Big Brown Retired - No Matchup with Curlin

[Venceremos]

Big Brown Retired After Workout Injury
October 13, 2008

Dual classic winner Big Brown has been retired after sustaining an injury during a workout at Aqueduct the morning of Oct. 13.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) had worked in company with Kip Deville over the turf course, with the stablemates finishing together in final time of 1:12 4/5 for six furlongs.

Afterward, it was determined that the colt had grabbed a quarter on the inside of the right front foot. The injury and subsequent retirement means the highly anticipated showdown between he 3-year-old colt and reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will not take place in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I).

"Big Brown has been retired," said Michael Iavarone, co-owner of IEAH Stables. "He not only tore the bulb off his foot, but half the foot was torn off. We did everything we could to get to the Breeders' Cup. It's devastating. And what makes it even worse is that he worked great."


From The Bloodhorse: http://news.bloodhorse.com/article/47521.htm?id=47521&source=rss

[TZ]

1. Goddamnit!

I just knew this was too good to last!x(

[trumad]

2. Oh well---

Honestly, if I owned the horse I'd do the same thing. There's big money in letting him mount willing fillies.

It would have been great to see that race.

[bread_and_roses]

3. I am torn between "damn damn damn" and relief that

there will be no worries anymore about his some disaster due to his feet.

[bread_and_roses]

4. Just read the BloodHorse story -

that injury sounds pretty ugly?

[Awsi Dooger]

5. Picture

You wouldn't believe the jackasses on racing message boards this morning who were skeptical about the injury and were demanding pictures. They cling to some bizarre belief that Big Brown's handlers were afraid of Curlin. Yeah, like Curlin is all time invincible.

[two gun sid]

7. That's not too bad...

I'll bet it bled like a mother fucker but not really that bad an injury. You wouldn't want to race in the BC Classic on it. Christ, BB has some ugly looking feet.

[Justpat]

16. I'm glad his foot fell apart now and not on national TV in the BC.

Now he'll go to stud and pass on his bad feet to his offspring. His sire was retired from
racing because of his feet also.

[two gun sid]

17. Yeah!!!!

Holy hell, am I glad to see you posting again. I've missed you terribly, my friend.

Don't it seem like bad feet, whether from the sire or dam, just seems to be the one genetic trait to you just can't breed out of a family?

I hope all is well with you.

[Justpat]

18. Hi Sid,

I haven't been posting at all for a while. Saratoga was exhausting, fun - but exhausting.
And we have been so busy lately.

It is good to be back with you guys. This place is the best.


And, yeah, the foot issue is a real problem for me with this horse because Boundary
had such bad feet he couldn't stand training. He will have a cerain percentage where
the offspring will take after the dam and have good feet, but this does seem to be
a trait passed on from the sire Boundary to his very talented, but bad footed son.

[two gun sid]

19. Being busy is good

but really, it is so good to see you back here. And in time for the BC.

I feel BB will be hard pressed to make it as a stud in Kentucky. Not to sound like a snob, but his pedigree isn't all that impressive and those feet. If I have a good mare why would I pick him over some better bred young gun? Street Cry and Tiznow look to be the stallions that are gonna carry us into the future, IMHO.

[bread_and_roses]

24. Good to see you back!

I was beginning to wonder if we'd see you here for the BC. Hope we will!

[bread_and_roses]

25. I don't really know what a "not-ugly" foot would look like so after your comment

I got out my big picture book (appropriate reading level for my level of knowlege)"Horse Breeds of the World" which has conformation photos. Is it that he has hardly any "heel?" (Or is that just the injury making the back seem so low?)

[two gun sid]

26. That heel is low, good eye, and that hoof is shelly looking...

he runs down in front because of that heel and if you would try shoeing him up off of it you start changing angles and possibly increasing a chance of a suspensory problem. I'm not sure how you could shoe him with those thin hooves. I know they've been using those glue on shoes because there is nothing to nail to.

I actually suspect that that picture did not show a good view of his injury if he grabbed a quarter. I think that patch was already in place and that's why he was training without front plates. Barbara Livingston has some good pictures on her website of the rear of BB's foot. She requests that her pictures not be reproduced so I'm not gonna post them here but, if you're interested here's a link: http://www.barbaralivingston.com/gallery/album2008races

And I could be totally wrong. It is just my opinion after looking at pictures on the internet.

