FanHouse Rick Dutrow

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.

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.