The Triple Crown hopes of Big Brown ended today. The world watched as Kent Desormeaux brought Big Brown down to a slow trot in the last leg of The Belmont Stakes. The horse has been beating other horses all year, by a combined 39 lengths. The 3 year old colt had a promising shot at horse racing’s coveted crown and stood unbeaten until today. Desormeaux said he knew something was wrong with Big Brown so he pulled up and didn’t even try to push him.

Storied trainer Rick Dutrow had been criticized for giving the horse steroids, a practice that is not illegal in horse racing. Dutrow all but guaranteed a Triple Crown after Big Brown’s win at the Kentucky Derby. After the win at The Preakness, Dutrow touted the horse and said that the Triple Crown was a given and that Big Brown’s legacy would live and that he would be retired to stud after this season. It was reported that the owners of Big Brown were paid more than $50 million for his stud services, an amount that would surely grow after a win at Belmont. After today’s legendary loss, Dutrow had this to say: ?We did really good with him winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness,? he said. ?This is a very disappointing race. Now, it looks like he?s fine. It looks like he?ll live a good life even if he never runs again.?

The loss was a crushing blow to Desormeaux, Dutrow and his daughter Molly, and the owners… as well as the horse racing community. Big Brown was our favorite, even before the Derby.

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