BB suffers from Sammy Sosa Syndrome

[Altanbarr]

I saw this in a blog at the NY Times website. I think it accurately summarizes what happened to Big Brown;

"Second, listening to Big Brown’s trainer, it sounded like he has no clue what the purpose of steroids are (I assume he does). Nonetheless, he talks as if they’re amphetamines that boost energy in the short term. Instead steroids build muscle during training, by allowing the muscles to repair themselves more quickly. And the Derby and Preakness fell into the four to five week window where the muscles would have still been built up from previous training and races, while the Belmont fell right about the end of the window where the muscles are returning to their natural strength. More importantly, Big Brown wouldn’t have had the benefit of steroids to help repair the muscle damage from those two major races and any harder workouts since April 15th.

— Posted by Rich Oldrieve "

Could not have happened to a nicer bunch of guys. I think BB's stud fee lost at least one zero.

[spex4me]

Here's some zeros to speak about:



One ml of Winstrol $20.00

Bay Colt at Auction $190,000.00

Watching your "super" horse sans steroids come in dead last :

PRICELESS.

After that performance you could serve that horse up for $5k a breeding and I'd say no way. And until he runs again without Winstrol my opinion will never change.

[Barbaro06]

Good one spex!

I don't buy the line that there is nothing physically wrong with Big Brown. Perhaps they just don't want to admit that the juice ran dry and Big Brown became the Emperor with No Clothes.

Or perhaps there is nothing wrong with BB. Perhaps he just wanted to give them a horsey middle finger and refused to run to appease their egos. :lol

[Tucumcari]

Here's some zeros to speak about:



One ml of Winstrol $20.00

Bay Colt at Auction $190,000.00

Watching your "super" horse sans steroids come in dead last :

PRICELESS.

After that performance you could serve that horse up for $5k a breeding and I'd say no way. And until he runs again without Winstrol my opinion will never change.

nice!!!!!!

[spex4me]

I don't know if Big Brown would want to give the horsey middle finger, either that or no one showed him that clip out of The GodFather. I mean since someone was talking assinations and such!

[Barbaro06]

I don't know if Big Brown would want to give the horsey middle finger, either that or no one showed him that clip out of The GodFather. I mean since someone was talking assinations and such!

No this time it would be a human's head in the bed of a horse....

[jagger]

I have had nagging back problems for about 3 1/2 years now and have had surgery for it. Before succumbing to surgery, I probably had 7 or 8 steroid injections. I lost count. I know personally the effect of steroids. It not only makes the pain go away it also gives you significantly more strength and stamina. I feel great for about 3 to 4 weeks after an epidural steroid injection. Not just the relief of pain but a feeling of youthfulness, strength and stamina. I do much better with much less sleep. I can play 45 holes of golf and only quit because I have to go to work a 12 hour night shift. It is easy to see how someone could get hooked on steroids. I could easily become a narcotic addict as I handle them on a daily basis but have NO interest in what they could do for me. Steroids on the other hand...... . Pitching wedge with no steroids 125 yards. Pitching wedge on steroids 150 yards.

I think there can be little doubt that it was the steroids.

[KamiBrooks]

I don't understand the people who are dismissing the steroid-free factor.

Putting all the physical benifits aside, even just the fact that steroids make most horses more agressive. It seems that without the steroids, BB is just a big pussy cat who doesn't like the traffic and comotion... even comming out of the gate side ways (didn't he come out to the left?) could be attributed to the fact that he was startled and put off by the start.

I'm against steroid use, but I feel sorry for the horse being put through that. If he'd never been on steroids to start with, he' never would have been in the deep end of the pool when the juice ran out.

But, now I do believe that Dutrow really doesn't know what steroids do for a horse or he would never have taken him off them.

[jagger]

Did Dutrow make the decision to discontinue the use of steroid on his own? Does he have that much authority to make such a decision? I'm sure Three Chimneys would have wanted to weigh in on the decision....among others.

