Will Big Brown Take the Crown ???

Maxs Mom

I think they should shorten the TV time to only be able to state the facts, less BS and then the race. Sure I love the stories but it has gone way beyond that and it tires me.
 

No kidding!  This is the first horse race ever I actually planned to watch.  I had the TV on for probably FOUR HOURS before the race!  they kept saying it was coming up....then another 20 minutes of fluff and trash talking....on and on.  I actually watched the entire US women's gymnastics championships during the time I started watching "the race" and when it actually took place.

LOL rookie...

You just look at when the telecast is due to END...then tune in about 30mins before that. LOL.

Maxs Mom

 I did not watch the race, and I have not read all the press stuff. I want to say KUDOS to Big Browns jockey for making a horseman's decision despite all that was on the line, and easing him up. That may save the horse for running another day. Horses are living breathing animals with a mind of their own, he may not have slept well the night before or he just may not have felt well. We have all had these days yet the horse can not tell us we have to "feel" it. I know I have had days like that (less at stake of course) and had to say "another day".

I was disappointed to find out that Big Brown was on a legal steroid for his two first wins. I sure hope that is NOT why he won. I hope he comes back at the race at Saratoga and at the Breeder's Cup with out drugs and knocks the socks off the competition. That will be the only way to stop that conversation.  

Does anyone wonder if the cracked hoof he had was the main problem?  I know it was supposedly repaired, said to be stronger than a hoof would be on its own, but considering the delicacy of legs & hooves in horses, especially when such high impact is put on them, could it have been the culprit?  The #5 horse, Casino Drive, was scratched from the race due to a hoof problem...

he was cleared medically, from what I read today, which would seem to indicate no...but I mean...we can't ask him.

Maybe it was as simple as he wasn't focused enough that day, ANY dog can be beaten in the show ring on a given day...even those that are a lock to win...they have off days. Who knows what brings on an off day in an animal. Maybe the repair felt weird to him..sure perhaps.

But...maybe he just wasn't focused and it was as simple as "he lost"..the way he was fighting the jockey leads me to believe he simply was being what he is...a young horse that has his own mind and ideas about things on a given day.

Usually the newspapers, the racing program, and other media sources will tell you what the post time is.  And like Gina said, the post parade will last anywhere from 30 - 60 minutes before the race goes off.  The KY Derby has the longest at 60 minutes.  Belmont's was short this year, only 35 minutes, but rumor had it that the actual time of the race was moved from 5:30 to 6:30 in order to get the public to spend as much money as possible betting.  All it really served to do was make a long busy day even longer...(I punch tickets part-time at the local horse track).

Good points, Gina.  I was working at the track, but did not see any of the pre-race hoopla, post parade, or the race (I have this thing about not leaving my till unattended).  The horses are not gelded, so perhaps he was just being a young, temperamental stallion. 

I did not watch the other 2 races...but on this race when he came to the gate everyone was remarking how he'd not even brokena lather. Perhaps he really wasn't "into it" or "rising up" for it. You know? MOST athletes have rituals pregame...they slap each other, or play special music...some even need to be punched in the mouth...it gets them UP gets the adrenaline running...

This horse did it seem...look like he was 100% mellow...blase' even. Several others has a good lather or were dancing on their toes like they do..

IMO that might've had the most to do with it..he just wasn't "on" for some reason. If they haven't given those injections of the legal drug....perhaps that more slightly agrro "edge" he had...was also gone...because he's mellow by nature?

Another thought was they had given Big Brown some Lasix a blood thinner and diuretic (why they do this I still do not understand after seeing how the drug works) their is a thought in the 90 degree heat which we had not had much of yet this year, he was dehydrated. The truth is we may never know.

They say the hoof was not a problem, but perhaps it was not comfortable. Was he sore "no" but again we can't know for sure. We had a horse in our barn that had a bad quarter crack. That horse was SO uncomfortable with shoes on. We eventually pulled his shoes and he was a happy camper. Not your usual way of handling a quarter crack, but Duell showed for years just fine without shoes. Haven't your feet ever hurt without you having to limp?

I am so sorry for the racing industry that this happened. They need a hero too. With all the bad publicity racing has been getting they needed something good to happen. At least nothing bad did. I wonder really if we will EVER see another Triple Crown winner. It is a grueling series. The Belmont stakes is a LONG race, to find one that can run and win short (Preakness) and do the marathon Belmont is quite the individual. There are SO many good race horses out there now. To find the Affirmed, or Seattle Slew that stand out as they did may never happen. I really thought watching Barbaro run the KY Derby we had the phenom we were waiting for.

