Go Big Brown!!!!

[c_expresso]

He did it! One more to go!!

[J Swan]

:D:D:D:D

A FABULOUS RACE!!!! yeeeehawwww! (got my laptop on my lap and watching the boob toob.)

That horse is incredible - they all are - but that was a great race!

[Reds-n-Greys]

BEAUTIFUL !!!:winkgrin:

[spacely]

:D:D:D:D

[Buffyblue]

Awesome! It's like he's turbo-charged!

[tarragon]

Desormeaux looked like he was holding him until that stretch run, then he just pushed his hands forward and Big Brown opened up and loped right past the rest of the field. Looked like it couldn't have been any easier for him.

What a horse :D

[Iride]

*eyes popping open in disbelief*

[hijumpin1]

Fantastic! Go Big Brown, one more!!

[Traum]

I did watch this one. What a great horse! I loved the head shaky, lemme at em faces he was still making after the end :)

I always watch the post ponies for fun, my last guy missed his calling there. But what is this fad of post pony rider with the fancy helmet and cover, with the harness either off or stuffed up in the hat? Not only does that look stupid but what good is it going to do you! The TV commentator didn't even have a strap on her hat. Just a wierd thing I noticed today :)

[CoolMeadows]

Go baby go!! Here's the monster horse we've been waiting so long for! Talk about easy, and a perfect ride too.

[Iron Horse Farm]

Looked like the hardest part of the race was pulling him up at the end!

[onetempies]

I went outside to work during the race then came in during the re-cap. The whole time I DID tape the race but as I came in I asked if it was safe to watch the recap. Holy cow that boy just amazes me. He's probably the only horse I've seen that doesn't even break a sweat, not breathing hard and looks like he still wants to run AFTER crossing that finish line! D@mn that was a good race! :yes:

Now with that being said.... I'm still going to just have to tape the Belmont. I don't think I can watch another race live. :no:

[Home Again Farm]

It was beautiful - just beautiful.

[Iride]

I went outside to work during the race then came in during the re-cap. The whole time I DID tape the race but as I came in I asked if it was safe to watch the recap. Holy cow that boy just amazes me. He's probably the only horse I've seen that doesn't even break a sweat, not breathing hard and looks like he still wants to run AFTER crossing that finish line! D@mn that was a good race! :yes:

Now with that being said.... I'm still going to just have to tape the Belmont. I don't think I can watch another race live. :no:

I did the same thing. I waited til I knew it was over, then I checked the boards here (cuz anything bad wouldve been posted immediately), and when I saw that he won and there were no breakdowns I watched all the recaps on TV. I'm so excited about BB but my heart is still heavy for Eight Belles. I too can't watch anymore live. Seen too many breakdowns in person, too many on TV.

[mroades]

the overhead shot was the most telling....he just turned into a whole nother horse when Kent let go.....wow

Mind you Smarty Jones looked like that in the Preakness too......

[Mirakel]

the overhead shot was the most telling....he just turned into a whole nother horse when Kent let go.....wow

Mind you Smarty Jones looked like that in the Preakness too......

That's what I was just thinking....I'm nervous!

[K~2]

Great Race.

Anyone else want to get rid of Bob Costas? I can't stand him.

[dressagetraks]

Very impressive race, much the best horse. Wow!

But I still detest the name. :no:

[Iride]

Very impressive race, much the best horse. Wow!

But I still detest the name. :no:

Could be worse. *faint memory of the Green Monkey*

[danceronice]

I thought he looked much more easy about it than Smarty Jones (who never really impressed me, to be honest, plus I think that's a worse name than Big Brown. I'm kind of glad we didn't have a Triple Crown winner named Smarty Jones or Funny Cide.) It was obvious Desormeaux was holding him through the first part of the race, but he wasnt' really fighting or fussing about it. Then he when he was asked to go, he done went.

Anyone else want to get rid of Bob Costas? I can't stand him.

Bob Costas vs. Peter Carruthers in the Most Annoying Sportscaster Deathmatch.

