Why didn't Big Brown win the Belmont Stakes?

Question

I was surfing the internet today to see who won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, and see if we had a Triple Crown winner this year. I noticed that Big Brown won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but came in last in the Belmont and Da'Tara won.

I couldn't find out why Big Brown failed to win the Triple Crown. Please don't be a smart alleck and say "cuz he came in last," I wanna know if something like an injury caused him to loose.

Anyone know?

Answer 1

I have a variety of theories:

He did have a quarter crack in his hoof. It was patched, he was doing well, but he might have been a bit off because of it. Also, they took away his steroids abruptly, which could have caused him to feel bad. And then there are pictures suggesting that his shoe was dislodged in the early part of the race.

My personal theory is that it is all of these things combined with the fact that he was very inexperienced (five races to that point) and was just a little thrown by the events of the race. He got jostled and tossed around and it disrupted his rhythm. Plus, there was likely tension beforehand between owner, trainer and jockey, who apparently have their differences.

But overall, I think it was mostly just that bad luck that has poisoned so many Belmont Stakes. You gotta have talent, you gotta have ability, but luck decides it more than anything. He's still a great colt, and I look forward to the Breeders Cup Classic.

Answer 2

i think the hoof problem he had was a factor. the shoe slipping another and he got bumped around which he wasnt use to. he might have had just an off day. the belmont is a tough race. he is a good horse. i dont think we can say great but he is good.

Answer 3

He had a slight injury in one of his hooves that compromised his training regimen.  Though he recovered physically in time to race, he wasn't ideally prepared from a training standpoint.  He also appeared in some photos to have been racing with a loose shoe and looked agitated all day going into the race.  The fact that he did not get a steroid injection in the month leading up to race is another question.  But who knows?  He ran a bad race, didn't have anything to offer at the point in the race when the jockey asked him for a little more.  I think it is significant that the horse that won, Da'Tara, was not an entrant in the Derby or Preakness.  Big Brown ran again last Sunday in the Haskell at Monmouth Park and the race began somewhat similarlly, with an outsider setting a fast pace.  This time Big Brown managed to come back with some speed down the stretch, but I think that the horse (Coal Play) tired.  One thing is clear, though; Big Brown is much better than the horses that made it through the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, though some of the later developing three year olds may continue to present a challenge to him in the short time he will run before going to stud.

Answer 4

one possibility is that he was taken off steroids before the race. He also had a crack in his hoof, but that wasn't supposed to be an issue. No one really knows yet, but the reason he was last was because the jockey knew they weren't going to win and that the horse wasn't at his best, so he let him slow down rather than hurt Big Brown. Personally, i think he made the right decision

Answer 5

Most people will say that Big Brown was tired, but the Belmont Winner run the week before the Derby in the Churchill Stakes, he ran the day of the Preakness in the Barbaro stakes and then ran and won the Belmont Stakes.  Reporter Randy Moss said that most horsemen say the the loose shoe photographed was not an legitimate excuse to lose the Belmont.

I think that Big Brown was inexperienced. In the Belmont, he was put in a position to be blocked in with dirt thrown in his face. He did not like it and threw a fit. He just did not want to run that day.  He is still a great horse and will improve with time. I doubt that we will see him run against Curlin. And with the stupid remarks now from Dutrow concerning Curlin, I would love to see Curlin demolish Big Brown.

His trainer needs to be hog tied and left out to rot. He does not deserve to be training a horse as good as Big Brown.  

Answer 6

the same reason it's been 30 years......you have to have a very very

good horse, and back 30 years ago....most of the horses ran in all 3 legs of the triple crown.....so all of the runners were tired!!!!