Posted on 06/24/2008 5:50:55 PM PDT by gate2wire
Each day brings new entries in the "Brown Shoe Diaries." The latest photos from the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) reveal Big Brown was stepped on by Guadalcanal leaving the gate, and that the shoe did not re-set itself during the race as previously thought; the colt ran the entire way with the shoe dislodged and the nail protruding from it.
Even trainer Rick Dutrow, who had a hard time accepting the possibility that the incident hampered the colt, now believes after seeing the photos that it could have been an issue.
In a photo (shown below) that originally appeared as part of the Belmont race sequence in The Blood-Horse issue dated June 14, you can clearly see Guadalcanal stepping on the back of Big Browns right hind foot as the colt was bearing out into him. A slow motion look at the video of the start shows Big Browns head jerk sharply to the left just as he is struck from behind.
Another photo (above left), taken by free-lance photographer Bob Mayberger, shows Big Brown turning into the stretch while being eased by jockey Kent Desormeaux. The shoe is still dislodged just as it was in the original photo taken shortly after the break. So, the colt ran the entire race with a dislodged shoe (that had a bend or turn-down) and the nail still in it.
Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay at first thought the shoe had re-set itself upon impact with the ground during the race, because it was securely attached to the colts foot, although slightly spread, when it was removed by blacksmith Alex Leaf after the race. Knowing now that the shoe had not re-set during the race, McKinlay has a different take on it.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bloodhorse.com ...
its not like he’s beating a dead horse. HA! I’ll be appearing all week. Enjoy the buffet.
Thanks for posting, I got busy and missed Blood Horse and this particular photo. Your efforts are always much appreciated.
Thanks for posting. Interesting.
You’re welcome.
You’re welcome.
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