Belmont/Big Brown Thoughts

[Barbaro06]

Just my two cents....

For the first time in ten years I did not watch the Belmont Stakes (I watched the video replay the next morning). I had a feeling that Big Brown was not going to win to end the 30 year drought that has plagued the Triple Crown. In addition to the hunch, I had not succumbed to the hype that Big Brown was the second coming of Secretariat. It is great to hope that the colt who has dominated the Derby and Preakness takes the Belmont too, but the early coronation of Big Brown to the elite status of Triple Crown winner left me bitter. It didn’t help that his connections, save for his jockey, had seedy pasts either. Horse racing has always been a business but IEAH Stable is in the business of running a hedge fund. The idea of a horse racing hedge fund appalls me. Talk about sucking the fun out of a sport. It stinks of the idea of a quick return on investments that have suckered many an investor in other realms. Big Brown’s trainer has not had a spotless past, personally or professionally, also. His arrogance was extraordinary. Sure, other trainers have been blowhards about their horses, but Rick Dutrow took the prize. He said the Belmont was a “forgone conclusion” and then when Big Brown was eased, all the wind in his sails disappeared. Suddenly the super horse was a mere horse, struggling, seemingly fighting his jockey to cross the wire.

Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown’s rider, stated that the colt was out of gas. That surprised me. The colt who had dominated the Derby and Preakness suddenly was out of fuel. He was throttled down in the Preakness in order to save something for the Belmont. Then the quarter crack in his left front hoof that was patched the day before the race. It was supposed to be a “non-issue.” It makes me wonder if the Big Brown was just not comfortable running on patched up hooves. After the Belmont he was checked out to find the cause of his embarrassing dethroning. Nothing came up that would answer the question, nothing.

Perhaps the steroid use caught up to Big Brown. Perhaps his pedigree caught up with him. He isn’t a person so he can’t tell us if the pressure of trying to win the Triple Crown got to him. Or the $50 million value placed on him to become a stud and sire more like him. We may never know what caused this “great” horse to fail so miserably on the day he was supposed to be crowned.

As a horse racing fan it is easy to get swept up in the hype of a possible Triple Crown winner. But what really matters is that those who are guiding a horse to the penultimate in the sport must also learn humility. A horse cannot be crowned a champion through mere words, but deeds.

[NorthernDaylily]

Barbaro06 I surely share your thoughts.. got me irritated enough to post for once and rant per this phony event. I see this morning in the NY Times a blurb per ABC's ratings success running the event. RATING shares and $$ is all their interested in.... the 'Triple Crown Strategy is hauled out each time a horse can be hyped to the gullible public and sold as something "great". Yea.. great for ABC's bottom line.

Obviously a true Triple Crown champion would be super for horse racing. But that be an odd duck.. a rare horse.. which BB proved he wasn't Saturday. To compare him to Secretariat just made my blood boil...

A viewer comment also per the aforementioned Times suggested the horse's nose and neck should be examined as he bumped the lead horse early on. Comic to the extent some will go to rationalize events that show the world what the horse really wasn't. I note BB moved outside with energy after this 'rump bump' and ran well until asked for high gear. Then the truth was told..............

BB aka "FLOP" wasn't durable & sound enough to train for winning the TCrown cycle... he's a juice horse.. the product of chems, meds and a lite racing schedule. It is that simple.......

To me its' laughable the ownership's talk of campaigning him later this yr. One misfire they can conger up a good story line for.... selling the naive stud services. Getting his ass kicked by a Curlin would be the quickest depreciation of 60 Mil on record.

My moniker "FLOP" label really is directed at the conditions that produce a dud like this one.. the lax chemical and med oversight of today's $$ game. It is a shame.. US racing should be ashamed.

I won't apologize for being angry and irritated enough now to let it all go. ENOUGH is ENOUGH.. time to let the
fool's making the rules it's time to CLEAN HOUSE>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[larrygene]

She/he sounds like a relative of Sam's!!!

[NorthernDaylily]

HE.. Thanks for asking.

At least..... HE cares enough to call bullsh** what it is when HE sees it........

Right.. wrong.. whatever. It's is TIME to change. Now disagree with that>>>>>>>>>

[larrygene]

He now sounds like Sam's brother!! Notice he never asked who is Sam??? If you are going to compare me to someone else I certainly would want to know something about that person Wouldn't you????

Interesting name, NorthernDaylily. My wife grows many varieties of daylilies. The interesting thing about daylilies is today they bloom and tomorrow they are gone. Will that be the fate of NorthernDaylily?? Here today gone tomorrow. Just curious!