I think the result is fairly predictable and anyone knowledgeable about steroids and their effects would agree. I just can't believe that a decision to not use steroids was solely up to the trainer.

[larrygene]

How many times does it need to be said,STERIODS ARE LEGAL. Why Dutrow stopped using them,only he and his connections know!!! They were doing nothing illegal!!!!! If it were me BB would have had his regular fix!!!! With success in racing you don't change a thing!!

All of you out there that want drug free racing, why should milkshakes be banned??? Milkshakes are made of confectioners sugar and baking soda. Both perfectly legal, but today milkshakes are banned and illegal in horseracing if they are given in large quantities. In other words legal things made illegal because of the quantity. Just as steriods. Used correctly they are very helpful in most cases but too much, or the lack of and they become more of a detriment than aid!!! JMO

[ageecee]

Personally i think BB was still getting his steroids every 2 weeks. Maybe Dutrow said he wasnt to get all the PETA people off his back and to not have to answer all the questions he was getting about Winstrol. Just an opinion thats all.

[katydid]

If they say he's been steroid free for 2 months (recieving his last injection April 15th)... that should have been enough time for "let-down". If his body was still going through steroid let-down there should have been some sign before the race during the Preakness. So for the sake of argument it was the lack of steroids Dutrow should have known before hand his horse wasn't performing up to par and would have been so freaking cocky. Regardless what anyone thinks, while steroids DO boost performance they do not turn a dud into a winner of the Derby and the Preakness.

The one thing that steroids would have helped with yesterday was his breathing. Big Brown was not doing well in the poor air quality and humidity. Another thing I noticed was he was obviously distressed by being in the thick of things-- I think psychologically he spent a lot of energy as Kent got him out of the traffic jam. I also noticed a couple of tender footed steps when they walked him away, so maybe his foot hurts too. It was just a recipe for disaster and Dutrows attitude was just disgusting.

Zito knew what he was doing... and that Da'Tar is a beast (I think I am in love). I wonder if they knew Da'Tar would take it wire to wire or if they just sent him out to set the pace?

[Des]

When BB broke his maiden at Saratoga he was with another trainer and he won impressively. Do you think he was on Steriods then??? just wondering..People make it seem as though he started winning when he got to Dutrow.

[Twingirl]

How many times does it need to be said,STERIODS ARE LEGAL. Why Dutrow stopped using them,only he and his connections know!!! They were doing nothing illegal!!!!! If it were me BB would have had his regular fix!!!! With success in racing you don't change a thing!!

Success in racing? So, you only count what goes on *during the race*, obviously.

What about the long term health and well being of the horse itself?

Does that count for anything?

How many times does it need to be said,STERIODS ARE LEGAL. Why Dutrow stopped using them,only he and his connections know!!! They were doing nothing illegal!!!!!

Have I mentioned to this board that I see an acupuncturist and traditiional chinese medicine doc on regular basis for 3 herniated disks in back? I'd have been carved up like a turkey by now, and injected with drugs and given narcotics if I had gone the other way. That's what the Pain Management people wanted to do to me.

Who cares if it's legal?

This is why Casino Drive's connections don't use it. They know. !!! I am healthy now. I said no to the drugs.

I meet people all the time who are popping over-the-counter drugs, like candy, which are also legal. The concept is foreign to me. I know my liver and other organs have to parse thru all this stuff.

The saying "you are what you eat" is true in humans and true in animals. IMHO. When most of the rest of the world has outlawed substances for 20-30 years, there just *might* be some wisdom behind it??????

[westover]

I agree with Larrygene, it is the quantity that is out of control.. i am not a fan period, however i have seen the benefits of using small amounts. Its like anything it gets abused and they cannot regulate the amount so they have to ban it. Steriods are not legal everywhere at this point.. and it will come to the point where they are banned across the board i am sure. I also agree in racing if it has worked until then don't change anything.. i feel very bad for BB & too bad he can't talk, actually for R. Dutrow's sake probably best he can't.