Big Brown left alone after stunning Belmont loss

[BeatleBoot]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/rac_belmont_stakes

Big Brown left alone after stunning Belmont loss

NEW YORK - The morning after the Belmont Stakes, Big Brown stopped to pose for photographers as if he had won the Triple Crown. Everyone except the horse knew otherwise.

Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. was a no-show, leaving questions and few answers about what happened to Big Brown in Saturday's 1 1/2-mile Belmont. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was eased up by jockey Kent Desormeaux in the stretch, ending up last, beaten by eight other horses.

The bay colt faced the cameras alone Sunday, except for exercise rider Michelle Nevin — and she wasn't talking.

Outwardly, Big Brown appeared no worse for wear. He got his morning bath outside Barn 2, playfully nipping at a leather lead held by Nevin. Then she led him in circles around the inside of the barn, with Big Brown walking perfectly on his patched left front hoof.

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[JDPriestly]

1. "Stunning" is not the right word.

Wouldn't his handlers have known when the stopped giving him steroids on May 15 that he might lose the race as a result? Shouldn't they have been required to disclose Big Brown's steroid use records to the public before the betting on this race began? I don't usually watch horse racing, but this whole affair stinks to high heavens to me. Am I wrong?

[greenbriar]

2. betting programs are required to list steroids

people betting would have known

[nosmokes]

4. Many states don't require notification of steroid use.

Maybe you're thinking of lasix? I doubt the lack of steroids had much, if anything, to do w/Brown's performance. First of all, he's only a horse, and they aren't known for their intellectual acumen.It was hotter than hell and this horse has been pampered his whole life and the Belmont just mighta looked too much like work to him. If anything I'd think the break in the normal in the nomal training routine is more to blame than anything.

[MonkeyFunk]

16. Reports say they stopped giving him steroids in April

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/triplecrown08/news/story?id=3427364

[JDPriestly]

17. I read somewhere that it was May 15.

[Blue_Tires]

3. poor horse

the trainers and everyone in the camp were hogging the espn spotlight earlier, and they all disappear now...

[nosmokes]

6. poor horse? aahh, he still a big bag fiull of oats and honey. n/t

[Faygo Kid]

5. Don't let them sell Big Brown to Japan.

For food. The egotists are not going to care about this horse as a sentient being. One to keep an eye on.

[ret5hd]

7. i don't think that sperm machine has much to worry about for a while.

[Stinky The Clown]

10. He's got a 50 million dollar date with a whole line of ladies .......

No Japan for him, yet.

[Faygo Kid]

11. I hope you're right. I'm a Ladies Man, myself. For less money, though. . .

Courvoisier, ladies?

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Before he even ran the Preakness, they anounced that his stud rights were sold for $50M

He's set for life.

[Faygo Kid]

14. I'd settle for half that.

[TheMightyFavog]

15. Horses??? Sentient?

What have you been smoking, where can I get some, and how much is iot going to set me back.

Humans are sentient, Horses, not.

[lonestarnot]

18. Oh bull.

All my horses knew me and as a child, I went into a stall and was caught combing Pete in the flanks with a mane comb. He would never have stood still for that by another. Dad freaked out. Pete snorted when Dad snatched me out of the stall. That same horse kicked me and knocked me out when I lead him out of sight from his stablemate when the stablemate nickered for him when he couldn't see him. Horses not sentient, bull.

[lapfog_1]

8. Yes the steroids were one thing

and the jockey having a very sick child is another.

There were plenty of financial reasons to not let him win.

Or it's possible that he just had a bad day.

[BuyingThyme]

9. Apt name.

(Yesterday, anyways.)

[Oleladylib]

12. I'm glad the horse if fine..and he doesn't give a damn who lost how much on the race..

his trainer is the same, the exercise was fine and I'll bet his feed stayed the same...On a beautiful June morning the horse was doing just what he liked best..You go brownie. I love it when the odds lose...It's a huge win for alot of us .

[monmouth]

19. It was that extra 1/2 mile that did him in. Too long a run for him...n/t

[a kennedy]

20. I actually thought he was done when he got that little bump going

into the first turn....I didn't think he "looked" right.... :shrug: Just hope BB IS ok.