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Big Brown's Jockey, Trainer Clear the Air

Posted: Jun 11th 2008 10:45AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing

Big Brown's jockey and trainer met to clear the air this morning, a day after the trainer blamed the jockey for the horse's shocking last place finish at the Belmont Stakes.

ESPN's Jeannine Edwards reports that Dutrow and Desormeaux met early this morning at Aqueduct in New York, and Dutrow said afterward that he and Desormeaux are "back on target," adding "I just feel better because he came by to talk about [the Belmont ride]."

Still, Dutrow apparently doesn't feel the need to apologize for anything he said, including blaming Desormeaux for the fact that Big Brown "didn't know what the hell was going on" at the Belmont. Just as Dutrow was widely praised for getting Big Brown in condition to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, he's been widely criticized for everything from his brash demeanor to his attitude toward using steroids on horses.

Although Big Brown has a lucrative stud career ahead of him, Dutrow said the horse won't retire just yet: He expects Big Brown to run at the Travers Stakes in August and the Breeders' Cup Classic in October.

Trainer Rips Jockey, Says Big Brown 'Didn't Have Any Idea What the Hell Was Going On'

Posted: Jun 10th 2008 7:25PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing

27 COMMENTS

If you thought trainer Rick Dutrow was an obnoxious loudmouth before Big Brown lost at the Belmont, you ain't seen nothing yet.

After refusing to speak to the media after Big Brown's big disappointment on Saturday, Dutrow has now broken his silence, and he puts the blame for Big Brown's loss squarely on the shoulders of jockey Kent Desormeaux, who, according to Dutrow, made Big Brown confused:

"I'm sure [Big Brown] didn't have any idea what the hell was going on going into the first turn the way he was switching him all over the damn track," Dutrow said. "I don't know what he was doing."

Um, Rick? Of course Big Brown didn't have any idea what the hell was going on. He's a horse. If horses had any idea what the hell was going on, they wouldn't need jockeys.

In any event, it's a low-class move for Dutrow to go around blaming Desormeaux after the loss. Desormeaux rode Big Brown to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and that got Dutrow his 15 minutes of fame. Now, thankfully, he'll fade away.

What Do Adam Scott and Tiger Have in Common? Well, Besides The Golf Stuff

Posted: Jun 8th 2008 9:08PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Golf, PGA

0 COMMENTS

Honestly, is there a top golfer that doesn't have something wrong with him?

First it was Phil Mickelson and his wrist issues, then Tiger Woods went all "my knee hurts" on us and now it's Adam Scott and a broken pinkie finger.

According to a report by The Golf Channel, Scott, the third ranked golfer in the world, broke his finger three weeks ago when it got slammed in a car door.

No matter the issue, Scott said he's going to play this week at Torrey Pines, where he is paired with Woods and Mickelson in the first two rounds.

According to a source close to Scott, "the problem is that his practice is limited," and we don't have to go much further than Big Brown to see how that works out before big events.

As much as it appears otherwise, I have played golf and I have slammed my finger in a car door, and those don't really mix. He might be alright to play this week, but he has to be thinking about his broken finger when standing over the ball, doesn't he?

If I read a report of Vijay Singh complaining about the gout, something might be up.

Expert Says the Legacy of Big Brown Will Be a Consensus to End the Use of Steroids

Posted: Jun 8th 2008 7:30PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing, PEDs

6 COMMENTS

Big Brown's big flop at the Belmont will go down as one of the most disappointing showings in the history of the sport. But it may also go down as a turning point regarding the use of steroids in horse racing.

Big Brown's trainer gave the horse the steroid Winstrol -- which is illegal for humans but legal in most states for horses -- up until last month, when he said he stopped because he was confident that his horse could be great without it. As it turned out, Big Brown was anything but great Saturday.

Continue Reading Expert Says the Legacy of Big Brown Will Be a Consensus to End the Use of Steroids

Big Brown Falls Short, but Belmont Stakes Draws Big TV Ratings

Posted: Jun 8th 2008 3:23PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing

4 COMMENTS

Big Brown was a big disappointment, but the Belmont Stakes delivered an impressive TV rating for ABC Saturday, demonstrating that while horse racing has declined in popularity, it can still draw an audience when one horse stands out from the crowd.

ESPN announced today that the Belmont had a 10.5 overnight metered market rating, which is up a whopping 169% from last year's race, which drew a 3.9. The Belmont also beat this year's Kentucky Derby rating (9.5) by 11% and this year's Preakness rating (6.4) by 64%. Even yesterday's often boring pre-race got a 4.5 rating, which tops last year's 1.8 by 150%.

How good is that 10.5 rating? On the one hand, the much-hyped Lakers-Celtics Game 1 on Thursday got a 10.4 overnight, so beating the NBA has to be considered a good sign for the Belmont. On the other hand, the last time there was a chance of a Triple Crown winner, in 2004, the Belmont got a 13.4. So it was an impressive showing, but not as stunning as Big Brown coming in last.

Da' Tara Wins Belmont Stakes, Big Brown Fails to Win Triple Crown

Posted: Jun 7th 2008 6:29PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing

28 COMMENTS

Da' Tara won the 140th running of the Belmont Stakes today, but the big news was that Big Brown came in last.

