Inside running
June 5th 2008 08:42
Big Brown will start long odds-on favourite (again) as he attempts to win the Triple Crown on Saturday (Sunday morning in Australia). Racing wide has never bothered him in his previous easy victories as he skirts the field then accelerates away when asked for an effort. In a perverse stroke of luck he has drawn barrier one for the Belmont Stakes. With his tendency to race just off the speed, being cluttered up would be a new and unusual problem for him to overcome.
In 1998 (his jockey) Kent Desormeaux was riding Real Quiet as he attempted to win the Triple Crown. In a similar manner to the defeat of Kingston Town in the Melbourne Cup, Desormeaux made his move early and was rewarded with a burst of speed that put Real Quiet four lengths clear and seemingly about to join the list of racing immortals. But from the ruck Victory Gallop gave chase and wore him down to win in a photo finish. Like Malcolm Johnston (on Kingston Town) he admits to his mistake and adds: “I get nauseous, wound up, aggravated whenever I see it again. But now I have a second chance, and I know I do not have to ask for a burst of speed. I just need to nurse his power.”
So, we know what to expect, and perhaps the inside draw will not bother after all. In fact four of the last eleven horses to win the Triple Crown started on the rail. It is an endurance test for the juveniles, and anything that can conserve energy must be a plus. Big Brown’s trainer Rick Dutrow has lavished praise on not only the ability of his champion colt, but also how sensible he is on the track, and around people. Dutrow is adamant that Big Brown loves the company of people (not often a trait of a racehorse - especially the mares) and is interested and relaxed. He claims he has never kicked at anyone in malice, or reared in anger. Some of the credit for this he suggests is attributed to the relaxed attitude of those who handle him.
(photo: Vanessa Ng)
I haven’t looked forward to a race this much since Nijinsky met Gyr (the champion French horse) and defeated him in the Epsom Derby. And it is the Japanese horse Casino Drive that adds spice and the unknown factor to this race. No horse that has already raced against Big Brown can defeat him. But what about a (Kentucky bred) horse from Japan who has the pedigree to win the Belmont, and a stunning last start performance? His story a fairytale also with only two career starts, his first an effortless victory in Japan in February, before shipping to the US, going into quarantine and then coming out and winning the Peter Pan. From barrier five jockey Edgar Prado will most likely stalk Big Brown and try to place enough pressure on him early enough to find out if his staying genes will win the day. Casino Drive is quoted at 5/2 behind Big Brown at 2/5, with Denis Of Cork third favourite at 12/1.
Casino Drive’s half sister Rags To Riches created history in winning the Belmont of 2007, and defeated the current world’s best racehorse, Curlin, in the process. Is it possible that the same mare (Better Than Honour) could produce the winner of the Belmont Stakes three years in a row?! Logically the odds seem astronomical.
Dutrow is in the habit of giving his horses an injection of Winstrol (a legal drug in 28 states of the USA) on the 15th day of each month. Big Brown has been anabolic steroid free since April 15 when first stabled in Florida. There has been some conjecture about the use (and abuse) of drugs in racing. Some critics have questioned the use of Winstrol (the same anabolic steroid that Ben Johnson tested positive to in the Seoul Olympics) on Big Brown. Dutrow uses steroids to provide a boost for horses who are not eating and as an aid for muscle recovery. The director of the California Horse Racing Board, Dr. Rick Arthur, states: “the fact of steroids having any effect at this time is virtually nil.”. Big Brown received an injection of Winstrol in February, March and April.
I would prefer there was no grey area, no doubt about this horse. But this is racing in America where our notable ‘bleeders’ go to race prescribed with the drug Lasix to control respiratory bleeding. A uniformity (even for the whole of the US) would be preferable to ad hoc legislation. A world horse racing standard would be even better.
Here is the replay of the 1998 Belmont Stakes. Watch Kent Desormeaux look set for victory on Real Quiet only to...
And the final workout of Big Brown before the Belmont:
In 1998 (his jockey) Kent Desormeaux was riding Real Quiet as he attempted to win the Triple Crown. In a similar manner to the defeat of Kingston Town in the Melbourne Cup, Desormeaux made his move early and was rewarded with a burst of speed that put Real Quiet four lengths clear and seemingly about to join the list of racing immortals. But from the ruck Victory Gallop gave chase and wore him down to win in a photo finish. Like Malcolm Johnston (on Kingston Town) he admits to his mistake and adds: “I get nauseous, wound up, aggravated whenever I see it again. But now I have a second chance, and I know I do not have to ask for a burst of speed. I just need to nurse his power.”
So, we know what to expect, and perhaps the inside draw will not bother after all. In fact four of the last eleven horses to win the Triple Crown started on the rail. It is an endurance test for the juveniles, and anything that can conserve energy must be a plus. Big Brown’s trainer Rick Dutrow has lavished praise on not only the ability of his champion colt, but also how sensible he is on the track, and around people. Dutrow is adamant that Big Brown loves the company of people (not often a trait of a racehorse - especially the mares) and is interested and relaxed. He claims he has never kicked at anyone in malice, or reared in anger. Some of the credit for this he suggests is attributed to the relaxed attitude of those who handle him.
Big Brown relaxed with his fans
(photo: Vanessa Ng)
I haven’t looked forward to a race this much since Nijinsky met Gyr (the champion French horse) and defeated him in the Epsom Derby. And it is the Japanese horse Casino Drive that adds spice and the unknown factor to this race. No horse that has already raced against Big Brown can defeat him. But what about a (Kentucky bred) horse from Japan who has the pedigree to win the Belmont, and a stunning last start performance? His story a fairytale also with only two career starts, his first an effortless victory in Japan in February, before shipping to the US, going into quarantine and then coming out and winning the Peter Pan. From barrier five jockey Edgar Prado will most likely stalk Big Brown and try to place enough pressure on him early enough to find out if his staying genes will win the day. Casino Drive is quoted at 5/2 behind Big Brown at 2/5, with Denis Of Cork third favourite at 12/1.
Casino Drive’s half sister Rags To Riches created history in winning the Belmont of 2007, and defeated the current world’s best racehorse, Curlin, in the process. Is it possible that the same mare (Better Than Honour) could produce the winner of the Belmont Stakes three years in a row?! Logically the odds seem astronomical.
Dutrow is in the habit of giving his horses an injection of Winstrol (a legal drug in 28 states of the USA) on the 15th day of each month. Big Brown has been anabolic steroid free since April 15 when first stabled in Florida. There has been some conjecture about the use (and abuse) of drugs in racing. Some critics have questioned the use of Winstrol (the same anabolic steroid that Ben Johnson tested positive to in the Seoul Olympics) on Big Brown. Dutrow uses steroids to provide a boost for horses who are not eating and as an aid for muscle recovery. The director of the California Horse Racing Board, Dr. Rick Arthur, states: “the fact of steroids having any effect at this time is virtually nil.”. Big Brown received an injection of Winstrol in February, March and April.
I would prefer there was no grey area, no doubt about this horse. But this is racing in America where our notable ‘bleeders’ go to race prescribed with the drug Lasix to control respiratory bleeding. A uniformity (even for the whole of the US) would be preferable to ad hoc legislation. A world horse racing standard would be even better.
Here is the replay of the 1998 Belmont Stakes. Watch Kent Desormeaux look set for victory on Real Quiet only to...
And the final workout of Big Brown before the Belmont:
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