[horsekpr]

watching him come around that last turn ,the other horses looked like they were running flat out,but he was just loping along.I thought,man,he isn't even trying .Then he said "see ya" and off he went . Now that is a horse who likes his job!

[Essie]

Bob Costas vs. Peter Carruthers in the Most Annoying Sportscaster Deathmatch.
Anyone remember Howard Cosell? :winkgrin:

Great race! Go Big Brown!!

[Chief2]

Just stopped by to say, it warmed the cockles of my heart to see that race go off without a hitch. What a wonderful horse! :D

[harvestmoon]

Loved it. He looked like he was just cantering along on a nice weekend hack at the end. :D

[JHUshoer20]

Bob Costas vs. Peter Carruthers in the Most Annoying Sportscaster Deathmatch.
LMAO No contemporary sportscaster could have held a candle to Howard Cosell. He was without a doubt the worst in history. So glad they never let him near a horse race:yes:
George

[dressagetraks]

Um, he did do at least a few races. I have on tape Howard emceeing the broadcasts during the 1984 TC.

It was painful. Utterly painful. He referred to the TC winners once, calling War Admiral the first, and even had a graphic listing them - in incorrect order, all scrambled, War Admiral indeed first as he said, but with CORRECT (and out of order) dates next to each horse's name. :lol:

[skatepixie]

That was just a romp in the park for him wow! :D

[bobbybobby]

might be the best we have seen in 25 years......wow

[seeuatx]

I loved that race. I really like the horse, though I admit I was voting for Nick Zito's entry or that British bred (just cause I liked his name..... yankee somethingorother).

Anyhow, that Big Brown... he just looked like he was having a blast. It seemed almost effortless for him. What a heart. I loved at the end... the jockey was trying to pull him up and he was pulling against him like "nooooooo, I want to keep going. This is fuuuuuuun." :winkgrin:

[onetempies]

Oh he was saying NO quite emphatically after the finish line! :lol: Looked like the race was all hand riding and a bit of rein flapping AND that was done after a workout that morning!

Wow...

[gubbyz]

Bring on that Japanese horse! I already forgot his name. Kent rode him in the Peter Pan, so lets hope that gives him an edge to know what that horse is like. It sucks that trainers can wait and bring in a fresh horse to be the spoiler for the Triple Crown. I think you should have to race in at least one other "crown "race to do the Belmont. But what do I know, no one listens to me anyway.

[amdfarm]

Even Kent said, "he was just cantering along" like it was just a stroll in the park in front of millions of people.

Absolutely wonderful race and what a horse. He seems like a great guy, too, disposition wise. Way to go Big Brown.

I agree w/ someone else that said their heart was still heavy for Eight Belles though. Mine is, too.

[Sabovee]

I just got home from the Preakness. Watching BB win in real life was amazing - the entire crowd on their feet screaming at the top of their lungs. My ears are still ringing - but so worth it!

I was all misty eyed, jumping up and down yelling as he loped down the stretch.

It's starting to feel like this could be a triple crown year!! :) :) :)

[*jumper*]

After all the disappointments the racing world has seen over the past few years -- losing the last leg of the TC, Derby winners losing the Preakness, breakdowns and scandals -- I really wasn't expecting Big Brown to do what he did today. It's not that I didn't think he was a great horse, but I had this feeling that after all that's gone wrong lately, he'd turn out to be a dud.

But wow. He didn't just win that race...he positively obliterated that field. I haven't seen a horse win like that in a very long time. I hope that Big Brown's astounding performance today will lift racing up out of its rut and bring the focus away from the tragedies (although they still need to be addressed) and back to the superstars of the modern racing world. What racing needs right now is a Triple Crown winner. After what Big Brown showed the world today, I'd safely say he has a very good chance of making that dream come true.

[gubbyz]

According to the Yahoo article, Penny Cheney (Secretariat) will be at the Belmont.

