Go Big Brown!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoFquax2F-k[/youtube]

This video is of Secretariat, who won the Belmont Stakes, and the Triple Crown, in 1973. Even if you’re not into horse racing, this is an amazing horse race to watch. Watch him make all of the other horses look like they’re standing still, as he goes on to win one of the most difficult flat races for 3 year olds in record time (still unbeaten), and make it look EASY.

The Triple Crown is within reach of Big Brown, but just because he’s won the first two races does not mean he’ll win today’s Belmont. 11 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and then failed to win the Belmont, since the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, in 1978.

There were quite a few Triple Crown winners in the 30s and 40s (7), and then none in the 50s or 60s, then 3 in the 70s. And none in the last 30 years.

Today, I’m rooting for Big Brown to become only the 12th horse in history to win this challenge. It’s not easy, but he seems like perhaps he has the right stuff to me. I wish my Grandpa were still alive to help me cheer him on.

(For an excellent commentary on the seedier side of horse racing, including drugs, danger, and Hooters, click here!)

(Dot…if you’re in the mood to bet, there’s a horse running named Icabad Crane!)

*Well, the race is over now, and Big Brown came in dead last.  Pulled up because, as the jockey said, “I had no horse”.  Is that because of the heat?  93 degrees and humid as hell?  Because they decided not to continue his regimen of steroids?  Or was he injured?  No idea yet.  I had high hopes, again, and again, they’re dashed.  Sigh.