Trainer Rips Jockey, Says Big Brown 'Didn't Have Any Idea What the Hell Was Going On'

Mr. Ed knew.

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Made me chuckle, enrico.


In any case, I'm actually with Dutrow on this one. The jockey actually said after the race that Big Brown wanted to go at several points, but he had to hold him back. What is a racing horse supposed to think if it wants to accelerate but is being held back, and then, by the time the horse is used to finishing the race, it is suddenly asked to go all out.

I think that the strategy was wrong for the race. I think that as soon as Big Brown wanted to go, you let it go, and hope that it lasts to the finish. Otherwise, it's a matter of a horse being confused as to what it is being asked to do.

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It was a horrid ride...watch a replay. All the jockey had to do was let Big Brown run the rail but no, he puts a strangle hold on him and bizzarly pulls him wide around the first turn, continues to strangle until the far turn then says he has no horse...did you see the payout for win, place and show? hmmm....

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OHHHHHHHH how easy it is to direct blame to someone else....somewhat selfserving don't you think?
I don't agree with the ride that Big Brown got....however...much as the tgrainer mght not have liked it, the horse was in position to win the race....it was obvious that Big Brown had nothing left when he was asked to run....I think there are a lot of things we'll never know about why Big Brown didn't win the race....but I think its a bit much to say the horse didn't run because he was so confused........
Selfserving...YEP!!!!! Perhaps less talk by the trainer and more work by him might have changed the situation....but.... Oh my, the trainer isn't ever going to admit that!!!!!!!

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It is so easy to be a sore loser and that is exactly what Dutrow is. Although the first part of the race was rough for Big Brown, Kent had to move him to the outside to put his horse in the position to win the race. Considering Big Brown won the Derby when he broke from the 20th slot, I think I would do as the jockey did and move him to the outside as well. Around the final turn Big Brown was in a perfect position to win, and he had nothing left. Why should Kent push Big Brown and risk injuring him? At least Big Brown walked off the track instead of having the tragic ending that Eight Belle's had when she ran to her death.
Also, when watching the replays, Big Brown flipped his head up quite a bit in the beginning, making it very possible that h flipped his pallet. This is the flap in their throat that allows them not to puke. When they flip it, it does restrict some aiflow. If this happened, it could have made it very hard for Big Brown not to win the race, because he could not take in all the oxygen needed to run his hardest. This is hard to test for, but it is a good possibility.
So no, it is not the jockey's fault. Look at last year when Curlin got blown away by a filly in the Belmont. Things happen, and I would like to see Dutrow get on Big Brown and win the Derby and the Preakness with him. Then, he can slam the jockey all he wants.

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I have to agree with the trainer on this one. First of all I was hugely disappointed, I would have jumped for joy if Big Brown had won the Belmont. He could have won it. He had everything it takes. Somehow, who knows why, the jockey seems to be at odds with the horse. Yes, I know he wond the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, or rather rode the winner, but things didn't look right. And yes, the big boy looked very confused. Horses pick up on our messages. Somehow the jockey sent the wrong messages. I'm truly sorry, but this is still a great horse, a good trainer - and a good jockey. Things didn't work out unfortunately.

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You know, this is getting very old. Why is everyone SO concerned with the " blame game". Kent is a tallented,well respected horseman. He did the right thing. Were any of us on the horse? No. Was Dutrow on the horse? No. Does he even know his own horse? That's a good question. Big Brown was running only the 6th race of his life, which is still considered avery green horse. He slipped out of the gate, he had dirt in his face for the first time, he has two horrendous front feet, and he had to run the longest race of his career in the scortching hot sun after running two other races with little time off in between. His hocks and hind end are probaly very sore especially since he has to conpensate his weight distribution to get off of his bad front feet. I'm sorry that Mr. Dutrow has to be such a cry baby. He was the one who put the horse on steriods than took him off. I would question that before I would place the blame on Kent. I agree this is a devistating blow to racing which really needs a shot in the arm right now. With all of these negative comments,can we please leave well enough alone. The fact is, Kent Desormeaux said his horse was not himself and was out of gas. I believe him. I Rick Dutrow continues to play the blame game, he willcause even more trouble for a sport that really needed his help.

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I'm with you willmore, the horse was running perfectly down the rail and the jockey tried to run a race he had envisioned in his mind was supposed to happen, not the race that did happen? If he would have managed the race that unfolded before him instead of trying to force the horse out of his rythym, who knows. At least 3 times, the jockey tried to go outside and the horse either was slowed considerably, or he bumped into another horse. Piss poor riding, and race management. Even if the drugs affected the horse, he never had a chance to run full speed for any length of time, before his rider was doing the jockey jerk. He was already posing for the cameras in his mind, all he had to do was run his race? Nice picture?

