Big Brown Retires
The moment thousands of horse racing fans had been looking forward to, would have taken place next weekend at the Breeders’ Cup Classic, hosted by Santa Anita Park Racecourse. Big Brown and Curlin would finally have met, and it would have been a show-down of historic proportions. To say that everyone connected to Big Brown is absolutely devastated, would be an understatement, as an injury has cut Big Brown’s racing career short, and forced him into immediate retirement.
Big Brown made a massive impact on the horse racing industry, after winning the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby in spectacular fashion. Everyone was geared up to see him nail the Belmont Stakes and become the next Triple Crown champion, but for some unknown reason, Big Brown performed disappointingly, eventually being pulled up by his jockey. But Big Brown made a comeback in both the Haskell Invitational and Monmouth Stakes, by winning both events and beginning his training to get him ready for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and his face-off with Curlin. In his short and colorful racing career, Big Brown has won seven of his eight starts and has earned over $3 million for his connections.
While training in New York, at the Aqueduct Racetrack, Big Brown suffered an injury to his right front foot, on the inside. Michael Iavarone, co-owner of IEAH, said that they had already entered into a stud agreement with Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky for the end of the year, and with the severity of his injury, Big Brown will not make it back to the racetrack. Although it is not a life threatening injury, it will still take approximately two months to heal, and fighting off infection is the main priority at this stage. The decision for retirement was therefore made with a heavy heart, but Big Brown’s health and future is the most important factor. Iavarone confirmed that they will retain a major share in Big Brown, and want to remain a part of the magnificent horse’s life forever. Big Brown will remain in New York for a few days, while his foot is checked and treated, before being moved to Three Chimneys Farm.
In another shocking turn of events, horse racing had to say farewell to yet another phenomenal racehorse on Monday. Zarkava, the breathtaking filly who recently won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, has been retired to stud. Even though in good health, her connections decided that placing her in stud was safer for her and more lucrative for them. But while two of the racing greats have retired from racing, it makes space for new superstars to leave their mark on racing.
