benoit. Horses respond to the drug in the same way. Dutrow was just trying to clean up his mistake of letting that info out and protect his horse's image. I doubt Iavarone was pleased he opened his mouth in the first place.      

Really, why is Mr Jackson being hailed as a great man and the savior of racing, just because he is racing Curlin as a 4 year old?  That decision is about huge money too!  Specifically, until Curlin's minority owners are convicted in their phen-fen case and forced to sell their 20% of Curlin, Mr J. has no reason to retire him to stud---he'd lose 20% of the proceeds. Better to keep him in training and race him once or  twice until the case is done.

About Big Brown-the reality if that if he were mine, I'd retire him immediately after the Belmont if he wins.  If he continus to race and is injured or stops winning, all "keep racing him" people will be the first to condemn IEAH for continuing to race him....

"Investing" in horses for the sake of profit, instead of breeding the best horse for the sake of competition and improving the breed, is ruining the sport.  My hat is off to Jess Jackson, who no doubt has risked losing a huge cash windfall should anything happen to damage Curlin's health or reputation.  I don't care if Big Brown does win the crown.  No horse can be called "great" based on a very limited racing career.  I yearn for the days, not too many years ago, when owners did not duck competition for fear of "devaluing" their horse, and the media hype machine did not go into overdrive for every maiden that wins with a huge "Beyer" number or "Ragozin" rating.

Horse racing is a business first and foremost.  We are all just hapless fans looking from the outside in.  IEAH is going to do what is in their best interest.  PERIOD.  I don't trust Iavarone or his "word".  His comments are expedient in nature.  Just remember, folks, you can't go into the Breeders Cup without at least a "Win and You're In" race and, of course, a tune-up to follow.  That's at least two more chances for a potential injury to BB.  Get real! Iavarone would be a fool to put the horse in that position.  Enjoy the ride while you can.  The Belmont looks to me like BB's swan song.

Norma Jean-- yes, New York has no ban on Winny-- Dutrow's preferred way of giving all the horses in his stable a coat to be proud of. Guess he hasn't thought to instruct his grooms how to use a curry comb, brush and rug to shine them up the old fashioned way I do. Moving from the legal to the illegal, however, the last time I looked at his Association of Racing Commissioners Comprehensive Ruling Report, however, it showed 72 rulings against him, including 13 drug-related.

Among the charges on his personal rap sheet are  those for marijuana in Maryland, giving a false urine sample in New York in 1991, and being found the aggressor in an altercation in 2003.

His run-ins with horse regulatory agencies are not confined to either his native Maryland or his current NY base--the venues for his documented transgressions include Delaware, New Jersey, California, Florida, Minnesota and Ontario. I am sure whenever Dutrow and Asmussen cross paths walking the shedrow they must share a smirk and a wink, seeing how Ausmussen, the last time I added it up, had notched 27 drug-related offenses. And with a tip of the hat to the likes of HG Motion, Barclay Tagg, Michael Matz, Shug McGaughey and most recently, Larry Jones, who asked for a full tissue screen to lay to rest the unfounded rumors he was legally and/or illegally injecting Eight Belles, I would conclude just because it is legal does not make the routine, Dutrow-style adminstration of anabolic steroids either the correct or medically necessary thing to do.

Note to Karen: please be careful extrapolating human physiology/metabolism and drug use to that of a horse's. Much more research needed. For example, whereas in humans we know high levels can have adverse impact on organs, given the body mass of a horse, the research I am familiar with simply cannot prove the same organ impact on horses, as it is difficult to even begin to achieve the same toxicity levels in horses, given the large doses which would have to be administered. So, Dutrow concludes its legal, or maybe better said, not illegal, so shoot them up. The weird thing is you talk to people and they praise him for his stable care and management. Guess I have a different standard of care?

You can syndicate him and continue to race him/per agreement, like they did with Secretariat in '73...they ran him several LEGENDARY TIMES after that, all they had to do was insure for the syndicated price (around 6 mil)--no way SHOULD you retire,"fan", don't ROB Big Brown of the chance to prove it vs elders---and Big Brown v Curlin is as important to racing history as any race in the past thirty years---I can think of Affirmed v Slew, Affirmed v Bid, I mean Big Brown needs a tougher field than he's had to date, no? Undefeated vs his own age---how bad would it be if he never proved it vs older, like Alydar, Bid, Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, Secretariat---DOESN'T NEED TO RACE ON?? HE BELONGS WITH THESE GREAT HORSES!!--LET BIG BROWN PROVE IT!! I know he can, and racing needs to see that he can to be able to say that he can beat Curlin

ladyinsilver is right--until he's beaten better we won't know if he CAN beat better--and Curlin is certainly better than anything he's faced--and I remember a time when it was a right of true class for a great 3yo to defeat elders---no way would you duck that, so, yes, he CAN lose but in retiring too soon he loses much much more, as does racing, as do we all...

Bladerunner thank's for the heads up on the article.It's written by Jim Squires and I agree with him.But people,who cares why Mr Jackson didn't retire Curlin.We get to see him run another year.That's a good thing.

I love how people moan and complain that they won't get to see Big Brown after the Belmont, and then once confronted with direct evidence to the contrary they plug their ears and refuse to listen.  What else can the owners say to get people to stop foreseeing doom and simply enjoy the moment?

If you check your facts,Three Chimneys is one of the few stud farms on Kentucky that does NOT overbreed.They limit their stud books to 110 mares per stallion compared to other farms.

