I though Big Brown didn’t get the steroids because their use is illegal in NY. Is that true?
[QUOTE=grayarabpony;3273065]
I though Big Brown didn’t get the steroids because their use is illegal in NY. Is that true?[/QUOTE]
Winstrol, also known as Stanozolol, is legal in 28 of 38 states with horse racing - including Kentucky, Maryland and New York, where the final race in the triple crown, the Belmont Stakes, will be contested next month.
Exactly my point. Dutrow did say BB received the shot on May 15th during the Preakness day interview with NBC when asked. I can’t be the only one who saw the interview. And I remember it clearly because I thought at the time he was an idiot for being so blatent about it as well as the fact he thought steroids were good for horses. Good grief!
ETA - Everything I have read, however, says April 15 was his last shot.
History being rewritten, I’d say. There was so much uproar about BB’s being on anabolic steroids (as are many racehorses but the public doesn’t know that) after the Preakness, this recent version of no steroids since April is very questionable, IMO. Very. Believe what you want but Dutrow was either lying during the Preakness interview or the current version is bogus.
Big Brown is not what you’d call a seasoned campaigner. Has he ever been in as much trouble as he was at the Belmont start? It was pretty damn ugly out there, and I was kind of wondering if the other jocks had set him up.
Could the bad start have been the reason he might have just given up?
Seems funny to me that I’m raising this, as I’m one who believes that racing too much as a two year can use up a horse early, but BB may have not responded well to all the bumping because it had never happened to him before.
Steroids used properly can be a good thing for horses… the controversey lies in the abuse of steroids…
Most vets will agree that steroids can help a horse bounce back (get their appetite back, etc) after a race or gruelling training schedule, and disagree on the use of steroids in especially young horses (yearlings and two yr olds)… this is where most of the abuse takes place.
And to think, I viewed the existence of the racing gods with a bemused sort of atheism. Mea maxima culpa.
Fran Jurga has a good take on the whole Triple Crown over at her (very informative) Hoofblog:
Pop the champagne anyway. We’ve just come off three months of high-profile reporting about horses’ hooves, injured hooves, and the people who are trying to help horses get sound and stay sound. Hoof repair specialist Ian McKinlay is still the man of the hour and has made a lot of friends in the media that will benefit the rest of the hoof world.
I’m also wondering the same thing she did earlier in the blog entry: where were the IEAH boys during all of this? Absolutely, Dutrow needed to be with his horse, but did the IEAH slicksters ooze out of the building when it became clear they weren’t going to win? And, did the ABC broadcast say anything about their organization, their hedge fund plans, or the controversy surrounding their major partner in its pre-race coverage? I may have missed it, but I only saw features on Dutrow (who I’ll admit I found entertaining) and Kent D.
I’m probably in the minority here but I thought Kent’s ride was horrendous. I haven’t watched the replay but as I recall he fought with Big Brown early, strangled him down on a slow pace and wheeled a horse from the 1 hole to the outside on the turn. Then after driving him all over the track, he asks him for run. Brown isn’t the most seasoned horse and perhaps he thought “To hell with it!” at this point. Then Desormeaux does what he’s notorious for when he’s not in the position to win and he didn’t persevere with the horse. I don’t remember him actually pulling one up but the whole “If I can’t win, I won’t try” is classic Desormeaux and it’s a big part of the reason he left California. Trainers and owners just got fed up.
It should be noted that I’m sure this race no one will say anything, but when a prohibitive favorite gets pulled up or fails to be persevered with, there can be a steward’s inquiry. “I didn’t have any horse” is generally not an acceptable excuse since in some bets wagers go out to 5th place.
On another note, I talked to my racing trainer yesterday and he noticed that Big Brown looked almost too dry in the paddock considering the conditions. While you don’t want them completely washed out, a little sweat is normal and expected. Big Brown had a small amount between his legs but none on his neck. Could that have made a difference?
Myself, I suspect the interrupted training, the lack of seasoning, the premature coronation of the colt by the connections who really thought he was Man O’War and could overcome everything and Desormeaux’ poor ride all conspired against him yesterday.
What a shame.
I’ll also have to watch the replay… but as I remember, Kent either took a hold of BB or clipped heels while boxed in… as a rider, I’d opt to take a hold, and swing out…things happen soooo fast in a race, and coming out of the one hole can be precarious if you dont make the lead leaving the gate.
BB was lathered between his back legs, as well as under his saddle towel… compared to the others he was very relaxed in the post parade and not washed out… I would not blame that on his failure to win.
This was a very good race… :yes: Kent and Da Tara earned every penny.
I liked this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/opinion/07fornatale.html?em&ex=1213070400&en=c56a2240fe2a414d&ei=5087
[QUOTE=Pronzini;3273122]
I’m probably in the minority here but I thought Kent’s ride was horrendous. I haven’t watched the replay but as I recall he fought with Big Brown early, strangled him down on a slow pace and wheeled a horse from the 1 hole to the outside on the turn. Then after driving him all over the track, he asks him for run. Brown isn’t the most seasoned horse and perhaps he thought “To hell with it!” at this point. Then Desormeaux does what he’s notorious for when he’s not in the position to win and he didn’t persevere with the horse. I don’t remember him actually pulling one up but the whole “If I can’t win, I won’t try” is classic Desormeaux and it’s a big part of the reason he left California. Trainers and owners just got fed up.
