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Go Big Brown ...

FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
getting ready for the Triple Crown.

Another great showing from a great horse. Congrats to all his 'family' ...

Great picture of Desormeaux giving him a well deserved hug .. what an impressive looking horse !!!
Mary Ann * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * [i]"The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8 [8/21/08][/i]
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observer44observer441,000+ posts
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Hate to burst that bubble...From the news wires...


quote:
Big Brown The Steroid User?
Big Brown May Be Barry Bonds In Disguise

Big Brown is understandably the favorite to win today's Preakness, but he's also the favorite to potentially test dirty after it.

That's because Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow, has what you might call a bit of a history of producing horses that were on some kind of illegal substance.

Dutrow has been fined or suspended each of the past eight years for doping-related offenses, most recently a pair of $500 fines in January for illegal amounts of Phenylbutazone, an anti-inflammatory drug, at Gulfstream Park in Florida. His horses have also tested positive for illegal amounts of Clenbuterol, a respiratory drug, and Lasix, an anti-bleeding medication.

Dutrow has also openly acknowledged that he gives his horses the anabolic steroid Winstrol on a monthly basis. Winstrol is the same steroid that has been linked to Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro and Ben Johnson. So in other words, I know who I'm betting on today.

What's funny about Dutrow pumping his horses up with steroids is that it isn't even illegal. Apparently horse racing has no uniform rules, and Winstrol is not considered a banned substance.

So even though Barry and Roger may be done in baseball, but they have a bright future in horse racing.

Obviously Dutrow isn't the only trainer who juices his horse. Steve Asmussen, Curlin's trainer, served a six-month suspension in 2006 after one of his horses was found with 750 times the legal limit of mepivacaine - which is some kind of anesthetic. Asmussen has a total of 22 drug-related offenses on his record.

So as much fun as I'll have watching the Preakness today, I might as well just be watching a track meet of Marion Jones versus Ben Johnson. But that's OK, I've always kinda wanted to see that.



44
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observer44observer441,000+ posts
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More questions for me than anwers...

Yep, it's legal but is it morally "right"?...Small ankles big(er) stronger horses?...Does it lead to the carnage (Eight Belles) have seen recently?...Should we treat these "athletes" any differently? Burn 'em up?...if so, why?...If "breakdown" means instant death for a horse, is that a fair tradeoff?...If so what is an acceptable "death ratio"?...If horses why not people?

...aren't these the same excuse players gave for their steroid use?...Not cleary/distinctly illegal?...Injury recovery?...To keep up with the McGwires and the Sosa's?

...and say it is "only" for injury recovery, are we to trust these people like we trusted the owners and the comissioner?...Didn't they really have our best interests at heart?

...and again what message are we sending to oursleves, and to our kids?...WHATEVER it takes?...there are no boundaries?...

..and on another level...the owners claim to truely love and care about their horses...If that is the case, I'd hate to be their dogs, or worse yet their spouses, or kids if this is love and care...

Like I said I have more questions than answers...

Cool 44
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Last edited by observer44
S spizzlepop1,000+ posts
I do not disagree with 44, but I too wondered about Eight Belles and read yesterday that she tested negative for steroids. I have no idea who did the testing and for what. Questions remain, that's for sure.
There had been lots of talk about synthetic surfaces before the Derby, and how that track was designed to reduce injuries of the sort that fell Eight Belles. Haven't heard much on that subject since.
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FutureBack.MomFutureBack.Mom1,000+ posts
CAdad ...

I really understand that it is legal et al but was merely trying to inject (pun intended) some humor into to situation and play off some of the discussions we have had here about baseball players.

O44 ...

Valid questions, all. Having owned race horses (of the quarter variety), I can attest to the affection and concern trainers, owners, and jockeys have towards their horses. We lost a foal once because during a thunderstorm, he ran into a fence and broke his neck. We had only visited the little guy once because he was in Oklahoma, but we were devastated as he was our first baby from our favorite mare who ran for us out here at Los Alamitos. I agree that the horse racing business opens up a lot of discussion for how we treat our animal friends while trying to make $$ and entertain ourselves. And perhaps my attempts at humor were misplaced. I did not mean to diminish the seriousness of the situation as posed by your questions.

spizzlepop ...

Synthetic surfaces are a big debate here in California, as you may be aware, since the replacement of the traditional surfaces with synthetic was mandated by the Racing Board in the not so distant past. Santa Anita had a major problem with their new surface during the rains (had to do with the manufacturer modifying the 'formula') and it wouldn't drain, so they lost several days in the race calendar. I think it is a good idea, but as one race officiando has indicated, probably should not have been mandated across the board as the benefits have not been completely verified.

Sorry this thread has gotten so serious ... I really had intended it to be lighthearted thread about a beautiful animal who seems to love to do on a track what many of his brothers do in the wild, and who seems to do it better than most of his peers.
Last edited by FutureBack.Mom
CADadCADad5,000+ posts
FBM,
I guess I could go into minute detail about how you said rumors and even if it was a joke, blah, blah, blah,...but I'll just say oops, sorry about that.

I bet on the quarter horses at Los Al once or twice many years ago, but much preferred going to Santa Anita, Hollywood Park and Del Mar for the thoroughbreds. It'll date me but my favorite horse was Ancient Title.

I gave up betting on the horses about 15 or 20 years ago. I had written a handicapping program that actually worked although the return was pretty small. It ended up not being worth the work it took to input the data, but I couldn't bring myself to bet without it knowing I could at least make a small profit if I used the program and knowing that I was not going to win without it.
Last edited by CADad
observer44observer441,000+ posts
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FBM...

My gosh...NOT misplaced...Knew, and appreciated the tact you took....clever...and as always postings well put and intelligent...nicely and creatively done...

...but the whole scenerio with steroids and horse racing makes me shake my head...and when it is defended, as standard operating proceedure?...Well, that floors me...and I start asking questions...

Didn't mean to turn this thread "dark" (I actually enjoyed the light hearted nature of it) but as we move deeper, where is the outrage? If not for the practice, then for the logic that creates and sustains it...

Cool 44
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