Big Brown did it again today, racing to a dominant victory at the 133rd running of the Preakness Stakes and getting one step away from becoming the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.
Big Brown went off as a huge favorite at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, with the odds reaching an amazing 1-5 as just about everyone bet on the favorite to win. It was justified. Big Brown cruised early and galloped away late, absolutely obliterating the field down the stretch. Although Gayego got off to a good start and had an early lead, there was never a point at which Big Brown appeared to be in any trouble.
He ultimately won by more than five lengths. Macho Again placed and Icabad Crane showed.
Jockey Kent Desormeaux and trainer Rick Dutrow have a great horse, a horse that will now be favored to win a place as one of the greatest in history at the Belmont.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. What'da horse run brown run
Posted at 6:52PM on May 17th 2008 by Robert Selzle
2. What an amazing gear shift on that final straightaway. That horse is something else.
Posted at 7:18PM on May 17th 2008 by Brian
3. High taxes, double-dipping school exec pensioners, outrageous gas prices ...sheesh! Living on Long Island has been tough -- but now we have a reason to be proud of being LI residents: our own BIG BROWN! May he rule the Belmont and become the absolute symbol that Big Brown (UPS) has dreamed about: they always deliver!
Posted at 7:19PM on May 17th 2008 by Ro
4. Although I am happy Big brown won; I do not agree with horses being drugged to win.
Its a false win; where would he be without his weekly drug injections?
Barbaro did not even need a whip.
We must ban drugs, and see the REAL HORSE.
Posted at 7:54PM on May 17th 2008 by Gail
5. Beautiful horse I hope he goes all the way with winning a triple crown. Go Big Brown!
Posted at 7:55PM on May 17th 2008 by michele
6. Questions for the horse racing experts out there.
1. Are all racehorces in the United States given steroids? If not, what percentage receive them?
2. Is there any requirement to disclose steroid use prior to the race, and if so, do the people betting have that information?
3. Is there any requirement that the owner of a horse disclose to those that pay stud fees that the horse was on steroids?
4. Do other countries allow performance enhancing drugs to be given to racehorses?
Posted at 9:06PM on May 17th 2008 by Martin
7. Shades of Secretariat!! First, Big Red (Secretariat, not Man O' War), now Big Brown! If he wins the Belmont by 27 lengths, as did Secretariat, it wont be too suprising. What a horse!
Posted at 9:40PM on May 17th 2008 by burnschrlsmd
8. Big Brown will make history at Belmont and the passing of Eight Belles will be erased by then.
Posted at 10:42PM on May 17th 2008 by George B Vieto
9. It's unfortunate that this horse is trained and ridden by two bums. Desormeaux is a no class, hollywood wanna be. His total lack of class at the Kentucky Derby disgusted me to no end. Didn't even mention the Eight Belles incident even though passed by her dying body and he's whooping it up in the winner's circle. He should drop dead. The trainer a drug addict and drug doper himself showed no class either at the Kentucky Derby. Thank God the owner showed some class. The two guys who should know that the horse is the whole game spit on Eight Belles memory that day. For that they are SCUM!! I hope the racing gods prevent them from winning the Triple Crown, but since racing is doomed, I am sure they will win it. What a shame. The sport is dead!!
Posted at 10:48PM on May 17th 2008 by picksixkid
10. Simply the best horse I have seen since Big Red aka Secretariet won by 33 lengths not 27 lengths as noted in previous blog. This horse is in another planet.
Posted at 10:59PM on May 17th 2008 by bruce henry
11. No. Not every horse is on steroids. Since it is not illegal in almost every state, there is not reason for owners and trainers to hide steroid use if the horse is on it. Big Browns trainer, Rick Dutrow Jr., openly stated that the horse is being given steroids. The trainer of Eight Belles, stated firmly that the filly never was injected with steroids and the tests proved that she was not on them. The most common type of drug given to a race horse is Lasix (also very common in people and dogs) This helps to alleviate bleeding from the lungs as is common in all athletes. Not every horse needs and takes Lasix.
After every race a horse is taken back to the barn for blood/urine samples and are tested for drugs. Any drug that the horse may be on must be listed. If a horse is found to have unlisted or illegal drugs, the trainer (and sometimes owner if they knew) are fined and suspended for extended periods. Drug testing for horses is superior to testing in human athletes because NTRA has strict guidelines on what can and can't be used. Currently only 10 states allow Anabolic Steroids strictly for therapeutic reasons. Both the National Jockey Club and the NTRA have asked Congress to pass a law banning steroids in all states except for therapeutic recovery. That law is expected to pass this year. All drugs the horse are on (if any) are listed with the NTRA and in the stats of the horse. Any horse in stud must list all drugs the horse may be taking. European horses, middle eastern and Japanese horses do take steroids, but are only administered for therapeutic reasons. South American horses are the least regulated of any horses in the world and by many in the industry, worldwide, some of the most neglected horses there are. Some measures have been taken in recent years to help them.