Bryce

That was eloquently written.  I was unaware that Dutrow was shooting up his horses with steriods under the guise that it makes their coats shiny.  How stupid does he think everyone is?

after belmont then travers,arc,bc

My inital comment is about the Jacksons and Barbaro in response to Tom - IL--If we had more owners like the Jacksons, who make the welfare of their horses such a priority, the industry would benefit.  They have been very generous with endowments and gifts that benefit research in memory of Barbaro.  They could have put him down at the track and collected the insurance money but THEY DIDN'T! They spared no expense in his care in hopes of a good quality of life for him WHETHER OR NOT he could race or breed!!  That's about love of the horse and love of the sport--NOT GREED or the bottom line.  

Of all the stud farms that undoubtedly competed for Big Brown, I'm relieved he's at Three Chimneys!!  Whether racing or breeding, the safety and wellbeing of the horses and riders SHOULD be the top priority!  His connections could scratch him now if it was only about the money.  The contract is signed and he's already established himself! I hope they will let him run in the Breeders Classic.  I'd like to see him in Dubai.  Curlin is incredible--and could probaly have won the Triple Crown if the gods had been with him.  I liked his conformation, mind, and presence the first time I saw him. Big Brown is a 3-year-old just coming into his own.  Curlin is a mature, experienced 4-year-old. I'd almost rather see them run at 4 & 5.  But every time either of them--and others-- step on the track, I pray for their safety more than their win.  Too many breakdowns!!  Too many trainers abusing drugs!!  I respect the industry leaders and responsible trainers for their efforts at increased safety and wellbeing for these wonderful athletes. Big Brown would be a wonderful Triple Crown Champion that has the conformation, performance, and wonderful mind that represent the magic of thoroughbreds.  God bless and protect Big Brown and Curlin and the thousands of other horses that we love.  "The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man. . ."

'Just remember, folks, you can't go into the Breeders Cup without at least a "Win and You're In" race and, of course, a tune-up to follow.'

That is an ignorant and/or lying statement.  You don't have to win a "Win and You're In" race to get in the BC Classic.

Only 5 of the slots in the 2008 version of that race will be determined by "Win and You're In" races, and the last time I checked the BC Classic lets 14 horses in the field.

If you want to be cynical, go ahead, but at least try to avoid deceiving people as you do it.

we better take charge of our own sport & please keep the fed out of it...look what they have done for our country...

I do not consider a stallion book of 110 mares "limited."

Until we have a national uniform operating code regarding medications, testing, etc., I am going to kind of take a backseat on the issue.  It was brought to my attention by a trainer friend that jurisdiction allows certain things, for which trainers cannot be penalized if they are allowed.  I understand that part, and he added that until the playing field is level, then people will continue to use what is allowed.

Norma Jean Monica is 100% right the money is in the breeding shed. That is one reason these young horses are run in there so fast.Jason I want to ask you a question, you are very smart guy. You know these syn deals have a ton of loop holes, fertitlity test, If he willbreed etc. Without any doubt in my mind Three Chimmneys will run everything in the book before any money changes hands, so it appears to me that Dutrow put out a damage control thing diclosing he used steroids on his horse, then acted dumb to its benifits. I imagine their thinking was well before they find out lets just tell them, because as you kmow now they will dig deeper.This is very hush hush info. Big Brown is a very exceptionally good horse, great time will tell, worth 100million, all owners over price their horses,I do know this that was the cheapest preakness field I have ever seen. Their must be ownwers who raced in the derby and didn't go to the preakness sick to their stomach watching Macho Man, and Iachob Crane pick up good hunks of money, I really love Big Brown, regardless of his connections, he is their horse to do what they feel is necessary,but he will carry the stigma of not beating another great horse, match race hell no that doesn't prove a thing. Jason why aren't they trying this horse?Colonel John, Adirano, Visionaire, Pyro to name a few, are we going to end up the last cast?I never saw a horse so shut down as BB in preakness, I hope at least if they do not elect to race him again they let KD let him run, because Secretarits 23 or so length victory will be in jeopardy.

Bryce be quick: I do agree with you that we have to be careful when comparing drug use in horses to drug use in humans however there is evidence out there and proven cases where steroid use is beneficial and therapeutic to horses. Also keep in mind anabolic steroids are approved by the FDA for use in horses for many health issues. With that said, I would rather see the time when horses are raced on hay,oats and water. I don't like the use of meds but at the same time am not a race horse trainer. My own horses suffer from respiratory issues just from dry weather and dust. They are athletes yes, but nothing close to being in training like a race horse. So it is safe to say that most of us are unaware of the need, if any, for the use of these drugs. We can only speculate.

I do think Mr I. might be leading us down the primrose path there is not much incentive to stop them from retiring BB. If faced with that kind of money in todays economy I might very well do the same thing. Please no match races, they are just are a way for obsessed fans to get there joys and excitement and don't normally do the horses much good. I would like to see BB race next year and we will all wonder what might have been but I can't put him up with the pantheons of the sport and call him great at this time. I'm not a vet but if I were Mr I I would have a fertility test done with those monthly injections of steroids. There have been several big name stallions that have had fertility problems recently, it make me stop and think that are we watching true ability or are we seeing a manufactured racehorse. It reminds me of all these world class sprinters that have been exposed for using steroids win but its allowed to be used in horse racing. Makes You Think?

Roger Clemens*,Barry Bonds*,Big Brown*......hmmm?