[bread_and_roses]

27. Thanks, sid. Barbara's photos gave me a much better sense

of what you meant by "ugly."
(on edit, how the hell did he run at all on those feet? - they look like they'd tip him backwards).

[two gun sid]

28. Horses amaze me with their ability to overcome...

physical traits. Every year at the sales some body buys a horse that shouldn't be a runner, if you go by conformation alone. Then that same horse goes to the track and becomes a winner.

The fact that BB was so good is a testament to his will, bravery and heart. And yeah, I hate to admit it, but, Dutrow deserves some credit for keeping those feet together through the TC.

[aaronbees]

13. You must have been visiting....

thoroughbredchampions.com? I saw that too. There's always some wild conspiracy talk over there. It's just a way for the Curlin and Big Brown camps to posture with arguments about who is best. There will be endless "what if" threads over there about that for months to come, no doubt. :D

And on another note, Zarkava was also retired today. No surprise there.

[Awsi Dooger]

14. Yeah, that's the place

I let my feelings be known in one post. I post under user name Apollo over there. Awsi and Apollo are names of dogs I've had.

That forum has plenty of knowledgeable posters and I generally enjoy it, but the Big Brown/Curlin threads are over the top and likewise the conspiracy nonsense.

[Justpat]

15. Did you ever read the political forum over there?

It is freerepublic all over again.


:hi:

[Awsi Dooger]

20. No, but I can imagine

Poltical forums on sports sites are inevitably like that. I've grown weary of battling with them.

But lately I've noticed those forums are mostly silent. :rofl:

Great to see you back. :hi:

[Awsi Dooger]

21. I posted a couple of times in that political forum tonight

In the debate thread. I was a smart ass. :evilgrin:

Actually, it was interesting to sample that forum and pick up the political leanings of some of the posters I'm familiar with from the racing forum. Some pleasant surprises but primarily predictable.

[Justpat]

22. You are a brave soul.

I don't think I could post there. But if people start ripping you a new one because of your
views let me know. I'll see what I can do.

[Awsi Dooger]

23. I don't care if they rip me

I have plenty of experience in that. I supported Hillary. :rofl:

[two gun sid]

6. This is a pretty common injury. It's really too bad for the sport....

the BB/Curlin matchup would have generated interest. BB will no doubt be fine. Most of the time these things look worse than they actually are. I'm not saying he would be able to recover in time for the BC. I'm just saying he'll no doubt recover and lead a long, happy life at stud.

Look to the girls this year to provide the most exciting race. Zenyatta/Ginger Punch/Hystericalady should be a great race. Zenyatta is the most talented horse in the country right now and she's a handful in the pre-race.

[TZ]

8. yeah but...

I'm really sad...and since an asinine family member has "disinvited" me to my niece's bday party, I was really looking forward to the BC as a distraction...:( x(

[two gun sid]

9. So go to the track for a BC party with friends or join us here...

I wish we could get all the horsey set from DU in one spot for a big race/party some day. That sucks about your niece's party. I guess we all have asinine family members.:hug:

You should be happy for BB. He's gonna be bonkin' some mares pretty soon, living in luxury and just being a horse. I'd like to have it so good.

[TZ]

10. You ever get down to Pimlico?

I'm saving money/time for a big vacation next year, so right now my travel is limited..But if you ever come down to Pimlico, Charlestown, Delaware etc..you need to let me know...:)

[two gun sid]

11. I'll certainly let you know if I make it back east

it's hard to do much traveling with the horses and all. I need to get out of this business before I go completely broke. So, maybe soon you'll see me at Pimlico. Of the three TC races I've always wanted to see the Preakness the most.

Be sure to join us on the days of the BC here on DU. Fuckstick comments are allowed and encouraged.

[aaronbees]

12. That is a shame

I wasn't a fan of Big Brown, but he really showed some brilliance in his races and his charm sort of grew on me. He's got character. And beauty. After his Monmouth Stakes win I thought he had a much better shot at tackling Curlin, the rest of his class, and his elders; of all his races that's the one I respect the most. Big Brown would've been an interesting colt to follow at 4 - though there was never a chance of that happening after the Kentucky Derby - in so far as it would have been neat to see a turf/dirt superstar who also made noise on the Triple Crown trail. I don't believe he showed us his best yet, but I hope to see some swift BB babies (with better feet) in a few years.