'ROID RAGE

[Twingirl]

Big Brown could not breath it had nothing to do with steroids Dutrow and the jock new it at 5 o'clock this morning

Just like Tale of Ekati had some throat surgery on May 29th, and you literally had to COMB the internet for 2 sentences about it.

He displaced his palette.

Look guys, BB had his hoof wired together. I believe I heard the pundits report in the after=-talk that one of his heels was high or shoe loose or something.

What the heck do ya expect when we are sending horses out to run marathons with PATCH JOBS instead of proper rehabilitative phsysiological therapies and rest? (Rest takes time...BB didn't have that, he had to run this afternoon.)

Many athletes are able to recuperate from, or at least out-perform, problems. They have to be managed correctly.

Ratherrapid---totally agree (and agree with all the other stuff posted here). I saw Big Brown walk out before he went to the gate and turned to my friend and said : He doesn't look right, even his walking gait seems off".

[griff]

Add ROAD RAGE to the list.

He broke clean and was doing fine, then pulled to the rail, then backed off, then pulled to the outside.

it was enough to *&%$ off any one, human or horse.

griff

[pokeyman]

Plus, we still don't know if the winner was on steroids. Would be interesting to note, for sure.

Steroids wasn't the difference BB lost yesterday but I don't mind letting the public think that......

[mary syers]

Thanks surprisewind. I did not know they changed the rule. Mary

[Mali]

It's worth noting that they can't find anything wrong with the horse, internally or externally after multiple examinations.

http://tcm.bloodhorse.com/article/45652.htm

We all know where I stand on this. It just really makes sense to me.

[Turn-To Fan]

I also notice that BB had a very loose shoe. I can't imagine trying to run with a loose shoe. No wonder BB was angry.

Can any of the trainers on here comment? Is it really a nonissue?

[Mali]

His connections seem to think it was a non-issue. I imagine it's more of a factor if the track was muddy, but if anything, it was the opposite.

I would think if they truly believed it was an issue they'd be using it as a legitimate excuse.

[surprisewind]

I'm sorry. I'm not generally prone to conspiracy theories and the like but.. I have a thought floating around in my head and can't quite shake it. There's nothing physically wrong with him, and even if his "tank was empty" because they decided to DC the steroids would that necessitate pulling him up like that?

Or - flame away in minute, I'm wearing asbestos - could the jockey have been instructed to pull up rather than place or show? As in , if we can't win it we'll pretend something is wrong? Dutrow has proven to be an absolute jerk. Could this have been his way of saving whatever face he thought he had left?

I'm no expert - obviously - but it seemed IMHO that the jockey did not appear to be "asking" BB when he said he did. I went back and watched him ride the first two races, and saw what I think to be a distinct difference. He didn't say, he had nothing left so I didn't ask. He has repeatedly said he asked and was given nothing. So....

anyway, I'm looney.

[geowarrior]

No you aren't loony, Surprisewind. I also thought there might have been a deliberate element to the easing of the horse.

But then Dutrow clearly said that when the horse was eased he thought there was something wrong, so it would seem that such instructions, if given, did not come from him.

[surprisewind]

you're right, geo. He DID look pretty panic stricken.

[Indychase]

I don't think he would have hit the board if he hadn't been eased -- he was clearly losing position around the turn. However, I don't think he would have finished last either. He probably would have finished mid to back of the pack if he had been ridden out to the wire. Obviously in Desormeaux's mind if he wasn't going to be contending for the win there was no point in riding him out.

[Lucy]

no expert - obviously - but it seemed IMHO that the jockey did not appear to be "asking" BB when he said he did. I went back and watched him ride the first two races, and saw what I think to be a distinct difference.

You are quite right, there WAS a distinct difference - in the previous two races, BB took off the instant Kent cued him to do so, he barely needed to ask at all. In the Belmont, you could see him giving stronger cues trying to shake the horse up on the turn, and getting nothing.

It was clear to me at that point that BB hitting the board was not going to happen. I can't blame Kent for easing him - why beat up a multimillion-dollar animal trying to finish seventh instead of ninth? Either way, he wasn't getting a check.

[grayarabs]

Re: Steroids
What part did Winstrol play in BB's strong wins?
Pre Dutrow - did he race on Winstrol?
In the past - what other winning horses are known to have raced on steroids? Secretariat?
I hope they are made illegal for many reason. Outside of what steroids do to the horse health-wise - the playing field is not/has not been fair with some horses racing on steroids and some not. Dutrow at least admitted using them - per advice of vet - wonder how the vet feels about that?
With for example Lasix - isn't it a must to let it be known the horse is racing on it? Bettors take this into consideration. The same should be with all the drugs the horse is taking - especially steroids. If steroids "better" the horse - then the public/bettors should know what horses are on what. I guess no trainers are willing to volunteer this info - so we are left guessing. I very much wish all the trainers would come clean and discuss their use of steroids. Which horses.
Would we be shocked to know the truth? Dutrow "owned up".
The other trainers not saying a word about their horses - one way or the other. I guess no one brave enough to ask them pointblank when being interviewed, etc. Something not right about this......

[Joltman]

".... he was throwing his head around from the start. acted up in his stall too. he just didn't want to run today"

I think this is being overlooked, along with KDs ride. In the post parade he threw his head a few times (despite comments from the ABC guys). Then the incident / ride didn't help. If he was more experienced they could have tucked him in anywhere on the first turn and taken their time to find a hole to get him outside. Instead, KD (RD?) were dead set on getting to the outside and wound up six wide, having to jerk him and clearly distressing him to get there. His far outside PP in the Derby and Fl Derby were an advantage being big and long striding. The PP inside contributed to the decision to force a way out.

Also, throwing his head may have been a symptom of some kind of discomfort as well, though not necessarily lameness.

IMHO

jm

[Twingirl]

I can't blame Kent for easing him - why beat up a multimillion-dollar animal trying to finish seventh instead of ninth?

I agree.

Unless there is some mafia-throw-the-race-conspiracy-theory going on here, I think Kent made a very simple, but clear statement:

"I had no horse under me."

We were looking on, and have only theories. He was ON the animal.

That one quote should be the quote of the year for that race as it concerns Big Brown. Straightforward, and to the point.