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HOW THE HELL DOES A HORSE RUN OUT OF GAS??It's not a car!!....and if a horse wants to haul ass ..LET HIM!!....Remember "SECRETARIAT"..HELL.. RON TURCOTTE let him run like a bat out of hell...that's why he still holds the record at the Belmont 2:24.. 35 yrs later..there's no tomorrow on triple crowns..you must seize your moment for glory..I'm with the trainer........That horse looked dazed and confused...#$$%^&*.....the horse had this look on it's face as if he was saying"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT ME TO DO????????

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I agree w/ Mr. Dutrow - Desormeaux confused the horse.. I agree with post# 3 PTwain usually a strangle hold no matter what the purpose results n a loss..however I don't agree with the betting angle. As far as Micheal David Smith's(author) comment - "only a horse - they don't know or wouldn't need jockeys etc. of course the horses know what they're doing - how many times have we seen a horse lose a rider ,run a perfect race and cross the finish line first- a lot. And what is Mr.Smith's horse background? obviously limited...

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I haven't missed a Triple Crown race in over 40 years so I know it's a hard thing for a horse to win all three but it's not impossible. I thought Big Brown was the one to do it. The thing I noticed during the first part of the race was that he didn't seem to feel comfortable on the rail and wanted to really run hard, I think to get out of the pack. The horses in front of him kind of slowed down when they got to the lead and he almost ran right into the back of them, which is where you saw his head flipping around. I just think he wanted to bust loose and couldn't. But, like the one guy earlier said, the jockey should just let him run - you can't do that. They use up all their energy too soon and fade back. I think by trying to put on the brakes and get him to the outside, it just took too much out of the horse to then try and pick up his pace again. He also bumped into another horse trying to get outside and that takes a toll. It was just an unfortunate race for him. On top of that, usually in the Belmont all the other horses are fresher, having not run in the first two triple crown races. He is a beautiful animal and win or lose, I'm just glad he wasn't hurt and I can watch him race again. All these horses breaking legs in these big races is heartbreaking. Rick Dutro can be a sore loser but he is lucky to still have that magnificent animal to keep training.

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DID ANYONE EVER GIVE IT A THOUGHT THAT BIG BROWN WAS "CONSTIPATED?" TWICE HE RAISED HIS TAIL TO DO HIS THING AND --- NOTHING. OR, WOULDN'T THEY GIVE HIM TIME TO GET THINGS DONE?

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FYI - Secretariat's heart was twice the size of a normal horse. That's what allowed him to run like he did. Look it up. I'm old enough to have watched him race and I did. It was really something.

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The race is a mile and half. Kent was trying to save him for the finish. The horse is no Secretariat! It was clear to me he had nothing left. Kent did the right thing. When you have a horse worth 50 million on the track it's the only thing to do. I don't think horse racing needed another Eight Belles.

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That was a terrible ride, I agee and so many comments have valid points. The horse looked calm, cool and collected going out to the gate and he looked abd acted like he wanted to run. The post position and clutch of horses jamming up caused problems I think. We know why the jockey held him back but combined with the above mentioned, I think he lost his momentum.
I also remember Secretariat and I knew that about his heart size. Fantastic horse! But I think Big Brown should have won this race and think this "ran out of gas" explanation is alot of baloney. He's yopung, strong, healthy . All the other horses ran and he beat Da'Tara by what , 28 lengths. Dutrow may be a big mouth but that doesn't make him wrong Everyone is so quick to slam him

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What was the white stuff around Big Brown's cheeks,(under his tail)? It is extremely visible and no other horse had any white stuff under his tail and around his butt.

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NUMBER 13 COMMENT, WHAT WAS CLEAR TO ME IS THAT HIS JOCKEY SAID HE HAD NOTHING LEFT. sUDDENLY, HE STARTED TO REIN THE HORSE IN . kENT SAID HE HAD NO HORSE AND THEN IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH OF THE sUNDAY NEWS, HE SAID HE STILL WANTED TO RUN. THIS STINKS OF A BETTING SCAM. THEY PUT IT OUT THAT HE HAD A HOOF CRACK SO THE PUBLIC WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT ANOTHER ACCIDENT AND THEN THEY HELD HIM BACK.

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Alot of horses could win a race if nothing got in their way... I enjoyed watching Big Brown turn it on when he was in first place in the derby and Belmont...did not see that in the last quarter mile of the Belmont. Perhaps Big Brown can not win at a mile and a half...we'll never know but that is why it is the Triple Crown...i personally do not think Big Brown would have won unless he had everything his way...perfect post position, no crowding, no dirt, no crowding...But to be a Triple Crown winner a horse needs to win no matter what he encounters. Other horse have done it. he is a good horse but after running only 6 races....does that make a great horse? I am sure he will run great in any race...except a mile and a half.

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Thank GOD for the memory I have of watching "SECRETARIAT AT THE 73 BELMONT".....A horse like that won't come around for another 500 years........FORGET BIG BROWN....BIG RED STILL RULES!!!STANDING THE TEST OF TIME..........

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Rick Dutrow should be happy that his jockey got Big Brown to the Belmont Stakes for crying out loud.

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