I agree that the (Lael)Jacksons are exceptional people. Sadly, owners with the ability to operate with their kind of financial freedom and philanthropy are few and far between. I believe many others would love to match the Jackson's good works if blessed with the means to do so.

I do appreciate Jess Jackson's attitude toward racing his horse. I think the fact that he is encumbered by the litigation of his minority partners makes his efforts to continue racing the horse even more impressive. It would be much easier to just get rid of the horse and extricate himself from that whole nightmare. By keeping the horse in training, he probably has to deal with the headache of having a portion of the horse's earnings frozen by the courts until the case is resolved. He will be answerable to the court with regards to this horse's earnings, well-being, and expenses until that case concludes. Sounds like a pain in the butt to me!!  

With regards to the steroids, there are various medical uses for other types of steroids beyond the bulking and charging-up purposes for which Winstrol is administered on a maintenance basis. Winstrol is used to beef up testosterone levels, no differently than the manner in which body builders are using the stuff. Sometimes that might be a legitimate prophylactic use, but institutionalized us across an entire barn does not fool anyone.        

Norma Jean,

My thinking that the real business is breeding is not killing this sport.  I have nothing to do with what goes on in racing.

Horse racing used to be HUGE.

In the 30's and 40's and into the 50's the big horses were household names.  Even into the 60's in Southern CA there was a Saturday afternoon television coverage of the big race of the day.  Every Saturday during the racing season.

This was before it became year round.  It was on the wain however because Football has become the biggest spectator sport in this country.  Lots of people think horseracing is fixed so they don't pay attention to it.  Also, what does the sport do to bring in more fans?

There are no big horses out there that run past 3 (except Curlin) these days because they are too valuable in the breeding shed.

You say if breeding is all they are interested in what are they breeding them for.  Well, there is Europe and Japan and Dubai.  Racing is very much alive and well there.  We will always have racing here.  Most of the horses that race are not going to be retired at 3 to breed.  Those are only the Graded stakes winners that are retired early.  The greatest horses in the world are bred in Kentucky and it's a huge business.

When a horse proves itself as winner, he's worth a lot of money especially if is bloodlines are royal.  I saw Seattle Slew breed once and his fee at the time was $250,000. That times 110 is a lot of money not to mention that the progeny are auctioned sometimes for millions.  Yes, racing is a prelude to breeding but it's really only a handful that are selected, not every horse is a big breeding prospect but these triple crown horses are.

Hey Paula....the next time you reference me in your posting, you might want to take a closer look and note that I was not the one who referenced Barbaro and the Jacksons....that was the posting from Jennifer below me.

Hank,

Secretariat's 31 length victory in 2:24 will never be in danger and BB's times have not even come close to Secretariat's times in the triple crown. If BB and Secretariat had run against each other in the Derby, BB would have been 4 lengths behind him.

The closest anyone has ever come to Secretariat's record was 2:26 in 35 years.  Big Brown is a terrific horse but he'll never touch 2:24 in a mile and a half. It's nearly impossible unless another Secretariat comes along.

Big Brown has fired cannon shots every time---what an intelligent horse and what a skilled working crew--namely Ms Nevin, who (probably) was the one who honed his push-button gear box---I don't worry at all about times--Secretariat was great, I was there, he was the best but not always--this guy is ALWAYS---he's more like Spectacular Bid, who had that same kind of acelleration and was the best I've seen up to now--Brownie would have to show me more to come close to Bid, but that's out of his hands and we'll have to speculate.....as for myself, I think Big Brown is one of the all-time greats---I don't think we've come close to seeing his best, and thats scary good!

I sure hope Big Brown keeps running after the Belmont and I sure hope we get to see Curlin run again!!  Big Brown needs to run next year too but I doubt it will happen.  I am having such a hard time with having to pick a new favorite horse every year!!  Just heard today that one of my favorite 3 year olds from last year that was still in training - Nobiz Like Shobiz was retired!  A race with Big Brown and Curlin would be awesome but I can't see it happening.  Don't know why so may people have a problem with a match race though.  The only way to really know who is best is to run only the two in question.  In a traditional race there can always be the losing horse's "traffic problems" that caused the defeat.  And yes I remember Ruffian's tragic match race but that could have happened in what ever race was next on her schedule. Also I would like to add that any trainer that didn't know what a drug he was ordering for my horse does, wouldn't be training for me anymore!  How stupid does he think we all are???

Monica, The problem with flaunting times is that they can be so easily twisted. BB has nothing to boast about as he has never set, or tied any records in that regard, but in the same instant that you are high on Secretariat's time, A.P Indy ran the fastest final quarter in Belmont history-for example. My father was at Belmont when Seattle Slew ran the fastest mile in history by a two year old, he was also there when Big Red crushed the Belmont field- he said both were incredible races.

I wonder how horses from the past would stand today with the media hype and internet- would they be such stars so quickly as BB? I have no doubt- people love winners! Let me tell you about the most forgotten horse in racing history- Ridan.  

Bill Hartack, in 1961 road a two year old named Ridan to went unbeaten in seven starts- including the Arlington Futurity. The DRF and Hartack called him a 'superhorse', though in a fixed vote- he lost the 2 year old title to a horse he easily beat-

Crimson Satan, because many of the CS votes came from people close to his connections. The 1961 U.S. Juvenile Champion honors went to Crimson Satan. Ridan even defeated the legendary Sir Gaylord that season as well-he was robbed.

