Kentucky Derby Blog

A photo taken by freelance photographer Russ Milton during the early stages of the Belmont Stakes has revealed Big Brown was running with a loose shoe. There was no evidence of injury to the hoof after the race, but Michael Iavarone, a co-president of International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, didn’t think it could have been comfortable for the horse, who was wearing an acrylic patch on his left front hoof to compensate for a painful quarter crack.

Iavarone said, “When the shoe spread, a nail could have been pinching him. Or he could have been stepping on a hot nail, which would have been worse. I’m guessing the nail went back in but not in the same spot. Or it could have been a loose shoe, which would be like trying to run with a wobbly cleat.”

I wish Big Brown could talk and tell us what really bothered him that day.

Roger Attfield, a 68-year-old British-born horseman pulled off a training coup by winning the 149th running of $1-million Queen’s Plate with Not Bourbon in Woodbine, a horse few believed could run 1¼ miles. Attfield has trained three Triple Crown winners (the last being Peteski in ’93), won the Prince of Wales Stakes five times and Breeders Stakes seven times (both records) and conditioned six horse-of-the-year winners. He’s been named Canada’s top trainer six times and in ’99 was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. Attfield won his eighth Queen’s Plate, tying the record set by Harry Giddings Jr., who won his last Plate in 1942.

Not Bourbon ran the race in 2 minutes 3.59 seconds, the fastest Plate in five years. He ran his final quarter in a sizzling 24.20 seconds.

Not Bourbon paid $11.30, $5.10 and $3.40. Ginger Brew returned $3.80 and Solitaire paid $2.90.

There was the hearing by a House consumer protection subcommittee less than two months after the post-race death of filly Eight Belles at the Kentucky Derby. The meeting, called by Reps. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), the panel’s chairman, and Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.), also examined breeding practices, the safety of various track surfaces and the use of steroids.

Lawmakers examining the health and safety of thoroughbred racehorses on Thursday advocated for a centralized governing authority that would regulate the sport, as critics of the racing industry called for congressional intervention to create that body.

“We’re looking for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s upper body and then we go to Don Knotts’ legs and knees,” said Jess Jackson, owner of Curlin, the 2007 Horse of the Year.

Trainer Rick Dutrow, who admitted injecting Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown with anabolic steroids, which were legal in the states where the horse raced, was expected to speak before the committee but didn’t show up. Dutrow said he was too ill to attend, the Associated Press reported.

Of about 15,000 licensed trainers in the U.S., nearly 9% have been cited for a medication violation in the last five years, according to information provided to the subcommittee by the Assn. of Racing Commissioners International. Some of those who testified said that, unlike in other sports, there doesn’t appear to be a stigma attached to performance-enhancement violations, which are set by individual states.

For details about the hearing, check out SI.

Big Brown will run in the $1 million Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park Racetrack on August 3, his first start since failing to complete a Triple Crown sweep in the Belmont Stakes.

In 1968, the Board of Directors of Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey honored its former President and Chairman Amory L. Haskell (1893-1966) with the Amory L. Haskell Handicap, a race for older horses. In 1981, the race was made an invitation-only stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.

Curlin is unbeatable! Curlin won easily Saturday in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in his first North American start this year. With Robby Albarado aboard, Curlin took the lead after the second turn and cruised from there. Einstein was second, with Barcola third. The Steve Asmussen-trained 4-year-old earned his fifth straight win, including the US$6-million Dubai World Cup in his last start in March. Curlin ranks top in the thoroughbred rankings by earnings so far.
Watch the race replay!

Stephen Foster Handicap Results and Payout

Pgm Horse      Jockey               Win   Place  Show
1   Curlin     Robby Albarado       2.80  2.20   2.10
4   Einstein   Julien R. Leparoux         3.80   3.20
9   Barcola    Jesus Lopez Castanon              6.00