Did Big Brown lose The Belmost Stakes or did his jockey Ken Desormeaux lose it for him?

Question

I read that the same jockey lost the Triple Crown by a nose 10 years ago and it still rips at his heart. I think he pulled up because he thought he was going to lose and he didn't want to lose another close one. I know he's saying he did it to protect the horse, but you don't play safe when you've got a shot at the Triple Crown.

Answer 1

Maybe you realize these are living beings and play it safe in the wake of Eight Belles, Pine Island, George Washington and Barbaro.  

Don't you think the climate now has swung to being overly cautious with a horse if there's any issue at all?  Don't you think seeing Eight Belles be injured and put down just recently has made everyone in horse racing second guess themselves and decide if there's the slightest chance in the world there's something wrong then they don't run or they pull them up.  Maybe Barbaro was slightly injured when he broke through the gate and maybe they should have not run him and he'd still be with us.

I applaud the jockey for his decision.  I'm sure he knew people like you would possibly think this way but did what was best for the horse and I'm sure he can live with himself and his choice tonight.

Geez buddy, how did you get so jaded?

Answer 2

IMHO, "you play safe" if you care about the horse, as Kent so clearly does. The *horse* comes FIRST.

Yes, Kent lost the Triple Crown 10 years ago and because he is conscientious about his work, he second-guesses himself about that.  He didn't want to make the same mistake he thought he made then. But something was wrong and Big Brown wouldn't respond to Kent's urging for him to run.

This one is going to tear at Kent's heart for years to come, just as the earlier one does. But it wasn't his fault.

Klea

Answer 3

You've got to be kidding!  No jockey, especially one who has come close before would pull up if there was any chance of winning or even coming close.  

Big Brown wasn't responding.  It wouldn't have been even close even if he hadn't pulled up.  So, why chance it?  Kent was extremely excited about Big Brown and he's stated again and again that he is the best horse he's ever ridden, but something was up today and I think Kent was smart to pull up.

Answer 4

Big Brown didn't have any run left at the top of the stretch.  Kent could have whipped him all the way across the line, but the horse just didn't bring his race today.  He wasn't going to be first and he wasn't even going to be 5th... the entire field of horses was passing him even though Kent was asking the horse for run.  Kent pulled up the horse because he wasn't going to win any money for the owners.  It was smarter to save the horse for a future race than to push him the extra quarter of a mile for nothing.  Big Brown had the sort of trip that War Pass had earlier this year when he finished last.  For a front running horse to have horses block him and slow the pace down, it's unnerving.  Then Big Brown went 3 or 4 wide to be out in the middle of the racetrack.  The rail was a much better running surface today and Big Brown was stuck in the slower part of the track where he had to run faster to keep up with the inside horses.  It's just that the race didn't go well for Big Brown today.  It wasn't any single thing that Kent could have changed.

I have heard people complaining that Big Brown was too wide in the race today and that was Kent's fault.  That's just not true.  Dutrow has wanted this horse to be wide in every race.  He said the horse is the best in the field, so long as he doesn't have traffic problems, he wins, no matter how wide he is.  Dutrow wanted the horse to go 4 wide in the Derby and that's why he selected the 20 post.  The wide trip was the plan for the horse... all of the connections made that decision... not Kent himself.  Kent was following orders.  The son of Boundary just can't go 12 furlongs no matter who his dam is... that's just how it is.  Kent made a perfectly good decision.  I'd rather have a jock pull up my horse than risk anything happen to it.

Answer 5

big brown had nothing left when kent pulled him up.  the field was running away from him.  he would have finished last anyway.

Answer 6

He didn't have the benefit of steroids like he did in the

Kentucky Derby and Preakness.  Big Brown didn't deserve

the triple crown, and trainer Dutrow is a slimeball cheat.

The money is so huge that anything goes.  I'm glad

Big Brown got exposed for what he really is, a horse pawn

juiced up by unsavory ******* trying for a shot at a 100 million quick bucks.

Answer 7

Big Brownlost that race Ithink he was very tired after than long mile and 1/4 at Belmont. And Desormeaux did a great job by protecting the horse by pulling up, because he realized as they turned the corner that Big Brown had no chance of making history.

Answer 8

I think the same thing happened! Big Brown wasn't as fast as the last few races because he wasn't all drugged up.  So, when Kent realized he wasn't going to win he figured he would get attention by getting sympathy because Big Brown got hurt and he allowed him to hold back and take it easy.  I think that is exactly what happened.

Answer 9

the horse lose the race. a good jockey know when ease the horse. i think the trainer made a mistake by giving his

his  monthly  drug.