John Beech, Daily Racing Form clocker who had timed champions Citation, Nashua, and Swaps, said, "I've been watching horses for 40 years and timing them for 25, and I can say without hesitation that Ridan is the best two-year-old I've ever seen."

Most of all these people screaming at how great BB is make we wonder about days long past- horses now forgotten as there was no You Tube then, no 24/7 sports. I mentioned Sir Gaylord because you may have heard of his half brother- Secretariat.

Ridan defeated champion filly Cicada by a nose in the Florida Derby- a run that Willie Shoemaker said was the greatest he had ever had a filly make and lose.

Ridan would go down as one of the worst of luck horses after that. He was butchered in the Derby and at one point he was carried 8 wide by the horse inside him and had to be pulled up- then started again. Hartack (who rode the winner)later told Larry King  that Ridan would have won the Derby if he had not had such a wide trip.

It is a fact- as Andy Beyer wrote- no horse who ever beat Ridan was the same again- he just wore you down. Ridan was a physical steamroller- I promise you that you have never watched a horse race as incredible as the 1962 Travis-  Ridan and Jaiper went at it as hard as they could every inch of the route, without slowing down-each quarter was faster than the previous- it isn't possible, but Jaipur and Ridan did it. Everybody watching was sure Ridan had it on the inside, the official report says that Ridan had a nose the jump before- and after the wire- but the photo had Jaipur winning by a fraction of a nose- there was almost a riot at the track for those that bet Ridan.

Ridan would go on to beat Kelso and Jaipur, as well as being the only horse to ever give Kelso weight and be favored over him- as he was in the Seminole.

Ridan injured his ankle in the race and still finish second beating Jaipur again- but he could race no more- the injury finished him on the track.

So much for him- long forgotten now.    

sell stock in such horses to the tune of say $250 million maximum per animal and then race them for 5 years , and if they survive healthy then purses and breeding money would just be a bonus!!! I ask you, right now, would you rather invest in OIL Futures? or an insured horse like "BIG BROWN"? or "Colonel John"??? etc.

Tom--you're correct.  Sorry, my bad.  Paula

Karen-- thanks for being so gracious in processing  my thoughts and replying. It's pretty clear you, me and many other folks posting, to include the likes most recently of Monica V., are what others would call, mockingly and otherwise, "horse nuts", and I am, for one, just fine with that. The human-horse link, I am convinced, in our "hard-wiring"-- how else can you explain, for example, those ancient cave-dweller painting on the walls in France which show more horses than any other animal, or more contemporarily, the heartfelt responses to Barbaro, George Washington, Pine Island, Chelokee, Eight Belles? Some of us just have that "wire" a little harder than others, or maybe we just allow ourselves to be in touch with it? As Gretchen Jackson allowed, she violated the first commandment of race horse ownership-- she fell in love with the horse, to which I respectfully say-- good for you, Mrs. Jackson.

I agree there is a place for steroids, I just question if and where they belong (if at all)in racing. On one hand, Bob Baffert says you ban them, period, and that sends the Dutrow's underground to do their thing Balco- and Barry Bonds-style. Then, I think of a trainer like Larry Jones who manages his stable without them. My bottom line-- unless and until we have a unified and industry-wide approach, lead by a regulatory apparatus invested with the power to make real penalties stick on the Dutrows and Asmussens, the sport is going to continue to suffer, period, as will the four-legged athletes we so admire and dare I say, love.

Conversely, if the sport had an NFL-style Commissioner invested with a "horse first" duty and

the power to shut down doper stables, with horses then walked down the shedrow to other trainer's care, I dare say Dutrow would start using my approach to achieving nice coats and instead of using Winny, place an order with Bit of Britian or Dover for some nice WeatherBeeta airflow mesh rugs-- shines my ex-racer up nicely before he events.

Look, as a Marylander by birth I have endured (and many times laughed good-naturedly) at Hagerstown, MD-born Dutrow and his hijinks, both on and off the track. Now that he is on the verge of actually accomplshing what his late trainer Dad could only dare dream, is it too much to ask for him to grow up just a tad and praise be to Horse Heaven, clean up his  trainer act? Sadly, I suspect the answer is yes-- it IS too much to even hope and dream for, but hope, dream and pray to the aforementioned Horse Heaven I shall continue doing, while concurrently waiting for creation of that  much-needed industry-wide governing body....

Monica you are totally correct as far as the record for the belmont stakes, I was trying to allude to the fact of how much better he is than the rest, although I will say if you rember when Sec was around, race tracks were very much faster harder pieces of dirt,Churchill Downs was mainly clay with sand, pilmico was a paved road,belmont was the same, racetracks made quite a change to make it much easier on the horse and forget times. Your a smart lady, don't you think that there has been a reason horse, in general, do not run as fast now as they did years ago, beside the fact that they were trained to have more legs underneath them then as to now?I have spent 40 hears training both thoughbreds and standardbreds, believe me BB is a very,very good horse. Hopefully we can get to see more of him in the future. I wish they would leave the owner alone, those guys have egos bigger than BB 's heart. They will keep him going, who do they have to fall back on? They love the limelight and have to have it to thrive. Did you know of them before BB. and incidently this deal to purchase BB was put together by Mr Dutrows other owner Mr Garford. I might of spelled his name wrong but it was he not Iavarone.

Matthew,

BB has only raced 5 times.  He will probably only race 6 times.  How do you compare that to 21 times or 26 times?

Speaking of Secretariat, one of the things that enabled him to run like he did in his Belmont was the size of his heart.  It was found that after he died, his heart was twice the size of a normal heart.  Phar Lap was another horse who had the same thing.  Very unusual but certainly helped to make them as great as they were.