Sorry not to step on anyones toes, I did not like Secretariat. He was a beautiful horse, and quite the runner, but he had NO competition. I often wonder what he would have done in almost any other year. Yes I know he set the track record. However I there was just something about him that made me root for Riva Ridge in each race. Secretariat was a GREAT hunter/jumper sire, beautiful quiet offspring. I had the opportunity to ride his first grand son. He was out of Secretariat's first foal the appaloosa test baby. He was jet black, small, quiet and at great student. A great disposition. My favorite race horses are Man O War, Seabiscuit, Ruffian and John Henry. I liked what I saw in Barbaro, and I liked his heart to survive as long as he did.
 

I think Secretariat was awesome......and Ruffian was beautiful...........

Also, a german race horse was very popular at one time and captured the heart of many in the european race world......"Windwurf".....I was told by some german friends about this one......I was too young to appreciate this one, also......

A good race horse movie to rent if you haven't seen it already is "Phar Lap". It is about an Austrailian race horse that could not be beaten. They shipped him to the US to race him (this was back in the 1920.'s) well I can't divulge what happens it will give away the story. It is a true story and the human star is Tom Burlinson from "Man From Snowy River" (another good movie). If you have not seen "Seabiscuit" I HIGHLY recommend that story too!!! Also very true.

I don't know that Ruffian was "beautiful" but man she was a RACING MACHINE!!! She was beautiful when she was running.  

I used to want to be an exercise rider at the track. I still think that could have been fun.  

Yes, Ruffian was beautiful, link provided by a friend of mine.....

http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/ruffian.html

snownose

sillysally

Again, I did not like the authors tone, period.  So he didn't like the owner and trainer.

 

Did you write any posts voicing your opinion about the trainer and owners of BB and their bragging....? As a matter of fact, if there was any disrespect it was coming from that party......it's not like any other horse had a chance......right.....the article was written in the aftermath of a very pompous attitute and an embarrassing loss........(I do feel for BB)

So now we are entering the realm of "But he STARTED IT!!"

I think you just made my point about the author for me........ 

sillysally

snownose

sillysally

Again, I did not like the authors tone, period.  So he didn't like the owner and trainer.

 

Did you write any posts voicing your opinion about the trainer and owners of BB and their bragging....? As a matter of fact, if there was any disrespect it was coming from that party......it's not like any other horse had a chance......right.....the article was written in the aftermath of a very pompous attitute and an embarrassing loss........(I do feel for BB)

 

So now we are entering the realm of "But he STARTED IT!!"

I think you just made my point about the author for me........ 

We are on to better things........

Maxs Mom

Another thought was they had given Big Brown some Lasix a blood thinner and diuretic (why they do this I still do not understand after seeing how the drug works) their is a thought in the 90 degree heat which we had not had much of yet this year, he was dehydrated. The truth is we may never know.

They say the hoof was not a problem, but perhaps it was not comfortable. Was he sore "no" but again we can't know for sure. We had a horse in our barn that had a bad quarter crack. That horse was SO uncomfortable with shoes on. We eventually pulled his shoes and he was a happy camper. Not your usual way of handling a quarter crack, but Duell showed for years just fine without shoes. Haven't your feet ever hurt without you having to limp?

I am so sorry for the racing industry that this happened. They need a hero too. With all the bad publicity racing has been getting they needed something good to happen. At least nothing bad did. I wonder really if we will EVER see another Triple Crown winner. It is a grueling series. The Belmont stakes is a LONG race, to find one that can run and win short (Preakness) and do the marathon Belmont is quite the individual. There are SO many good race horses out there now. To find the Affirmed, or Seattle Slew that stand out as they did may never happen. I really thought watching Barbaro run the KY Derby we had the phenom we were waiting for.

It might very well have been a combination--hoof, heat, dehydration--any or all of them could have done it.  I'm just relieved that it was not something catastrophic.  I'm heard lots of talk that there likely won't ever be another Triple Crown winner due to the fact that modern TBs just aren't bred like they used to be.

Even though he wasn't a Triple Crown contender, I'm partial to Cigar myself.  I got to see him at the Kentucky Horse Park a couple of years ago--it was an honor. 

sillysally

Even though he wasn't a Triple Crown contender, I'm partial to Cigar myself.  I got to see him at the Kentucky Horse Park a couple of years ago--it was an honor. 

Yes Cigar was a fantastic horse! I saw him at KY Horse Park too. I also liked John Henry and I have to mention Forego. I LOVE KY Horse park it was my FAVORITE place to horse show. I hope someday I get to go again (and show too). I am thinking some day I may have to do the agility trial there.

Another horse I liked (I don't remember his name) was the horse that won the KY Derby owned by the group of teachers. Just to show you don't have to be bred to the 9's to be the winner. That was a great story.