Penny Chenery, Secretariat's owner, said she plans to be on hand for the history making try on June 7. "I don't know whether Secretariat can stay with him or not," she said. "I won't speculate how that would come out, because we haven't seen him at that long a distance. But you have that big sweeping race track. I think he's going to do just fine."

One other part of the article: We just got beat by a monster," said Julien Leparoux, who was aboard Macho Again.
Big Brown slipped a bit while breaking from the middle of an undistinguished pack and Desormeaux took him off the pace in front of 112,222 fans.
"He's so strong, he powered out with his back legs and they just slipped and he was standing out in the same spot," Desormeaux said. "It actually was his second push that let him out of the gate."

[Beverley]

First, I was WAY impressed with the way he kicked into gear and then just loped across the finish line. That aerial shot was particularly cool.

Must confess that I had to dash off so didn't get the time.

But before I go looking for Andrew Beyer, let me just throw this out here, for fun. Is he really that good, or is this year's 3 yo crop that bad? Either way, I am hoping for a Triple Crown winner, it's been way too long. If he pulls it off, even against relatively weak competition, it's a legitimately fabulous accomplishment, especially with his light racing pre-Derby. What fresh horses will be coming to play spoiler?

[LearnToFly]

So, we put a $2 exacta bet on Big Brown + every other horse in the field... Ended up spending $22 and making $36.60!!

[c_expresso]

Hehe, anyone notice "big brown" rhymes with "triple crown"...:D:D:D

[RNB]

Beautifully run race!! :yes:

And I agree Beverley, the aerial shot was amazing!! Does anyone have a link to it? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

[LearnToFly]

aerial shot is at the end of this vid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpC-xhv_krU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpC-xhv_krU)

[Iride]

Check out his display of supreme composure and confidence, as he arrives at Pimlico amongst a thunderstorm of snapping cameras:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTkCpdJfua4&NR=1

[VirginiaBred]

Incredible horse. I am gonna pray he wins all three.

Wow.

[Dispatcher]

Incredible horse. I am gonna pray he wins all three.

Wow.

Me too. He looks like a champion!

[Laurierace]

Here are a few of my pictures

http://community.webshots.com/album/563468012tuPfoz

[texang73]

Wow, great race. He made it look so easy.

Great shots Laurierace, love #264, such a great face!

[AppJumpr08]

What an amazing race!!!
I was at my friend's graduation party, but they made sure to turn on the tv for me so I could watch :D

Gives me shivers just thinking about how he ran yesterday... and I have everything crossible crossed that he goes all the way at the Belmont... I've got TICKETS!! :D:D:D

[johnnysauntie]

Laurierace, thank you for sharing those fantastic pics.

A potential Triple Crown, and he's going into it undefeated. Hearkens back to '77, hope the result is the same!

[VirginiaBred]

Laurierace, awesome pictures. Thanks for posting!

[TeddyRocks]

That's what I was just thinking....I'm nervous!

I agree... GO Big Brown! :)
You gotta race the truck... :yes:

[Dispatcher]

Laurierace,

Great photos!

Do you know how big Big Brown is? He sure is one fine looking horse.

[Laurierace]

I don't officially know how big he is but I eyeballed him at about 16 hands. I have pictures from wednesday when they put on his new shoes but I haven't uploaded them yet. I'll add them on the album when I get a chance.

[hessy35]

I really wish this horse had some real competition... He makes it look easy because no one out there is half the horse he is. To win the Triple Crown and take over where Seattle Slew left off??.. I would just like to see him beat a few respectable horses in his same league....

[bobbybobby]

he has beat the best we have.....people have spent millions on these horses.

[hessy35]

he has beat the best we have.....people have spent millions on these horses.

The best we have this year isn't good.... he's beating mediocre horses. I would just like to see him earn the crown, that's all.

[Traum]

Great photos, Laurie! He IS just cantering along... in about the third or fourth race shot, he has two legs on the ground. Right before he finds overdrive and kicks it past the rest :D That was a great race.