Always a pleasure to revisit the myths and realities of Big Red's heart. Fact is, his heart was NOT weighed as part of the necropsy performed by the veterninary pathologist from the University of Kentucky, Dr. Thomas Swerczek, the Doctor later estimating it at 22 pounds after making a comparison to Sham's, which weighed 18. Amazing stuff, considering the average size pump more on the order of 9 pounds. Secretariat can thank his dam, Somethingroyal, for his literal heart, as this is passed by the x chromosome of the mare, the so-called "X Factor". Big Red's heart, along with the rest of his remains, now interred in the cemetery at Claiborne Farm, Paris, KY, just outside the farm office. Visit "my guy", Buckpasser, arguably the greatest horse never to have made the post for a Triple Crown race, while you are paying your respects to Big Red. Like BB, Buck suffered with quarter cracks, hence no Triple Crown starts for him in 1966 :-(

Robert,

Thank you so much for the facts about Ridan and other greats that are hardly ever mentioned.  There have been many great horses that no one even remembers now.

Hank,

I just love Secretariat and I really dont feel anyone will ever equal or surpass his Belmont, maybe even his Derby.  He was poetry in motion and so incredible.  I was lucky enough to visit him at Claiborne in 1988 and then visited his grave in 1989. I was also lucky enough to visit Devil's Bag, Nuryev, Alydar, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, Damascus, Ferdinand and Najinski as well as Storm Bird and Risen Star.  Charlie Whittingham let me come visit Sunday Silence in his barn at Santa Anita, another favorite of mine and I hope to visit Smarty...I just love him too.

I have a great love for thoroughbreds and I always will.  My biggest hope for the Belmont is that all the horses come back safe and sound and no injuries.  The death of Eight Belles ruined the Derby for me.  She was a great big, beautiful filly.  What a loss!

with all the "medication" this horse has been given,wouldn't it be fitting if he came up sterile?

Thank you, Robert, for the reminiscing regarding Ridan. He was a spectacular horse, but rarely mentioned anywhere. He did, however, appear frequently in the racing scrapbook I began keeping as soon as I was old enough to read.

Well?  although I was hopeful that BB would run after the Belmont, it seems that the "quarter cracks" issue has resurfaced.  My prediction?  he will be good enough for the Belmont, but unfortunately the 1 1/2 miles will aggravate the "slight" crack and he will have a nice comfortable stall, next to Smarty Jones by June 10th.

If you havent done so, take a moment to read Downey's article in the bloodhorse regarding the competition factor BB has faced. I think it is interesting and shed's some light on this subject. I agree with him. It is unfair to say BB hasn't faced much competition and not acknowledge his accomplishments thus far.

Bryce be Quick: I truly enjoy your posts and will stand beside you any day of the week and be called a "horse nut", even mockingly. I can't explain it but wouldnt trade it for the world. My horses are my solitude and I love every one of them like children. For me, racing isn't about nothing more than the horse itself.

Ah yes, so it has started. Big Brown has a quarter crack and will miss some days of training. We now have a prepared excuse for both if he loses the Belmont and for his retirement. I knew it. I knew it. The feet were going to be an excuse.  So transparent.

I commented a few days ago about BB running down in the Preakness.Foot problems in horses are very serious,not to be taken lightly.Janesville Liz if he runs and loses the Belmont,a quarter crack would be a LEGIT excuse.No foot no horse!I personally think they have been downplaying his foot problems from day one and it would be a shame win lose or draw if we didn't see him 100 percent.

BB one of the all time greats???....seriously people, thats just stupid. He is certianly a gifted 3 year old, but thats where it stops, at least for now. Some of the REAL greats were battle tested, race after race. Take for Instance, Whirlaway.

60 lifetime races in which he hit the board 56 times. Won the "Grand Slam" of racing Triple Crown + the Travers and he's the only one. First horse to 500,000, first horse to run a sub 24 second final two furlongs in any race.

When you talk about comparing BB to the greats like Whirlaway and some of the others.....I'm sorry it's not only ridiculous, but its disrespectful to the actual greats.

I don't take his foot problems lightly. I believe they are legitimate. But I am cynical, and I just think his people have never had any intentions of running him past the Belmont, no matter what they say. I think this is a precursor to an imminent retirement announcement after the Belmont. And it will take the sting out of a loss in the Belmont--if he loses, it can be said if he was not 100% and he would have won if he had. Then it will be that "we cannot possibly rest him and get him ready for the BC Classic--so he needs to be immediately retired. I find it maddening that so many of the top three-year-olds of the last decade never faced their elders--Point Given, Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, and Empire Maker. True, injuries do happen, but were it not for the mega-millions in stud deals, there would have been more incentive to rest and treat them and hopefully bring them back, and less haste to hustle them into premature retirement.

Okay Liz I get what your saying.I loved Hard Spun last year,wouldn't it be something to see him hook up with Commentator in the Met Mile tomorrow? Oh yeah I forgot he went to stud.

Don't get me wrong. Just because I am not the biggest fan of Big Brown's human connections does not mean I dislike the horse. I really do like him. He is a phenomenally talented animal, and I will be rooting for him in the Belmont. I do hope he will be healthy and able to give his best. And I pray that all the horses and riders come back safely. He is a brilliant horse, and I wish the best for him, and like millions of other fans, I hope we will get to enjoy him for a while longer. And win or lose, if he is not destined to race again after the Belmont, I hope his people will at least take him on a farewell tour, so we can see him parading proudly for his fans, with possible stops at Arlington, Churchill Downs, and Hollywood Park or Santa Anita.

I feel the door is left open in case he loses the Belmont.  If he wins, the "quarter cracks" could be worse after the win.  If you catch my drift.  They have it already happening but yet it is so mild its not hurting him and not very big at all.  Maybe so small we would have to have a micro device??  They could put some patches on hooves for looks and there not be anything.  Just sets the stage.  

Oh well.  The world may never know... Sort of like how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop!

Folks, to all who have event put Big Browns name on the same page as the greats, like "Big Red", Seattle Slew, and Man O War, you should not be allowed at the track.

This horse has beat no one. So he sat of some of the slowest fractions in recent Derbys, and won. He then faced an even weaker group in Baltimore, and won. The most impressive horse in the Derby was Denis of Cork. Came from last, picked his way through traffic, and closed for third, even with very slow fractions. Dont know about you, but its pretty hard to make up ground when they walk up front. Denis of Cork did it.

Have a feeling Tale of Ekati and Denis of Cork will be the Belmont exacta. Of course, when the other jocks use their horse to wear Big Brown out, his connections will cry. But look what happened to Smarty Jones. One jock after another used their horse to wear him out, and his connections made no excuse. That is the difference here---the class of people. If Big Brown wins the TC, it will be bad for racing. Those people---trainer and owner, have no respect for others.

To say, it would be bad for Curlin, is very unclassy. Also, for Big Brown to face Curlin, it would be a big class jump. Same as Lost in the Fog, going into the BC Sprint.

Who's to say quarter cracks are an excuse?  If the horse has them, and if it's really in his best interests not to race, now Iaverone will be accused of having lied.  He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.  

About the Winstrol:  what's the dosage?  Do we even know?  Doesn't it matter?

Apparently, racing is no longer the Sport of Kings, but rather the investment of entrepreneurs. It seems that breeding and training decisions are made based on love of the Thoroughbred and the sport with distressing infrequency. Unfortunately, we will most likely never see another Exterminator or Kelso honor our tracks.

Janesville Liz: You do sound very cynical. In today's day and age, it is best to enjoy what we have while we have it. If you study racing history, it will show that in many cases there are excuses for why the greats got beat. This is nothing new. Many of the reasons, I believe, are legitimate. Some, maybe not. That aside, quarter cracks aren't something to take lightly. If the triple crown weren't on the line, I would say BB would be getting some time off. I can only hope that the connections of BB are going to do what is best by BB regardless of what is on the line. Regardless, BB has been a joy to watch and I can hardly wait until Belmont. He is a spectacular sight. Did anyone read Steve Haskins responses to readers questions on the Bloodhorse? He made a comment that BB has something special and he hasn't been around a horse like him in 40 years. Not just his talent, but everything about him.In person, he has that quality. Steve said it was hard to explain, but it was undeniably there. If anyone knows, he would. I have said it all along. BB is nothing but class. I am truly enjoying this ride.

Janesville Liz,

You are one smart lady and your thoughts are the same as mine.  I feel that the quarter crack issue came up as a prelude to retiring him early and will be an excuse if he loses the Belmont.  They won't retire him immediately after the Belmont, they'll wait a while and make people think he'll be returning and then find his feet are just too bad.  They did the same thing with Smarty Jones after the Belmont.  Some injury surfaced that never had before.  I'm not saying there wasn't one but there is a possibility there wasn't.  The breeders wanted him in the breeding shed and out of the races

to avoid injury.

As far as greatness, I feel BB has the potential to be but as someone else said on here, the truly great ones were battle tested time and time again.  Race records up to 60 starts?  Incredible.  Horses nowadays don't race that much.  The more a horse loses, the more chance he will lose.  Spectacular Bid lost the Belmont and what did that prove?  Nothing.  He races 26 times and won 23.  That's incredible.  His greatness wasn't diminished by the loss.  There were 3 TC winners in the decade of the 70's and none since.  They've discussed shortening the Belmont because of the problem of horses not winning all 3 in all these years.  I hope they don't because one day maybe this year, one will do it and it won't be as special if the distance is altered.

I've really enjoyed this BLOG.  The differences in opinion make it really interesting.  I respect everyone's opinion on this blog even if I don't agree. You're all terrific!  Thanks for the facts and the thoughts!

Hey Monica you are 100% correct, I love reading all the comments in here, whether I agree or not doesn't matter, I always seem like I walk away with a little more knowledge than I started with. I hate to say this but after the Belmont I sort of lose interest till BC, who cares about Saratoga. Triple crown and BC you get everyone together.All the best horses,jocks,trainers and owners

Hey Joe, I think you need to tap that tabacco down a little tighter and take a bigger puff! You may not think BB has been tested, but so far he has beaten the rest very easily! Maybe if Dennis of Cork was such a great horse he could have kept up with the leaders, after all they were just walking! Anyway I hope you bet a load on Tale of Ekati and Dennis of Cork and once again you won't cash a winner on the Belmont!

Joe, I really don't think Lost in the Fog lost the BC sprint because of a class hike. More likely he lost because he wasn't feeling well. He was diagnosed with cancer a short time after he returned home. It remains suspect that two of the horses to run at the Belmont BC that year developed the same cancer , and they were both favored in their races that year. I believe it is extremely rare for a horse to develop cancer, and yet two were taken down with the same disease ,and did not perform well in their races at Belmont. Coincidence? I think not. Both died from their cancer .

Having been to Three Chimneys  numerous times over the last 25 years, I feel that Big Brown will be in the very best of hands at this farm. They are the great caretakers. I don't think he will be over bred.  As for continuing to race him after the Belmont, there is the old saying, "No foot, No horse"...so, if his feet are a management issue and it is best to retire him, I wouldn't look at it that the Big Brown contingency doesn't want to risk the horse's future in the breeding shed. Maybe they just don't want to risk the horse's health, period. He has been managed carefully and I have

to think that will continue. It's the horses that no one talks about; the bottom of the barrel claimers all of the country, that need our concern more. These are the horses that have no future. Big Brown's future is something we can all look forward to.

To all the people who feel Big Brown is a great horse--that is premature. He has had only five starts. His wins have been visually brilliant, but he has beaten no colt of the highest class. He has not met champion War Pass, and even he has distance limitations. Colonel John did not make the transition from synthetic to dirt, Pyro did not measure up, Tale of Ekati and Denis of Cork are nice horses, but definitely a cut below Big Brown. Tale of Ekati had to have the help of a rabbit to beat War Pass, and then both crawled home in the Wood. My opinion is that the best horse he has beaten was the ill-fated filly Eight Belles, who was brilliant and in a class by herself. I feel if she had been in the Oaks the day before the Derby, as brilliant as Proud Spell was, Eight Belles would have taken her measure with ridiculous ease. None too quick to show her talent as a juvenile, once when she figured it out, Eight Belles was brilliance personified. Big Brown's competition in the Preakness was pitiful. You do not get to be acclaimed as great by beating up on non-stakes-winning mutts. In my opinion, greatness comes with not only dominating the best horses in your own age group, but meeting and conquering the best representatives of the older generation. That right now would be Curlin. And just for fun, I would like to see Big Brown do a Secretariat and run on the grass. Being out of a Nureyev mare with a second dam by Lear Fan, he should like the grass. It would be a less punishing surface for his fragile feet and I think a victory on the grass would add another dimension to his resume. Curlin's people have mentioned the Arc de Triomphe as a possible race for their champion--would that not be cool to see Big Brown and Curlin meet on the grass at Longchamp against the best of Europe? I know it would never happen, but it is fun to dream. Or, I would like to see the two of them meet in the Suburban Handicap in early July. A 1-1/4 mile handicap--not weight-for-age. They might actually carry equal weight based on their accomplishments. Now that would separate the men from the boys.

Imagine that, the Big Ole Browneye is havin problems with his tootsies? This horsie should walk away with the Triple Crown. I smell a rat. These are not classy connections. It seems they need an excuse in case he gets beat. Too bad this horse didn't land with a Nafzger or Matz.

Could the main issue not be genetics, but management with the use of steroids?

The NYT story cited above,

therail.blogs.nytimes.com/.../the-last-winstrol-derby

suggests them as a primary cause. With the distortion caused by the steroids, the increase in injuries, if that exists, could be more a reflection of steroids, not breeding programs.

Bottom line, in today's horse racing game is as follows: Get your picture taken in the winner circle as owner of a Grade 1 winning horse...Next, take the biggest check put in front of you for breeding rights for your grade 1 winner...

Today's owners not only do not care about truly racing aka competing...they only care about $$$...Grade 1's = $$$....If nay owner really cared about racing and the sport they would race a Curlin or Big Brown in the top races in the U.S. and see how they stacked up against the true greats of the game: 'Big Red', Affirmed, the 'Bid', Man O'War and other horses listed in Bloodhorse.com's bracket listing voting that fans did recently...

Because of breeding $$$ aka the likes of Darley Farms, the sport has gone from racing to see where your horse's legacy is in the sport to a commodity market just like oil....

The excuses for the connections of Big Brown are all in place as to why they won't race Big Brown pass the Travers Stakes, regardless if he wins the Belmont...

That quarter crack problem...

Having Big Brown continue his 4-year-old campaign will be one of the most influential actions that can help the thoroughbred industry.

Please, Mr. Iavarone, think about all the greatness Big Brown can accomplish on the racetrack after the Belmont Stakes-Triple Crown, and the influence he will have on the millions of people that follow and not follow the sport. On all the people this horse can touch. A classy honest hero for a nation and a world in time of need. An ongoing war, and an economic recession. He could be the next Seabiscuit to all of us.

Understanding the IEAH point of view, not defending it, this is a group of investors, expecting to grow financially by increasing their profit to shareholders. Fortunately, great horsemen are associated with this group including Frank Lyons, and more recently Gary Stevens. Both of them characterized by outstanding work ethic, respect for the sport, and utmost love for the horses. I would like to believe that if people like them are associated with The IEAH, those principles of horsemanship are very likely to be respected, and will be more important than early return profits. They know what is good for the sport. Maybe the will be able to influence reversing the early retirement decision of Big Brown. However, this is a once in a lifetime horse, and a once in a lifetime opportunity for Mr. Iavarone et al. of The IEAH group to solidify their status as a believable profitable equine holding, thus, continuing to attract new business and growth. Ultimately is still their decision and what they perceive as being important for thoroughbred racing.

If I could develop Big Brown's campaign, I will continue after the Belmont with the following grade I races: Whitney H, Travers, Jockey Club Gold Cup, BC Classic, Cigar Mile, Malibu, Donn H, Dubai WC, and finally the Met Mile. If he could remain sound through a true champions campaign like this, he has nothing else to proof to anyone ever. He would have won from 7 to 12 furlong races, including a grass race.

