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Hoof specialist Ian McKinaly patched Big Brows cracked hoof with an acrylic and fiberglass patch today. He said the procedure which took just a half-hour was "very routine." He called Big Brown a "super patient" and said that he never even knew he was hurt. He said he would not need to look at the hoof for a few months. When asked if the patch could fall off during the race, he said that if it did he may as well quit.
...Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay applied an acrylic and fiberglass patch to the cracked left front foot Friday. The work comes the day before the undefeated colt races in the Belmont Stakes. McKinlay says the procedure was routine and Big Brown never even knew he was hurt. .....more
...Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay applied an acrylic and fiberglass patch to the cracked left front foot Friday. The work comes the day before the undefeated colt races in the Belmont Stakes. McKinlay says the procedure was routine and Big Brown never even knew he was hurt. .....more
Most in the Horse Racing Industry seem to agree that the injury to Big Brown's hoof is minor and should not play a factor in Saturday's Belmont Stakes, but most also seem to feel that Richard Dutrow and the Big Brown team are likely downplaying the injury. Concerns that racing Big Brown is putting his life in jeopardy are clearly outlandish, but reports that he is as "good as new" are also not correct. His hoof will be patched on Friday afternoon by hoof specialist Ian McKinlay. An Acrylic adhesive will be applied and McKinlay says that it will make the area stronger than the hoof itself.
...."When you're talking about an injury that Big Brown is dealing with right now, a quarter-crack type injury, it's more an annoyance to a horse than anything else," ABC-ESPN analyst Randy Moss said. "It's not something along the lines that would lead to what you saw in Derby with Eight Belles or anything such as that. It's something that can cause some minor discomfort to a horse, and in a worst-case scenario could prevent him from maybe putting out the full 100 percent of effort. I'm confident that they're on top of this, although I will agree they're probably downplaying the significance of it a little bit compared to what the actual reality of the situation is.".....more
...."We could run him the way he is, but we're going to patch it up," trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said yesterday. "We're not taking any kind of risk by patching him up right now."Others aren't so quick to dismiss the condition. While it may not seem like much for a fit thoroughbred, missing a few days of training can take a horse off his game. And if the injury is even a touch more than the Big Brown camp claims, it easily can be exposed in the gruelling Belmont. "I'm a firm believer (that) everything has to go right between races," veteran New York trainer Shug McGaughey said this week. "It's the third race in five weeks. It's a mile and a half. Big Brown, he looked great, but everything has not gone exactly right for him since the Preakness."......more
....So it was two weeks ago when Big Brown's trainer, Rick Dutrow, announced that the horse who had breezed to ridiculously easy wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes had a quarter crack in his left front hoof and would miss a few days of training. Ah, perhaps a sign of weakness. But yesterday, as he has done for the past several days, Dutrow emphasized that Big Brown couldn't be better......more
Thursday, Richard Dutrow said that the quarter crack was "all healed." On Friday, hoof specialist Ian McKinlay will apply an acrylic and fiberglass patch to the cracked area.
...."It's all healed," trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said Thursday. "We could run him the way he is." Not exactly. On Friday, hoof specialist Ian McKinlay will apply an acrylic and fiberglass patch to the cracked area. It sets in five minutes and is "stronger than the hoof itself," he said. That's certainly encouraging news for a sport still on edge after the death of Eight Belles on the track moments after her second-place finish at the Kentucky Derby. Even Dutrow's normally unshakable confidence was dented when he first saw the crack. "Naturally, we had to worry about it," he said.....more
Big Brown completed his final workout before the Belmont Stakes this morning running five furlongs in one minute flat in front of 200 media members and spectators. Exercise rider Michelle Nevin was aboard as usual taking him on the main track at about 8:50 am on a warm, humid morning at Belmont Park. All involved were very happy with the workout and felt that it went according to the plan; Michelle Nevin, who was admittedly nervous in anticipation of the big race commented that Trainer Richard Dutrow had asked her to "breeze him just like you do every other time." Hoof specialist, Ian McKinlay will wait until Friday to apply the patch to his healing hoof. Dutrow says that he is right on track and that the hoof held up well in the workout. He commented "he jumped over a big hurdle today." McKinlay had positive comments about the recovery and explained the simple process he will go through on Friday to patch the injury. He also took time today to defend Richard Dutrow and the sport of Horse Racing, squashing comments that the horses life was being put in jeopardy by running him in the Belmont Stakes.
When it's showtime, Big Brown always comes through. The Kentucky Derby/Preakness winner pleased his connections and about 200 media members and spectators Tuesday in his only official workout for the Belmont Stakes. The superstar colt breezed 5 furlongs in a minute flat for exercise rider Michelle Nevin on a warm, humid morning at Belmont Park......more
Big Brown's cracked left front hoof is improving daily and held up well Tuesday in his final workout before the Belmont Stakes and his bid for the Triple Crown......more
ESPN's Jeannie Edwards reports on final workout and more:
Dutrow and McKinlay's comments can be heard in this AP report:
Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay decided that Big Brown did not need a patch on his quarter crack before his workout on Tuesday, but will patch him the morning of the race, Saturday. Big Brown is expected to breeze five furlongs under excersie rider michelle Nevin in his only official Belmont prep workout. McKinlay is very confident that the quarter crack will heal on its own. Dutrow and McKinlay explained that the longer they wait, the better off he will be. "It is in absolutely perfect shape, McKinalay added, "he looks like a million bucks." Presumably, he means to say that Big Brown looks great; this was an excusable and accidental understatement as $1,000,000 would mean Big Brown was at "less than 2%" (he is insured for $50,000,000 and is worth much more).