[findeight]

I was an adult for the last 3 TC winners and remember well...

They said the same thing in Secretariats year. Worst crop in years according to the powers that were at the time.

They said not a great crop of 3 Y/Os in Seattle Slews campaign.

When Affirmed ran, there was concern the TC was TOO EASY for the modern TB since 3 had won it in a short period of time. Quite a bit of talk about that....which time seems to have muted.

Gotta watch what "they" say. Does not mean anything. Horse only has to beat what's out there on the track with him...not a ghost from the pages of the record book. We remember Citation and Whirlaway, not who they beat or what quality was out there in some of those years right after the War.

BB has not even been tested yet. Who knows what his speed figures would be if he actually had to open up? So far, nothing has been within 5 lengths of him, quite a few have been alot farther behind then that.

I'm a believer now having seen him checked hard right after the start, pinched in at the rail with dirt in his face and brought out and around outside to coast along the backstretch without missing a beat. That is what the great ones do...whatever they have to.

[bobbybobby]

he looks like the best we have had in 25 years.....look at the sheets...

[gubbyz]

Yes he does, but a horserace is a horserace...anything can happen. I am rooting him on big time, but can't get hopes up yet! Too many close calls in the past few years.

[Frank B]

Looks like they'll have to put restrictor plates (http://www.stockcarracing.com/techarticles/39479_restrictor_plates_purpose/index.html) on him to give the others a chance! :lol:

[findeight]

Restrictor plate racing:lol::lol:

So, can the losing jockey throw his helmet at the winner? Grooms get in a fist fight heading back to the winners circle? Trainers blame the manufacturer of the shoes on the horse's feet?:D

Hey, horse racing is the sport that humbles kings and it's humbled me too. One thing any horse can do is make a liar out of you. I think he can...but anything can happen.

[grayarabs]

Wow - that was something to behold. People are asking - is he really that good?
I note time of the race 1.54.8. No idea how that stacks up previous Preaknesses - but BB anyway did not run full out. Has he ever? Is there any way to judge him/this - the other horses this year - the races - his/their times to have any idea?

[rcloisonne]

Wow - that was something to behold. People are asking - is he really that good?
I note time of the race 1.54.8. No idea how that stacks up previous Preaknesses - but BB anyway did not run full out. Has he ever? Is there any way to judge him/this - the other horses this year - the races - his/their times to have any idea?
Here's a link to the times. Keep in mind, the race was run at different distances before 1925. BB's time was rather slow but as you say, he wasn't being pushed. Curlin tied the record last year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preakness_Stakes

[grayarabs]

Thanks - that info better than what I had found. The wiki article said BB got his injection on the 15th of each month - and if that schedule kept - he got it two days before the Preakness and would not have another one before the Belmont. FWIW. I think BB is the real deal. I do have the slightest bit of wondering how he would be running w/o Wynstrol (sp?). (Any other horses in the race running on it?) (Did Secretariat run on steroids?).
Again - I don't want to take anything away from the horse - I think he is incredible.

[c_expresso]

I don't think he is running too slow or unchallenged. I am NO racing expert by a long shot, but Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed all ran 1:54.40 in the Preakness, BB ran 1:54.80. .4 seconds slower than all those... not TERRIBLY slow or anything...

[Larksmom]

I look at the move Secretariat made on the backstretch, they said, going from last to first in 300 yards. Seattle Slew was undefeated. And look at the MONSTER he was in the stud barn. Secretariat in the Belmont. Two records that still stand. I think that is one way you can tell. The other is the competition. I have heard it said he [BB] has beaten a lot of nobodies, but I disagree. He has beaten the Arkansas Derby winner, [now twice!], the SA derby winner, All the NY races, what else is there? I think the fact that he got into a pocket, and was able to settle, then get out and take off, then settle, then go again, and I don't think he was even shown a whip. Pretty impressive.

[Beverley]

I don't think he is running too slow or unchallenged. I am NO racing expert by a long shot, but Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed all ran 1:54.40 in the Preakness, BB ran 1:54.80. .4 seconds slower than all those... not TERRIBLY slow or anything...