With a monumental upset, Big Brown failed to become the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 30 years and stake a claim as one of the greatest 3-year-olds of all time. Instead, the discussion will be all about whether Big Brown's cracked hoof caused him to fade down the stretch. The early word is that Big Brown was not hurt after the race.

Big Brown went off as an overwhelming 1-4 favorite, while Da' Tara was a huge 38-1 underdog. Denis of Cork placed and Anak Nakal and Ready's Echo finished with a photo dead heat for the show.

The rest of the nine-horse field was Guadalcanal, Macho Again, Tale of Ekati and Icabad Crane.

The Triple Crown

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. watches as Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown is walked around the shed row by exercise rider Michelle Nevin at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008, in Elmont, N.Y. The Belmont Stakes horse race takes place June 7. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Exercise rider Michelle Nevin walks Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown around the shed row at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008, in Elmont, N.Y. The Belmont Stakes horse race takes place June 7. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Exercise rider Michelle Nevin pauses with Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown as she walks him around the shedrow at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Trainer Bob Baffert stands in front of a mural at Bodines Casino on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, during its grand opening in Carson City, Nev. Baffert likes Big Brown's chances to win the Triple Crown. "The horse is a super horse," he said. "He just comes from a different cloth. I really think the great horses will get it done. If he's a great horse, he'll get it done." (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Lisa J. Tolda) ** MAGS OUT TV OUT NO SALES **

While pounding his fist on the table, jockey Kent Desormeaux, who rode Big Brown to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes horse races, says, "I am the promoter of the sport right now. There is nothing I want to do more than promote this sport," Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at Bodines Casino and Restaurant in Carson City, Nev. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal. Lisa J. Tolda) ** MAGS OUT NO SALES TV OUT **

Jockey Kent Desormeaux, who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes horse races aboard Big Brown, smiles Tuesday, May 20, 2008, during the opening of Bodines Casino and Resort in Carson City, Nev. The casino is part owned by Mike Pegram. He owned Real Quiet, the horse Desormeaux rode to wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1998. (AP Photo/Reno Gazette-Journal, Lisa J. Tolda) ** MAGS OUT NO SALES TV OUT **

Exercise rider Michelle Nevin stands outside Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown's stall after training at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, relaxes outside the stable at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, laughs as he answers questions for the media at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Richard Dutrow Jr., trainer for Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, answers questions for the media at Belmont Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2008 in Elmont, N.Y.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

'The Steroid Era in American Thoroughbred Racing Will Be Over in 2009'

Posted: Jun 7th 2008 12:25PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing, PEDs

0 COMMENTS

Pat Forde of ESPN.com reports that "The steroid era in American thoroughbred racing will be over in 2009," as the Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee will make a public recommendation next week that steroids be banned for all racehorses in the United States.

That will make Big Brown the last great racehorse to be fueled by steroids -- or at least, the last great racehorse whose trainer admits he's fueled by steroids. Trainer Rick Dutrow (pictured) acknowledges giving Winstrol to Big Brown, although he says he stopped on April 15. It's legal in most states to give steroids to horses.

The safety of race horses has become a hot-button issue since Eight Belles, who finished second to Big Brown at the Kentucky Derby, broke both front legs and was euthanized minutes after crossing the finish line. Eight Belles tested negative for steroids.

Casino Drive Out of Belmont, Let's Just Hand Big Brown the Triple Crown

Posted: Jun 7th 2008 10:45AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing

2 COMMENTS

Big Brown's job just got easier.

Already an overwhelming favorite to win today's Belmont Stakes and thus capture the first Triple Crown in three decades, Big Brown this morning became an even greater favorite when his chief rival, Casino Drive, was scratched with a hoof injury. (Big Brown, pictured getting a bath yesterday, also has a hoof injury, but is expected to be at full speed today.)

Casino Drive's injury is not serious, but his owner decided it wasn't worth the risk. And so we can now say that only one of the greatest upsets since Upset will keep Big Brown from the Triple Crown.

Trainer Says He Hasn't Given Big Brown Steroids Since April

Posted: Jun 5th 2008 7:04AM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing, PEDs

4 COMMENTS

With Big Brown an overwhelming favorite to win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and become the first horse in 30 years to win the Triple Crown, his trainer is attempting to distance himself from his long-held practice of giving the horse steroids.

That trainer, Rick Dutrow, tells Joe Drape of the New York Times that he hasn't given Big Brown the anabolic steroid Winstrol since April 15. It is legal to give horses steroids in most states, including all three of the Triple Crown states. Winstrol is banned for human use; it is the drug that Ben Johnson tested positive for at the 1988 Olympics.

Michael Iavarone, a co-owner of Big Brown, explains the decision to stop giving him steroids:

"But Rick has said, and we have believed all along, that Big Brown is phenomenally talented and has not needed any performance-enhancing drugs."

That doesn't make a lot of sense; the whole point is we don't know how much his "phenomenal talent" has been enhanced by drugs. If Big Brown wins the Triple Crown he will have done so aided by steroids, and his owners and trainer shouldn't pretend otherwise.

Big Brown Wins Preakness

Posted: May 17th 2008 6:05PM by Michael David Smith (author feed)
Filed under: Horse Racing, Baltimore, The Word

24 COMMENTS

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.