The Wrong Horse
Racing right to the shed, Big Brown wins the Derby, but what’s the real cost in the long run? (Charles Pravata)
Hats off to Jessica for pointing this out…
Meanwhile, amid all this talk of improving safety and the breed, IEAH co-president Michael Iavorone boasted on Wednesday that a stallion deal for lightly-raced, achy-hooved Big Brown is nearing completion, and that the farms bidding for the Derby winner’s breeding rights included “one of the most widely recognized stud farms in the world” (Blood-Horse). All the outrage over Eight Belles’ unfortunate death, all the urgent discussion about what happened and what should be done differently, all the critics piling on Rick Porter and Larry Jones — I think we’re talking about the wrong horse, the wrong connections. Big Brown represents the racing industry gone awry, not the filly.
Boom, there you have it. Inspired by this I commented the following on the current Straight Up post, Safety First:
There’s another horse we all should be talking about as well… Big Brown and the implications of such a lightly raced horse with foot issues being put into the breeding shed! We can’t pay lip service to the issues by acknowledging we have breeding issues (among others) while we passively watch a horse that probably can’t even make it past 6 races go to the shed! Shame on everyone! Where is the outrage about this kind of greed? This is EXACTLY what creates more of the circumstances that we should be avoiding when it comes to safety. Wake up people.
I’m also saddened by the Jockey Club’s Health and Safety Panel. How can breeders be objective about issues with breeding? Four of the seven panel members (all men) are in the business of breeding horses. As my grandmother used to say, Jesus H. Christ on a crutch! (clearly we weren’t religious people).
In all sincerity, I hope Big Brown (and everyone else running) stays safe through the Triple Crown. I don’t have the best of feelings about it.
Update: My apologies to Dell Hancock for my erroneous (and moronic) assumption about her gender based on her name… sorry!!
Posted by dana on May 08 2008
Filed Under: Charles Pravata, Greed, 2008, You Tell 'em!, Triple Crown, Breeding, Retirement Watch, Grrrr, Racing
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Dana, you totally nailed it about the new Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee! So, Darley USA? Check! Claiborne Farms? Check! Two doctors (although only one is equine). Going down the list and looking at their bios you can tell this group is invested in change. Ha! Grrrr is right.
I know, it’s so maddening!
Well said, This horse will not run another race after the Belmont, He will be retired to stud. I don’t even think he will run in the Breeders Cup this fall.
This dilutes fan interest as they cannot see a horse run as an older 3 yr old, 4 and 5 year old.
We have a horse breed for speed with durability questions-sounds like alot of horses being bred right now, doesn’t it?
Dell Hancock will be surprised to know about her sex change.
Dr. Bramlage has been all over the news here in Lexington stating that the breeding for speed needs to be stopped and the emphasis on breeding for durability and stamina has to start. So I don’t know if he’s just giving lip service or if he’s going to carry it over to the committee and fight for this belief. I for one pray he’s a man of his word.
Yes, Dell is indeed a woman and is known also for her photography.
Yikes!!
Thx ljk and my sincere apologies to Dell Hancock… I’m a moron!
Katie - that’s the most promising thing I’ve heard, let’s definitely hope so!
Sadly I can’t update my post until I get home… ugh!