Um, actually, if I remember correctly, Secretariat set the record for the Preakness (as he did in the Derby, with Sham, coming second, ALSO bettering Northern Dancer's time)- but the official clock was deemed to be malfunctioning, and so he didn't get the credit.

[Anne FS]

The wiki article said BB got his injection on the 15th of each month - and if that schedule kept - he got it two days before the Preakness and would not have another one before the Belmont. FWIW. I think BB is the real deal. ....I don't want to take anything away from the horse - I think he is incredible.

I dunno. I admit it makes me feel like he's Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire. If he wins the TC there should be an asterisk. It really bugs me that he's on steroids.

[Iride]

I remember thinking when I first saw him that he looked 'fatter' (not that he's fat!) than many racehorses. Less tucked up even...?? Perhaps that's the steroids? Not sure, since, I've been in barns where all the horses apparently got Winstrol and they didn't have the thicker look that Big Brown has. ?

[grayarabs]

BB is a gorgeous specimen - no doubt. I agree - his build is a bit different than the others.
Folks are calling him a "freak". Please, please, I pray none of this has anything to do with him being given steroids.
Have other trainers of TC winning horses ever openly admitted to giving their horses steroids? Would anyone hazard a guess on the other horses running against BB - steroids or not? BB/Winstrol is "out in the open" but otherwise it is kind of hush-hush - I would be thinking that if he was the only horse running on steroids there would be a huge outcry - crying foul - by the other trainers/owners/jockies, etc. It just seems to be accepted.
Are there photos of BB pre-Dutrow - was BB always "built". BB is such a beautiful and proud horse - I wish he was not given the d"'d drugs.

[dressagetraks]

It's extremely likely that Sir Barton ran on "hop" (is that heroin or cocaine? Bad stuff, anyway.) Contemporaries thought this, and Dorothy Ours documents some comments by his jockey (not official statement but in the heat of a fight), but the issue wasn't discussed out in the open then.

I would be likely to dismiss Gallant Fox or Omaha, because they were owned/trained by people who apparently thought of this as a sport and were gentlemen with a "code of honor" in it.

If War Admiral was given steroids, they needed to order a refund. As for other drugs, to quote another comment from Dorothy Ours, this one from Man o'War's trainer (but still applies to his rather wild son): "Hell no. Why would I want to give a horse like that drugs? He was bad enough without it."

Whirlaway again was trained/owned by grand old folk and sportsmen and also had enough of a reputation for being whacky that I think people would hesitate to drug him as a safety concern.

Count Fleet. IMHO, the best of them (his total TC winning margin is equal to Secretariat's, and CF was injured in the Belmont, and racing on a horribly maintained track due to war gas shortages, which Hertz blamed for his injury). Again, the colt could be headstrong and difficult at best, Hertz was going to sell him out of fear for jockeys and didn't want it on his conscience. Bad candidate to add drugs to rev him up more in the mix. Also, while Hertz was a tough business man, he seemed to want to beat people head to head in fair combat, not get a chemical edge. He bought Reigh Count, CF's sire, because he was so impressed when RC as a 2yo reached over to bite a horse dueling with him in a race. He wanted one-on-one, equal battle with opponents, and to beat them that way.

Assault. The King Ranch had a top reputation. Also, like WA, if Assault had steroids, they didn't work very well.

Citation. Reference Whirlaway comments above on connections, although Cy was levelheaded. I can't see those people doing it.

Secretariat. Purely physically, he had the closest appearance to pumped up, but I doubt it. Connections from an old sportsmanlike family. Just a physical freak.

Seattle Slew. See Dorothy Ours comment above. No way. Tough enough without them.

Affirmed. Always looked on the light, greyhound side to me in pics. Didn't look or act "enhanced."

So on my purely subjective and unofficial analysis, I'd say I think 1 out of 11 ran juiced.