It should be noted that I’m sure this race no one will say anything, but when a prohibitive favorite gets pulled up or fails to be persevered with, there can be a steward’s inquiry. “I didn’t have any horse” is generally not an acceptable excuse since in some bets wagers go out to 5th place.
On another note, I talked to my racing trainer yesterday and he noticed that Big Brown looked almost too dry in the paddock considering the conditions. While you don’t want them completely washed out, a little sweat is normal and expected. Big Brown had a small amount between his legs but none on his neck. Could that have made a difference?
Myself, I suspect the interrupted training, the lack of seasoning, the premature coronation of the colt by the connections who really thought he was Man O’War and could overcome everything and Desormeaux’ poor ride all conspired against him yesterday.
What a shame.[/QUOTE]
Not only are you in the minority, I can’t even begin to tell you how wrong I think you are. If Kent hadn’t checked BB early on, the horse would have run straight into the hind ends of at least two horses, which could have conceivably caused a massive pile up and consequential dead horses and injured or dead jockeys.
BB didn’t like it. BB didn’t like being told where to go. He fought his rider and expended his energy early in the race. When Kent was finally able to get him in the clear, you could see BB finally settling in to his rhythm and then… he was done.
Kent Desormeaux rode that horse as only a seasoned, savvy, brilliant jockey could have. He deserves absolutely NONE of the “blame” for BB’s loss.
Personally, I think the racing gods were having a field day.
[QUOTE=Pronzini;3273122]
I’m probably in the minority here but I thought Kent’s ride was horrendous. I haven’t watched the replay but as I recall he fought with Big Brown early, strangled him down on a slow pace and wheeled a horse from the 1 hole to the outside on the turn. Then after driving him all over the track, he asks him for run. Brown isn’t the most seasoned horse and perhaps he thought “To hell with it!” at this point. Then Desormeaux does what he’s notorious for when he’s not in the position to win and he didn’t persevere with the horse. I don’t remember him actually pulling one up but the whole “If I can’t win, I won’t try” is classic Desormeaux and it’s a big part of the reason he left California. Trainers and owners just got fed up.
It should be noted that I’m sure this race no one will say anything, but when a prohibitive favorite gets pulled up or fails to be persevered with, there can be a steward’s inquiry. “I didn’t have any horse” is generally not an acceptable excuse since in some bets wagers go out to 5th place.
On another note, I talked to my racing trainer yesterday and he noticed that Big Brown looked almost too dry in the paddock considering the conditions. While you don’t want them completely washed out, a little sweat is normal and expected. Big Brown had a small amount between his legs but none on his neck. Could that have made a difference?
Myself, I suspect the interrupted training, the lack of seasoning, the premature coronation of the colt by the connections who really thought he was Man O’War and could overcome everything and Desormeaux’ poor ride all conspired against him yesterday.
What a shame.[/QUOTE]
Yes, what you said!!! I agree. And it really is a shame. After going back and watching the race a few times I see confusion in BB. He just seems frustrated and confused out there. Like he was getting mixed signals. Oh well… onto next year… 
when we are talking about horses that died on the track
I don’t think we should forget George Washington who broke down in the stretch at the Breeders Cup Classic in Monmouth last fall and was euthanized on the track.
I though Kent did the right thing in pulling BB up. BB didn’t look right to me and although I am not saying he looked lame; it did look like something was wrong.
It was a fairly slow race with the first half mile in 48 and change and the final time 2:29.65. Da’Tara did a nice job but he is not Secratariat who did it in 2:24 even.
Da Tara
Does anyone know/guess if Da Tara will run at Saratoga this summer?
Of course he is going to be confused. Its a much longer race than hes ever ran before. He doesnt know its longer so he doesnt understand that hes being held back so he doesnt blow it all at the begining.
[QUOTE=DMK;3272487]
It’s absolutely 100% your right to say that you feel that way, on that we do agree. We probably differ on whether that analogy would have any impact on Darfur, good bad or ugly, and exactly how PC we have to be to make the masses 100% happy and comfy in their world, or if such comment in any way seeded any less recognition to the issues associated with genocide, or if there is any reason that analogy matters at all in the big scope of things… but now that you’ve said it and I wholeheartedly agree you have the absolute right - nay, obligation, even - to tap away at those keys, is there any chance it could not derail this thread?[/QUOTE]
:winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin::winkgrin:
[QUOTE=RiddleMeThis;3273295]
Of course he is going to be confused. Its a much longer race than hes ever ran before. He doesnt know its longer so he doesnt understand that hes being held back so he doesnt blow it all at the begining.[/QUOTE]
BB is not a front runner, he is rateable… so I’m really not thinking he was confused… 
What you saw as confused, I saw as a pissed off horse that was boxed in and checked.
[QUOTE=RiddleMeThis;3273295]
Of course he is going to be confused. Its a much longer race than hes ever ran before. He doesnt know its longer so he doesnt understand that hes being held back so he doesnt blow it all at the begining.[/QUOTE]
Then he needed to be better trained for the race.
[QUOTE=YankeeLawyer;3272408]
Excuse me, I am not a vet; however, I have owned horses for over 30 years and have a pretty sharp eye when it comes to spotting lameness. The horse absolutely looked off on the left front to me —at the walk – as he was cooling out. And none of the other horses were walking like that and they ran a lot faster than he did.[/QUOTE]
Trust me, you weren’t the only one who thought he looked off…call me an arm chair vet if some like, but he looked a tad gimpy to me.
[QUOTE=hessy35;3273310]
Then he needed to be better trained for the race.[/QUOTE]
Oh good grief.