One concern that was brought up as a topic of discussion with the ESPN and NBC panel on Preakness day, is the early retirement of 3-year-olds to a stallion career. There is a very high number of them that have been retired due to career-ending injuries and/or excuses, without having the opportunity to demonstrate their capability of staying healthy. There is a very high probability that these new unproven on the racetrack stallions, will be able to pass- on genetically to their offsprings, the same infirmities that end-up their racing careers in the first place.  For instance, Nicanor, Barbaro's full-brother. It will be interesting and necessary to follow him really close to evaluate his durability, biomechanics, and absence of lesions. Could it be that Barbaro's fracture had a genetic component or susceptibility of some sort? Another example, both Jazil and Rags to Riches were retired by injuries at the age of 3, both by the same dam. They can run, but can they last?

How will we know, if Big Brown is retired so early in his career, if his quarter crack and foot issues will not be inherited by his descendants? No doubt he will be a great stallion, but he could very well demonstrate his soundness with a longer campaign. Then his value and influence as a sire to the race will have no price.

A.P. Indy ran the fastest final quarter mile in Belmont history?  He didn't even run the fastest final quarter mile in his own Belmont. My Memoirs ran a faster final quarter than he did to finish second in that race.  

Both Rags to Riches and Curlin ran a sub :24 final quarter mile in the Belmont last year.  Only Little Current in 1974 came home as fast as those two did.

Very well said, Secretary, but I believe they have already signed the deal with Three Chimmneys and it probably means no racing at 4.  It's really too bad. The early retirement if Secretariat has always left me wondering what he would have been like at 4.  He was just getting better and better in is 3 year old year. Street Sense is gone and Hard Spun who was a much better horse than he was given credit for.

I agree with the thought that BB needs to race longer in order to say he is one of the greatest.  The truly great horses ran more than 5 or 6 times.  Spectacular Bid ran 26 times and won 23 times.

Janesville Liz: BB broke his maiden on turf in Saratoga last year, winning by 11 1/4 lengths. There is no question he can run on the turf. That victory on grass should add another dimension to his "resume". I respect the difference in opinion but have a hard time with the bad mouthing BB is taking. To say he has not had any competition is unfair. Surely it would do some of you good to read the article recently in the Bloodhorse regarding some of the "greats" and the competition or lack of they faced during their racing campaigns. To deny BB his due is unjust. If the races were crawling, perhaps I could give some credit to the idea that BB hasn't proven anything but the times have been solid. Not to mention the manner in which this colt handles everything. BB has a great mind combined with his exposive turn of foot. As far as the quarter cracks go, they are a legitimate concern. It's hard to seperate the men from the boys when in fact BB is still a boy. Curlin is a much more mature 4 year old and didn't come into his own until the fall of his 3 year old year and this year. Horses mature and change a great deal between their 3 and 4 year old year and again between their 4 and 5 year old year. I love Curlin and think he is exceptional, but he himself could not conquer the triple crown. I agree he had to run against Street Sense and Hard Spun (who was my favorite) last year, but look at the times. Break down the quarters and take post postion and head winds into consideration. BB would have been game with last years competition. No question in my mind.

Starsinthesky: I agree with you. I feel steroids are a far bigger problem than the breeding program itself.

the whole idea of using steroids is wrong.

I know he broke his maiden on grass--I was thinking of a major stakes score on the turf.

Big Brown has to race longer to be considered great ??? Why? Secretariat didn't and most think he is the end all be all and he lost 5 times!!!

After the Belmont some horse named Onion looked Secretariat in the eye and then left him in the dust.

Big Brown has won every race by 5 or more and done it with ease... he is so good he has never had to even give it his all...he wins under wraps by 5 or more.  Still not enough for you ... you need him to race against some older horses that have no chance of beating him to pad his record or if he just had a few more wins at 2 then he would be 10 and 0 instead of 5 and 0.  He is never going to race 21 times and there is no point in doing so.  The only competition out there is Curlin and when he whips him maybe then all you will get a clue.  Big Brown is the end all be all... unlike all those others Big Brown is perfect.

Simple concepts:

Big Brown = American Triple Crown

Harlem Rocker = Canadian Triple Crown

Both would be undefeated with Travers at Saratoga in August ($1 million).

Curlin = Top older horse

Breeders Cup Classic = Polytrack at Santa Anita

Big Brown (Boundary-Mien (Nureyev))

Harlem Rocker (Macho Uno-Freedom Come (Lit de Justice))

Curlin (Smart Strike-Sheriffs Deputy (Deputy Minister))

ALL HAVE NORTHERN DANCER bloodline!!  Big Brown has speed, Harlem Rocker is a closing stalker and Curlin is a closer.  I'm dreaming but this would be an ABSOLUTE CLASSIC race!  I'd PAY those horses to show up and promote the event like it was the Super Bowl!  

Oh yeah, forgot to mention those West Coast horses that were spanked at Churchill on dirt would be running on THEIR favorite surface!  Add Colonel John, Heatseeker, Go Between, Tiago, Giant Gizmo...wow, look up the pedigrees of these horses!  

Well so much for that!  Guess Harlem Rocker isn't as good as we've thought.  Maybe Big Brown is waaayyy better than any horse we've seen.  Guess we'll find out on Saturday.

Big Brown is the end all be all... unlike all those others Big Brown is perfect.

Open mouth insert foot.