I agree that BB is a grand specimen, and I love a blood bay. But I do wish he didn't have the drug issue clouding things, particularly with his trainer. I agree, if he wins it, he will have an unofficial asterisk in my book. He is a gorgeous thing, though, and obviously the most talented of this crop.

But I still detest the name. :D

[Glimmerglass]

Folks are calling him a "freak". Please, please, I pray none of this has anything to do with him being given steroids.

The term "freak" has NOTHING whatsoever to do with or should be used to infer any connections to drugs, etc. A freak is natural talent horse that towers over his competition.

[grayarabs]

DT - thanks for your perspective. I have D. Our's, "Man o'War".
I wonder about the current year TC horses. The only trainer admitting to steroid use is Dutrow? Is it possible BB is the only one of them running on steroids? That would be so uncool..........I would like to know the drug status of all of them. Fair field and all.
I hope he wins the TC - but it he should win it and be the only one on steroids - something wrong there. I would like to see him revered like the other greats - this is really tough........

[Iride]

There are racehorses all over the map and at all levels of racing who are on steroids. Yet we don't have boatloads of TC contenders. It's not that simple an issue nor a ticket to greatness. That notwithstanding, if BB is the only horse in the TC groups on steroids, even WITH his athletic and temperamental freakness, it will obviously become something that is more closely looked at and scrutinized, and rightly so.

[Anne FS]

if BB is the only horse in the TC groups on steroids, even WITH his athletic and temperamental freakness, it will obviously become something that is more closely looked at and scrutinized, and rightly so.

It will also obviously result in an enormous number of racehorses being put on steroids.

Since steroids have profound negative long-term effects on humans, anyone know what, if any, are the LT effects on horses?

[Iride]

Laurierace,

Great photos!

Do you know how big Big Brown is? He sure is one fine looking horse.

He is 16.3

So, I just spoke with a track vet who said that most likely, the majority of the TC horses are on Winstrol. Not *every* horse necessarily is, but apparently BB won't likely be singled out by the racing community. He did say that Casino Drive definitely is NOT on steroids, as they are extremely strict in Japan and it is not allowed period. They also have strict rules about things like joint injections.

[Galileo1998]

if BB is the only horse in the TC groups on steroids, even WITH his athletic and temperamental freakness, it will obviously become something that is more closely looked at and scrutinized, and rightly so.

Who said he was the only horse in the Triple Crown races on steriods? He's just the only one that has had his trainer publicaly acknowledge it. We know that he is, we know that Eight Belles wasn't, and that's about all we know.

[Iride]

It will also obviously result in an enormous number of racehorses being put on steroids.

Since steroids have profound negative long-term effects on humans, anyone know what, if any, are the LT effects on horses?

Over the long term they can effect the horse's endocrine system in such a way that it could have trouble functioning normally as it would once the steroids are stopped. In any case, they're supposed to be stopped gradually. Short term effects are increase in appetite and muscle mass, and on the negative side it can make some fillies more aggressive (depending on how much is given, and the individual horse).

[Iride]

Who said he was the only horse in the Triple Crown races on steriods?

I don't know, it just seemed like some people may have had that impression!

[Spoilsport]

Who said he was the only horse in the Triple Crown races on steriods? He's just the only one that has had his trainer publicaly acknowledge it. We know that he is, we know that Eight Belles wasn't, and that's about all we know.

Actually, that's not exactly what the autopsy report said. It said Eight Belles did not have any banned substances in her system at the time of the race. Neither did Big Brown.

In addition to Eight Belles testing negative, all other horses in the Derby, including winner Big Brown, tested negative for banned substances.

Sorry to be a lawyer :D but the autopsy if not proof that Eight Belles was never administered steroids. FWIW.

[Beverley]

Who said he was the only horse in the Triple Crown races on steriods? He's just the only one that has had his trainer publicaly acknowledge it. We know that he is, we know that Eight Belles wasn't, and that's about all we know.


