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What Big Brown Can Do For Us

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 7, 2008

For 30 years, Affirmed has been synonymous with horse racing's Triple Crown because he is the last to capture it - in 1978, the longest length of time between winners. The Florida-bred horse's epic duels with Alydar, who placed second in all three races, were probably the greatest in the history of the sport.

Every spring since, fans have wondered whether this is the year the drought ends. A few horses have gotten close, but Affirmed, who died in 2001, still stands as the last winner, showing just how tough it is to pull off this type of trifecta.

Now comes a strapping bay colt called Big Brown, named after United Parcel Service. He won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with ease and is the favorite to win today's Belmont Stakes, the final and longest leg of the Triple Crown, in New York.

A Big Brown victory would be a tremendous gift to all horse-racing fans. He would become just the 12th Triple Crown champion and an undefeated one at that, only the second in history.

Granted, Big Brown is only 5-0 and lightly raced because of foot problems, which resurfaced in the days leading to the Belmont. Further, his trainer revealed he has regularly given the colt a steroid, which is legal in 28 of the 38 states that host horse racing but nonetheless raised eyebrows about whether Big Brown is a natural super horse.

Despite these questions, racing fans have waited a long time for another Triple Crown champion, and Big Brown, who loves to ham it up in front of photographers and has superb speed, appears to be the real deal.

A Big Brown victory today would not only earn him a spot in racing history but would help ease the sadness fans felt over the death of Eight Belles, who was put down at the Kentucky Derby when she broke her two front ankles after finishing second.

So, run big fellow, run!

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