[NorthernDaylily]

larrygene your way otta your league. Your trite remarks say it all about yourself.

Disagree with what I'm saying... or agree. Tell me this modern chem horse scene suits you..........

[docjocoy]

I see this morning in the NY Times a blurb per ABC's ratings success running the event. RATING shares and $$ is all their interested in.... the 'Triple Crown Strategy is hauled out each time a horse can be hyped to the gullible public and sold as something "great". Yea.. great for ABC's bottom line.

How much coverage do you think ABC would give to horse racing if the ratings were low for this kind of event? No money, no coverage. It seems to me to be quite short-sited to expect a network to cover an event if they are not expected to make a profit. We can then expect to sit back and watch our horses run on PBS, tape delayed, weeks later.

[dray33]

a horse racing fan it is easy to get swept up in the hype of a possible Triple Crown winner. But what really matters is that those who are guiding a horse to the penultimate in the sport must also learn humility. A horse cannot be crowned a champion through mere words, but deeds.

Excellent post B06.

One funny point. I was watching the race with a bunch of old pals, one was a lawyer and he said to me "do you know what penultimate means" I said something like "the best, or highest"? He said "Nope. penultimate means next-to-last, and that's where Big Brown is gonna finish".

So close!

[NorthernDaylily]

I see this morning in the NY Times a blurb per ABC's ratings success running the event. RATING shares and $$ is all their interested in.... the 'Triple Crown Strategy is hauled out each time a horse can be hyped to the gullible public and sold as something "great". Yea.. great for ABC's bottom line.

How much coverage do you think ABC would give to horse racing if the ratings were low for this kind of event? No money, no coverage. It seems to me to be quite short-sited to expect a network to cover an event if they are not expected to make a profit. We can then expect to sit back and watch our horses run on PBS, tape delayed, weeks later.

Very true.. yet it seems to me their crying WOLF a bit too much.. and too early on.

Why not at least run down the rest of the field pre race? Myself I don't think the field exactly nags.. which it seems was well proven.

Maybe to say.... only one foot of hype was enough. The extra feet of hype was overdone.....[?].

A show about horses & racing and ABC looked like JACK-ASSSES when it was over....

[larrygene]

Trite as I may be you're still a wolf in Sam's clothing!!! Again he has never asked, Who is Sam???? Maybe he knows

ND for the umpteenth time,STERIODS ARE LEGAL !!!! You can rant and rave when they make them illegal. Until then those of us who actually own and race TB's for the most part don't have a problem with riods when they are used properly. Again I ask the question, What about milkshakes??? Why are they banned? Milkshakes are nothing more than confectioners sugar and baking soda. Both ingredients are legal and can be bought in any grocery store. Are milkshakes in the same category as steriods?? Both supposedly helps a horses performance, one is legal, the other not!!

[docjocoy]

Why not at least run down the rest of the field per race? Myself I don't think the field exactly nags.. which it seems was well proven.

I thought their coverage was quite mediocre, frankly. One of the worst racing telecasts I have seen. I watched most of the day's races on TVG, going back and forth to watch the races TVG had blacked out. ABC rarely mentioned any horse besides Big Brown, even shrinking coverage on the winners circle.

[NorthernDaylily]

Geez larrygene.. a reply almost sans some reference to some fetish of yours.. well done. Sam? dunno and don't care.. your problem.

So.. STEROIDS are ok to prop up a horse? Nonsense.... the horses's system is saying ENOUGH when their used for a 'lift'.

To raise colts on STEROIDS is a game to capture the naive dollars. Roll ALL DRUG USE BACK............ LETS RACE GENETICS and NOT CHEMS>>>>>>>>>>>>

[dray33]

Trite as I may be you're still a wolf in Sam's clothing!!! ND for the umpteenth time,STERIODS ARE LEGAL !!!! Y

larrygene... I have enjoyed your posts... it' obvious you know 100x what I do, i would guess you are a trainer or involved in the sport a lot closer than many of us. I want to point out one thing. Every time you post that Steroids are legal, I feel compelled to point out that legality does not make it RIGHT. It's that simple.

[larrygene]

My friend, I don't have a problem!!! I'm not here ranting and raving about something that is not going to change anytime soon!! And if you think differently then you are either very naive or never paid any training bills!!

Can you address milkshakes and why they are illegal and why steriods are legal??

[spex4me]

I'm not here ranting and raving about something that is not going to change anytime soon!!

Could you clarify, is that about steroid use or not. If so I would be willing to bet by this time 2009 there will be a steroid ban in effect. If not then I was just confused as to the point that was being made.

Good post Barbaro.