Actually, I think steroids have been routine for decades. I am pretty sure Secretariat ran on them along with everybody else. Among other things it has been attributed to low sperm count (Cigar, and Secretariat initially if I remember correctly).

A friend had a very successful mare in the late 70s, and I know she was routinely given testosterone to prevent cycling. Which I thought of often when Genuine Risk had such trouble producing foals.

If I am remembering all this correctly, and I'm sure more knowledgeable folks can correct me if I am wrong, then I would submit that the use of these substances to date, which has been legal, is no different than the referenced baseball analogy- where it WAS legal until very recently. Mark McGwire freely admitted using creatine during the year he and Sammy Sosa had the duel going- I recall the interview, standing in front of his locker after a game. Eyebrows were raised, but nobody in baseball put a stop to it. So, I would not be quick to bash any trainer 'suspected' of doing what has been commonly accepted in the industry as ok. I think we all agree it's time to return to 'hay and oats and water,' but realistically, the banning of all these substances is to my mind going to have to be a phased approach- I'd guess a good many of the horses running now can't and shouldn't be asked to suddenly start racing without their crutches.

[grayarabs]

Sorry to be coming back to this subject - but I am thinking......
I think that the public should know what drugs the racing horses are on.
If a horse is on Lasix - the public is informed, right?
I think that in all fairness - any drug the horse is on should be made public.
I am sure the bettors would like to know. As a fan and lover of racing and TB's I would like to know. Right now all we know about this year's TC horses: Eight Belles no drugs.
Big Brown; Winstrol (anything else?). So we are left to wonder about the other horses.
Are they squeaky clean - or are the trainers kind of skulking around the issue?
Yes - I think BB is fabulous and I hate the slight taint that so far is known -he is the only TC horse known to be on steroids. It won't happen - but I wish the other trainers would step up to the plate and list what drugs their horses are on.
Think of past years - FuPeg - Funny Cide, Smarty Jones etc - were steroids ever mentioned in the same sentence as their names? This year we have a potential superhorse in BB - the trainer admits the drug - it begs for more questions.....

[Pronzini]

Whirlaway again was trained/owned by grand old folk and sportsmen and also had enough of a reputation for being whacky that I think people would hesitate to drug him as a safety concern.



Actually there were serious rumors of drug use that swirled around Whirlaway after his Derby win. Whirlaway got awfully good, awfully fast and then, like now, people chalked it up to cheating. A NY columnist claimed that Whirlaway failed a drug test in Florida that spring and that it had been hushed up because it was Calumet. Then supposedly he wasn't tested afterthe Derby. The rumor was that it was "cough medication" that helped Whirlaway umm whirl away in the stretch.

Then a famous turf writer of the time named Bill Corum wrote this bit of doggerel in response.

"No Dan, it wasn't the cough medicine that carried'em off;
It was the coffin, they should have carried the rest of those horses in,
When he left'em for dead at the head of the stretch."

It also led to a challenge by Ben Jones that he'd pull the horse out on a moment's notice at any time for a race against any horse.

Racing has always been dogged by stuff but it tends to be forgotten over time. Assault had such a well known lameness problem that the ASPCA once showed up in NY and demanded proof before a race that he was not being abused. Secretariat was rumored to be standing in ice before the Derby and after he retired there was a lot of whispering about steroid abuse because both he and Riva Ridge had identical fertility issues early in their stud careers.

Incidentally all of the above was documented in "The Most Glorious Crown" about the Triple Crown.

[grayarabs]

Pron - many years ago I heard the same thing about Secretariat and fertility issues - from someone that worked at the track.
Dutrow has been very outspoken - about the steroids and also about BB's hooves.
I have been worried those hooves would not hold up/fearing breakdown.
It appears more is known about BB than the other horses. Their drugs? Their shoes?
I think the general public does not even think about the horses running on drugs - and assume they run on regular horseshoes - ie aluminum plates - that all the horses are fine, fit and ready to go. Lasix is mentioned - as well use of blinkers. The "dirty" stuff is just not talked about/brushed under the carpet? Not fair to those betting, to the horses and to the fans. Really, I cannot believe this is how it has always been.

