Cinch Magazine- Your Online Equestrian Source

The Big Brown Controversy

Cinch Magazine, J.L. Orchard

 It seems thoroughbred racehorse, Big Brown, has been surrounded by controversy all his life. Following the death of Eight Belles- the racehorse filly that was Big Brown's greatest adversary in the 2008 Kentucky Derby- there was a call to halt horseracing all together. Horseracing made the news, the talk shows, the daily headlines, and was plastered throughout rights activists and racing fan blogs alike.

Big Brown's Kentucky Derby win will always be remembered by the shadow of fate that followed it and the earthquake response it was given all before the eyes of Churchill Down’s second largest crowd in Derby history.

 When trainer, Rick Dutrow confessed to having had Big Brown on steroids previous to the Kentucky Derby a new wave of controversy was spiked. Especially after Big Brown slid to a last place finish in the Belmont Stakes. The idea that the steroids may have lingered in his system for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, then been exasperated in time for the Belmont Stakes wasn't helped when Big Brown struggled with all he had to win the Haskell Invitational two months later.

 It began to be wondered if Big Brown was at all the great horse people had assumed him to be, or would he be categorized like so many human competitors of yesteryear- the fluke champion brought on by artificial stimulants.

 Big Brown's trainer worsened issues when he mocked other great racehorse, Curlin's, owner Jess Jackson about the failures of Curlin and the accomplishments of Big Brown. In fact it made other trainers who'd been criticized by Dutrow pleased when Big Brown went against 'trainer's orders' and 'didn't try' at the Belmont Stakes.

 It seems that all along Big Brown has been trying to tell us something. While his putting Rick Dutrow in his place, he did though, give an unwanted finish for jockey, Kent Desormeaux. Desormeaux had wished to win the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes combined) for his son who suffers from a debilitating disease that his slowly stealing the teenager's sight. But the statement Big Brown made didn't create a gray shaded impression in horseracing, it was pure brown and definitely big.

While Desormeaux made the unsatisfying decision to pull the horse and save him from further stress, Big Brown told everyone that he couldn't be expected to run like Secretariat. No horse could the past thirty years. But because of Big Brown it seems we've finally realized it.

The modern American thoroughbred is weak, Big Brown especially so, from having come from a fragile family line. The sport of kings needs to change before its image, as a cruel and unforgiving sport will ever alter.   

If Big Brown loses the Breeders' Cup Classic, his target race for October 25th- well we've seen it all before- a good horse worn out before his time…who can we blame but ourselves. If he wins…it's only because of him and somehow while the breed has continued to weaken the equine heart has held on. Big Brown has made us realize this steep and rocky decline we've persisted down in thoroughbred horseracing. And because of all the controversy his hooves have dug from the racing ground turf, he's a horse that will not easily be forgotten. Whether he completes his career in last place or goes with a bang, he never went silently, and the noise he's made in his brief career has indeed been heard.

Kentucky Governor, Steve Beshear stepped forward to repair the broken straps of Big Browns reins when he signed an emergency regulation this year banning steroids for all of Kentucky's thoroughbred and standardbred races. Now it's up to the breeders to change the rest and breed strong and durable racehorses.

 In the words of every great scholar, "everything does happen for a reason," Big Brown happened for a reason. Though these reasons may not be things that shine his own career with swift wins and impressive fractions, he's making life better for the horses to come. So in closing, I tip my hat to Big Brown because it’s about time a horse showed us their struggle. And no matter how he finishes…he did it right.

Want to Write For Us?Those who write a minimum of four articles a year to be used on our website, will be considered part of the 'Cinch Magazine' team. In return, a free biography page with links to your personal site will be provided to increase your publicity, and further promote your work. Click here for more information.