Race horses have the career trajectory of porn stars. They start off as soon as they’re legal to perform, get purchased up by sleazy old white men, are viewed by millions of people over an extremely short period of time, and then, mere years later, have become so beaten and broken by the system that they’re forced to retire to a stud farm. Well folks, it’s time to open up the breeding gates once more: Big Brown’s career is over.

The 3-year-old championship colt injured his right foot today during a workout while preparing for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Classic, which was to be his final race before retiring. Big Brown was able to complete his six-furlough work - whatever that means - until trainer Rick Dutrow noticed all sorts of blood coming out of his foot. “It looks like he grabbed himself in a bad spot,” Dutrow said.

But the important thing is, how will this latest injury affect his stud fee?

From the AP:

Case Clay, president of Three Chimneys, said he’s saddened by the news and isn’t sure when Big Brown would arrive at the farm.

“We’re just going to let the horse kind of dictate that, let him heal from his foot injury and whenever he’s healed and ready, he’ll come,” Clay said.

The injury could also affect Big Brown’s stud fee. The farm negotiated a breeding deal reportedly worth $50 million. A win in the BC Classic could have upped the asking price, though Clay is sure Big Brown will still command a high-dollar fee.

“He’s the best of his generation,” Clay said. “I think his stud fee will be different if he won the Classic, what that’ll be, I’m not sure.”

$50 million bucks still seems like a pretty nice take for a horse who can barely walk right because of these hoof injuries. That said, see? It is just like porn stars. Three Chimneys is basically the equestrian equivalent of the Bunny Ranch, except that is presumably smells a whole lot worse.