Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

p cap — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:33:08 GMT

explain to me what bailey and stevens were thinking when they sabatoged smarty in the belmont, when they got the best horse beat but ran their own horses into the ground. what was the point? to show up stew elliot? to make smarty run insane middle fractions?

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Pedigree Shelly — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:23:07 GMT

What a refreshing article ! They were both great racehorses! If I were Rachel I'd have to pick Big Brown for a date,He's better looking ! lol :]

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Matt H. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:43:00 GMT

I would love to see them both up close i have always liked them both Smarty was the reason i got invoulved with betting on horses when he won the derby in 2004 he was my pick corse i never got to physically do the bet. Winning last years derby with Big Brown was kindof bitter sweet. With all the things that happened after the race at least i got to bet on it with my best friend of all time. THat was something i will never forget the rest of my life.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Kim R — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:53:17 GMT

What a great story...thanks!

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Nancyb — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:16:48 GMT

This is, without a doubt, the most entertaining blog of all. Thank you for the fun and information.

16 years ago I had a private tour at Airdrie Stud and was treated like royalty. I had the good fortune to meet a new foal,by Naevus. He is a Paint named Airdrie Apache, now located in Oregon and sire of many white thoroughbreds. I treasure my pictures of myself cuddling and petting him.

I have to wonder why Dance Smartly isn't mentioned in the "best filly ever" conversations. She was superb on the track and as a broodmare. Might it be that she that she was Canadian and not worthy of mention. A bit of sarcasm from a northern neighbor - sorry!

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

afleetalexforever — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:20:59 GMT

Can Anyone here say:"ZARKAVA"

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

afleetalexforever — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:17:38 GMT

I find it funny to see that this dray person is so in love with Big Brown. When a horse runs against a field where 20 horses break from the gate and the only competition he gets is from a formidable foe in a filly named Eight Belles, you have to question the quality of competition. Then you have to wonder if BB was so great why did they duck Curlin in the Woodward or the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Only 1 reason, he wasnt very good when he was taken off the juice, he ran in lower tier races against lower tier horses and won those races by a combined length or two. Its fine to be blinded by love of a horse but seriously u have to look at the facts, if he was that good they would have challenged Curlin in one of those races, why did they not want to face him, lol because Curlin was 10 lengths better on any day.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

oldfart — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:40:41 GMT

There are lots of things I would say about Smarty Jones and Big Brown with out getting stupid. Smarty Jones was a heck of a horse and the only reason he did not sweep the triple crow was the fact that the pin head riding him had no idea what to do when Smarty prematurally inherited the lead, Instead of taking him back he should have just let him run he would have had no competition in the last furlong,best horse I erver saw run.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Daina Ryan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:42:48 GMT

This is hysterical. Thanks for the laugh...

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

VirginiaHorseLover — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:14:55 GMT

Great conversation. Thanks so much.

I love them both.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Horswld — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:14:06 GMT

Soldier Course,

Your right about "Something to Talk About". I watch it everytime I see it coming on. Touching movie and funny too!

Ibobenn and Darkie's Doll,

I agree with you about Ruffian. I love RA very much and think that she can become one of the greats but Ruffian will always stand in my mind as one of the all time greats because, for one reason, they really never had a chance to get to the bottom of her. Also, like was tragicly stated, "She died on the lead." Do I think RA has a chance to become imortalized like Ruffian, yes I do, but not quite yet. Like the big girl, Zen, I truely do love her though.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

RachelSatterfield — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:12:23 GMT

Soldier Course:

I got to go to Lanes End just by calling and begging. Told them it was a trip for my birthday (don't I have a lovely man to put up and promote my fanaticism) and that I'd love to see some of my favorite horses. They had quite a few people come in with us in our group. I think they mentioned they only allow tour guests on Thursdays at 10 AM. They finally released their news today about getting English Channel. He's a beautiful horse and looks very much like Curlin. I was happy about the bonus seeing him (even though he wasn't so happy about being in a new home).