[Pronzini]

Actually I take the approach that people are people and ambitious people can do bad things in all walks of life-and all horse sports. You can't convince me that trainers haven't broken down and ruined horses looking for an Olympic medal. There's plenty of dirty to go around and the truth is that showhorses across the board aren't tested the way that the lowliest claimer is on the California fair circuit.

[dressagetraks]

One fairly easy and probably fairly accurate way to find out about the current typical TC contenders steroid use would be to send to all trainers of a TC race entrant in the last, say, 5 years, a simple question, "Did your TC horse ever receive steroids under your care?" but make the survey blind. No names on replies, no identifying data, no way to tie trainer to specific answer. Without it coming back on you in public opinion or any other way, why lie?

I have heard of such blind surveys being done in other areas - one I specifically remember reading years ago was in a country in Europe asking registered physicians if they had ever assisted a patient to kill themselves medically, not just withhold mechanical support or such but actively kill them, and if they had ever assisted the family in doing so with the patient unable to chime in, a question I think we'll agree would have more professional and public stigma associated with it than whether a trainer gave steroids to his horse. With ID blind and no fear of prosecution or stigma, there was a startling percentage of physicians who responded yes, they had.

Have Blood Horse or somebody send out a survey, with results remaining unidentifiable personally. Would probably give us a pretty accurate idea of the answer.

[Florida Fan]

Trained at the track for 25 years, retired from track for about 10 years now, but as for steroids, it has always been there (that covers close to 40 years) The steroids were not quite so sophisiticated years back, and long ago, it was depo-testosterone. It has been proven, you cannot make a horse compete any better than they have the ability to do. Show horses get it too. However, not all trainers care to divulge it to the world.

[caffeinated]

Actually, that's not exactly what the autopsy report said. It said Eight Belles did not have any banned substances in her system at the time of the race. Neither did Big Brown.


Her trainer was asked about it in one of the roundtables and he said "absolutely not" about steroids, because he does most of his racing in states where it's banned.

[JHUshoer20]

Sorry to be coming back to this subject - but I am thinking......
I think that the public should know what drugs the racing horses are on.
If a horse is on Lasix - the public is informed, right?
I think that in all fairness - any drug the horse is on should be made public.
I am sure the bettors would like to know. As a fan and lover of racing and TB's I would like to know. Right now all we know about this year's TC horses: Eight Belles no drugs.
Big Brown; Winstrol (anything else?). So we are left to wonder about the other horses.
Are they squeaky clean - or are the trainers kind of skulking around the issue?
Yes - I think BB is fabulous and I hate the slight taint that so far is known -he is the only TC horse known to be on steroids. It won't happen - but I wish the other trainers would step up to the plate and list what drugs their horses are on.
Think of past years - FuPeg - Funny Cide, Smarty Jones etc - were steroids ever mentioned in the same sentence as their names? This year we have a potential superhorse in BB - the trainer admits the drug - it begs for more questions.....
The drugs have been around at least as long as I have. Nothing new here. In fact check out the classifieds in Thoroughbred Times. There is an ad for the trainers test. Guaranteed to pass or $ back. Somewhere around here I have that. Has all the questions and answers. It looks more like a chemistry test than anything resembling horses. All about what drugs are ok and what are not, wear off times and such.

This subject has annoyed me for many years and I'm hoping enough light will shine on this to do something about it.

I'll say one more thing. I've known a few weightlifters and body builders and such. The juice that they use is stuff they get from veterinary supply. If the use of this stuff could be eliminated in horses it would then go a long way toward curbing it's use in humans by closing this easy loophole in the law.
George

[c_expresso]

I just watched all of Big Brown's 5 races, lol. I don't really follow racing, so please don't make fun :winkgrin: But he just lopes away, lengths and lengths away from the rest of the horses in every race. The only horse that even came semi-close to him was Eight Belles.