Posted at 12:52AM on May 18th 2008 by Flybird
12. I am a retired Horse professional that started riding at age 6, graduating to formal training on 18 hands high 2 yr. old stud colds in Europe(West Germany back then) at 11 yrs. and know the "Running of the 2 yr. Olds at Churchill Downs" is Animal Cruelty. The foal's bones are still soft and developing; especially for lanky hot bloods which is all I have ever owned at 7 mo.s up, gentled, trained, showed, won in events and riden. Steroid use is illegal for humans in sports which bulks up muscle and tears away when over worked. Eight Bells tragic snapping of her cannon bones proved again even after Barbaro's demise. Both losses caused millions of equestrian enthusiasts world wide agony only to be ignored over Big Brown's win. And he's full of steroids. We have one of the best Equestrian Colleges in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where I & my ex-spouse attended in the 1980's. You NEVER ride let alone RUN an under age foal at a flat out run on a hard surface track similar to the miles of grave roads here until they are at least fully developed WITH leggings. These creatures have longivity stats at 35+ years in the hot blooded purebreds. If you have pets, children or horses, there will always be the "Good, Bad and they Ugly" until they are mature and after seeing two of these horses put down in a few years just for elitists sport is INHUMANE. Did I mention my will contains 75% designated to the ASPCA and Humane Society for the care of damaged and abused animals? We've had a epidemic near my city in Iowa in the part few years with many horses confiscated from farms where they are not being cared for and carcasses were on the grounds. Humans have choice. Horses are owned property. It's cruel what the Wall Street Broker/Owners do for their own prestige and a buck. I would of loved to give Eight Bells 35 years of kind, gentle love and recipricol pleasure. Now she's just a heap of chopped off hooves, heart and her head buried somewhere. There horses are NOT happy.
Posted at 6:18AM on May 18th 2008 by Regina Braun
13. What a wonderful horse. He deserves to win at Belmont and I hope he does. It would be a wonderful vicotry for him after all these years.
Posted at 8:12AM on May 18th 2008 by tricia
14. Flybird - Thanks for all the information. It seems to me that if a horse is receiving steroids for therapeutic reasons, it means that the horse is injured and thus should not be allowed to run. This would be a big loophole. However, I hope that the law limiting steroids does pass this year.
You said that all drugs the horses are on (if any) are listed with the NTRA and in the stats of the horse. Is this information on line by any chance?
Posted at 9:40AM on May 18th 2008 by Martin
15. With all my heart I hope BIG BROWN can relax on a farm after he wins the Triple Crown.The stud fees will be enormous and he will forever be accident free!!
Posted at 1:49PM on May 18th 2008 by Iris Davidson
16. Not every horse that is given steroids may necessarily be injured. In fact, most horses are not run if they are injured. In some cases, a horse coming off of a injury may be given steroids prior to a race as a precautionary measure. That does not mean that the horse is given steroids prior to every start. Needless to say, steroids remain a highly controversial topic inside the industry as well as out. Some simply opt for the use of lasix or other drugs as therapy and others prefer not to or refuse to medicate their horses.
Not everyone who owns race horses (or any horse for that matter) can afford to have a full service of
electronic pressure sensors, thermography units , equine pools, spas, solariums, treadmills as well as the hundreds of other available therapy options available for horses on their farms. Treating horses includes a wide range of care from MRI's down to herbal therapy. There are over 400 types of therapeutic shoes available for horses alone.
If you are looking for a specific horse, I would suggest contacting your state's racing board. Or you may want to contact the National Thoroughbred Racing Association or The Jockey Club. I am not aware of any online site that alphabetically lists the name of every registered T-bred and its medical history. The Jockey Club database holds the names of 1.8 million registered T-breds dating back to the 1800's. If you are looking for fines, suspensions and other information that occurs, I would suggest viewing The Daily Racing Form online. As well as listing the stats of every horse racing in a field, it will list medication it is on. However, unless you know how to read the stat form, this will probably not help you. But, you can enter keywords in a search and view almost everything that goes on in the industry. Contary to popular believe, the racing form does not paint a portrait designed to lure in fans. It is a non biased and highly respected company that lays everything out in black and white, whether its good or bad for the industry. Sorry, but this is really all I am able to help you with.
Posted at 4:37PM on May 18th 2008 by Flybird
17. Flybird - Many thanks.
Posted at 9:39PM on May 18th 2008 by Martin
18. Big Brown has a gas pedal.
Posted at 11:34AM on May 19th 2008 by junghai
19. For the record--Secretariat won the Belmont by 31 lengths not 27 or 33--his son also won the Belmont with a margin of 14 3/4 length margin and also ran the second fastest time of the Belmont. Big Brown runs much like a well oiled machine--haven't seen a horse dominate like this in a long time.
Posted at 1:42PM on May 19th 2008 by ThriftyN
20. Big Brown was very impressive in his wins at the Derby & Preakness. I do hope he wins the Triple Crown. He is a great horse. I don't believe he will break the record at the Belmont set by the great Secretariat in 1973. Big Red was one of a kind, and I doubt we will ever see another one like him.
Posted at 2:48PM on May 19th 2008 by Ken