I'd been dreaming the first 24.95 years of my life of going to Kentucky and I'll probably spend the next 25 dreaming of going back.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

LDP — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:21:50 GMT

Horswrld,

I've stated more than my fair share that i've had over the past few years that i have shoulder trouble. Well about three weeks ago i re-injured it for the second time in 10 months i think. Same spot as before, they said it was a thoratic strain. Get this, they tell me a couple weeks ago it takes 12 months for that to fully heal, and for those 10 months i've been lifting half my weight with that arm. When i first injured it they said it would only take a few months. So i'm thinking next time please clarify that to you a few is 12, cause to me a few means 3 or 4. Tray is good when i ride, so i still cheat every now and then. I can't help it not riding causes me who is pretty much hyperactive to become the insane energizer bunny. The only thing with Tray is that he is always consistantly on the bit, trying to give me good energy and keep forward. So if i ride for too long or have to pull him back a little my arm gets tired and starts to hurt real quick. If i'm just sitting here typing it's fine. Thanks for you post it means a lot. O thanks for the compliment, i seem to be on more of a roll than normal, lol. Thanks.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

LDP — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:05:43 GMT

TerriV,

On Lawyer Ron i agree on everything you said. I think what drew me in is that you could just tell that horse loved his job. He LOVED to run, plus coupled with his handsome looks he was irristable. He was WAY to young, and it is sad he died of such a painful illness.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

StardustyRose — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:36:55 GMT

Greg J. I just went over and saw that Rosie was not on Nicky. What shocked me more than Jose was Prado on Take the Points in the next gate! WOW! I think he will do OK if he can keep KD off his butt. LOL..... :)

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Soldier Course — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:15:51 GMT

Horswld:

Head on over to Adam's movie review blog. I thought of another good horse movie and reviewed it: "Something To Talk About" with Julia Roberts, etc.

Everyone else: Get on over there! We need reviews.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Soldier Course — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:15:43 GMT

RachelSatterfield:

So glad you had a good trip to Lexington. How did you manage to visit at Lane's End? They've told me they don't allow visitors. In 2006 I did manage to go there, but that's another story. Did you meet Steve Brown, one of the stallion managers? He's very nice.

I am sorry that you weren't able to see Smarty, but Three Chimneys is booked up so far in advance for their farm tours. I'll say this for them - they are very even-handed when it comes to scheduling tour appointments. They won't bump anyone for a bigshot, and that says a lot.

I know how hard it must have been for you to leave. I cry every time we pull out of the hotel headed home. The only thing that keeps me going is "next year".

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

TerriV — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:31:05 GMT

I've been off-line all weekend and just saw the news about Lawyer Ron. So Freakin Sad!! He was still so young. It just breaks my heart - such a horrible, painful illness for a horse to suffer. Sometimes the surgury works and sometimes not - it's so unpredictable. I just loved him! Something about him just drew me in and it was a joy to watch him move. Wherever I go when I die, it better be where the horses are.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

draynay — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:37:45 GMT

Big Drama works a bullet and Rachel runs a bullet and the Derby mud winner runs a 115 for 6 furlongs and his work is not in the top 10 at the distance... seems the Derby mud winner is way behind Rachel and Big Drama. If Big Drama goes to WV the Derby mud winner will never catch him.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

StardustyRose — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:16:52 GMT

LDP and Greg J. I just cannot believe it. I loved that horse. He was a very special horse. R.I.P Lawyer Ron. Now you are pain free and in paradise. ♥

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

LDP — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:09:27 GMT

Kat,

I agree. Lawyer Ron was a monster that year. I watched all his races and his Whitney and JCGC standout the most. In the JCGC i couldn't choose which to cheer for, both were my very favorite horses that year. His turn of foot was absolutley amazing. That Whitney was his high point i believe. I still can't believe he died.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

slyder — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:51:54 GMT

Million dollar horses can still run 10 cent races. Heck even brownie proved that with his own 10 cent race in the Belmont. The fact is etched in the record books along with the notation that big brown was the first and only winner of the Derby and Preakness to finish dead last in the Belmont. Now there is a record likely to never be matched! On top of that there wasn't any million dollar competition on the track when brownie faced them to begin with. Not a dubious legacy.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

steve s — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:10:54 GMT

Been watching some of BILL MOTT Maiden runners GOing MIDDLE distance. Some of his runners are just plain awful bad.ALOT of them are LOSING by huge MARGINS{ try 30 LENGTHS or more). I can see why HE losing clients.

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

StardustyRose — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:12:09 GMT

Greg J.

OK I'll not flip out when I see that Rosie isn't on him. I would love to see him win his first stakes race. I know MM would never put a jockey on Nicky that he didn't trust and that is good enough for me. :)

re: Smarty vs. Big Brown - an Inside Look

Bob D. — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:58:31 GMT

Jason,

Good stuff! Smarty was right, we were at Three Chimneys last Wednesday and Point Given is one big dude. But make no mistake, the "bad boy" of the barn is DYNAFORMER, and he has a collection of fingers to prove it!

He's a TANK!