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.
5:08 pm on October 13th, 2008
You haven't been to the Bunny Ranch.
Um, er, neither have I.
*cough*
5:14 pm on October 13th, 2008
Sadly, when Big Brown shows up on the stud farm, all the mares will whinny, "Not tonight, I've got a headache."
5:21 pm on October 13th, 2008
At least Big Brown was able to avoid the fate of Eight Belles:
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/derby-here-come-the-eight-belles-message-boards-17550
5:23 pm on October 13th, 2008
If HBO can do a whole series about the Bunny Ranch (i.e. "The Cathouse"), then surely Animal Planet can do the same thing with Big Brown's stud farm.
5:25 pm on October 13th, 2008
Sadly, the fillies will discover that just like his Triple Crown bid, Big Brown starts out fast but fades badly at the end.
5:31 pm on October 13th, 2008
Since he was going to retire anyway, I wonder if the horse somehow self-inflicted his wound, so he could get off the track & gets to studding sooner.
5:53 pm on October 13th, 2008
Isn't it ironic that Big Brown is sent to stud right before the Breeders' Cup?
9:12 pm on October 13th, 2008
You people are idiots. Try reading the Racing Form once or twice before you go spouting off about "whinnying" and "stud farms". And "six-furlough"? Try 6 furlongs. It's three-quarters of a mile, stupid.
1:40 am on October 14th, 2008
@Anonymous (if that is your real name):
Just because you blew a couple thousand on a busted trifecta, don't take it out on us.