JC / Railbird - Big Brown in Town

Big Brown in Town

– About 75 reporters, photographers, and gawkers were waiting for Big Brown and his entourage at Belmont when the colt arrived by van from Pimlico early Monday afternoon to settle into a stall in trainer Bobby Frankel’s barn, where he’ll await the final leg of the Triple Crown. With a little less than three weeks to go and many column inches to fill, silly season is open, Vic Ziegel reports in the Daily News:

But my favorite question for the Big Brown group, on its horse’s first day back in New York, was asked of Michael Iavarone, the horse’s co-owner: “What does this mean for Long Island?”

More hotel bookings for the weekend of June 6-8? Traffic?
– Trainer Rick Dutrow said Big Brown ran down his hind heels in the Preakness, but that the abrasions were minor and being treated with a topical ointment. “It won’t happen next time because I will put patches and bandages on him” (Blood-Horse). More on rundowns from Fran at Hoofcare.
– Gary West, in fine form, takes on the hypocrisy and ignorance suffusing some corners of the post-Kentucky Derby debate over safety in racing:

People understand that football is violent and seem to accept it. But many people, especially the small-minded, will attack what they don’t understand. And fewer and fewer people, it seems, understand a sport where violence occurs only by accident.

– Dr. Mary Scollay has been hired by KHRA as its first equine medical director. Best known for development of an injury reporting system that launched last year, Scollay will continue her studies on breakdowns, as well as advise on medication policies and oversee drug research. “I wish I had her two weeks ago,” said director Lisa Underwood (AP).
– Gategate @ Churchill Downs (top right column, don’t miss the illustration at bottom). KHRA is investigating.

Posted by JC in Triple Crown on 05/20/2008 @ 2:45 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter