Big Brown Triple Crown Bid Falls Short

I write this in disbelief. But ugly truth is still the truth. Big Brown went from being compared to the great horses of the past, such as Secretariat and Seattle Slew, to finishing last in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

The mood at Belmont Race Track in Elmont, NY. was extremely festive; so festive, in fact, it could easily have been mistaken for Churchill Downs on Derby day. Everyone, it seemed, was certain that the day had come for a Triple Crown win and that Big Brown was the horse who could. Those who attended the event came decked out in the color brown to show their support for the colt. Many had made hats, t-shirts, and signs (like the kind normally seen at concert events) emblazoned with the big colt's name. Shaquil O'Neal was present. He paraded around the track in a crowd of jockeys and wearing silks that easily could have made five such silks for the jockeys, all of whom barely reached up to the basketball star's waist. The crowd was so loud that the media personnel repeatedly stated that it was impossible for them to hear themselves speak. This year it has been 30 years since the last Triple Crown win took place and racing fans are more than ready for another.

The fans were not the only ones who were certain of victory. Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow, had already established himself as confident and loud spoken when it came to this particular horse. The media loved his swagger and the very unusual certainty in his speech. He has been perhaps among the most quotable people ever to work in thoroughbred racing. His brash manner has been compared to that of Muhammad Ali. He said the Belmont, and with it the Triple Crown, was a "foregone conclusion." The colt's jockey, Kent Desormeaux, has said that Big Brown is the best horse he has ever ridden- no light remark in view of the history of his long career. Desormeaux said before the race, "Big Brown is the horse to do it."