...“I’m going to breeze him just the way he is and give him more time to let Ian (hoof specialist McKinlay) put the patch on the day before the race,” Dutrow said. “The longer we wait the better. As long as he gallops and trains like he did today that’s exactly what we’re going to do......more
The hoof specialist Ian McKinlay says that Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness champ, does not need a patch on the quarter crack on his left front hoof until the morning of the Belmont Stakes. So the trainer Rick Dutrow will give Big Brown his final hard workout Tuesday without it and gallop him into the race confident the colt’s tender hoof is healed......more
Saturday morning, hoof specialist Ian McKinley changed the steel sutres, "drew it down nice and tight", and intensified the iodine and alcohol solution to ward off possible infection. He is confident that Big Brown will be "fabulous" by Monday and ready for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday June 7th.
A hoof specialist changed the steel sutures in Big Brown's foot Saturday and said the unbeaten colt remains on target for the Belmont Stakes in a bid for the Triple Crown."When you push on it now, he doesn't even feel it," hoof specialist Ian McKinlay said from Belmont Park......more
Big Brown galloped at Belmont Park again on Thursday morning and hoof specialist Ian McKinley, who repaired the quarter crack last Saturday, says that his injury is 70 to 80 percent healed." McKinley felt so good about how he looked that he added "It was beautiful, Now I'm starting to get excited. Just being around him he looks magnificent, like a lion looking over the plains."
Big Brown went for another gallop around Belmont Park on Thursday and remains "right on target" for the Belmont Stakes even though the slight crack in his left front hoof has not completely healed. Nearly a week after the Triple Crown hopeful developed a quarter crack, hoof specialist Ian McKinlay said Big Brown's injury is 70 to 80 percent healed, adding, "the longer we can treat it the better he gets.".....more
On Wednesday morning, for the second day in a row, Big Brown galloped around the 1 1/2 mile Belmont track. He ran comfortably from the mile pole with his ears up. Michelle Nevin, his exercise rider who took him out at 9:10 am said that he was bouncing a bit at the start but settled down and was very good by the end. Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay, who fixed a quarter crack in Big Brown's hoof on Saturday, looked at Big Brown at 6:10 am, but did not need to give him any treatment. He was very pleased with the recovery. He expects to place an acrylic patch on the hoof on friday.
....Exercise rider Michelle Nevin was aboard for the gallop, which started at 9:10 a.m. Big Brown was accompanied onto the track by a pony before leaving it at the mile pole. Big Brown galloped well out in the center of the track, looking comfortable with his ears up and with Nevin maintaining a stern hold of the reins. "When we went out on the track he was bouncing a little bit; I didn't want him to be too strong or try and do too much, but he was very good," Nevin said. "The first furlong he was a little rough, then he settled right down, slowly relaxed, and let go of the bit.".....more
....“Obviously we’re being cautious, but he is right on track,” hoof specialist Ian McKinlay said. “He is not quick healer, as he has shown with his other injuries.” McKinlay said the area where the colt had abscess has drained and “there is a bit of a hole there, which is the best case scenario. The foot is cleaned out, and both feet had the same temperature, which is what you want to see. When one is warmer than the other is when you have a problem. The skin is drying right out and the horse seems fabulous.”.....more
On Monday, hoof specialist Ian McKinley told the New York Times that Big Brown would be able to resume training on Tuesday, if trainer Rick Dutrow chose to do so.
....In fact, McKinlay said that Big Brown was free of pain and infection by late Monday afternoon. He said Big Brown could return to training as early as Tuesday, if Dutrow was so inclined. “His feet were ice cold late in the day, and this really doesn’t even qualify as a bump on the road,” McKinlay said in a telephone interview. .....more
This is not Big Brown's repair, but is a great video explanation of what is done. Ian McKinlay, Big Brown's hoof specialist, narrates the explanation of his own procedure from start to finish. It also gives some insight into McKinlay himself and explaining how the process was developed in the 60's (by his father and a dentist by the name of Dr. Harold Fagan). This video is quite worthwhile to watch. McKinlay actually posted it to YouTube.com shortly after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks before he would be called in to repair the most famous hoof in racing today.
Positive remarks have come out of the Big Brown camp today regarding Big Brown's recovery from the quarter crack discovered over the weekend. On Monday, a ten minute procedure was performed by specialist Ian McKinlay.
....“This morning we stopped and saw him early and a lot of heat had come out from yesterday, which is an excellent sign,” McKinlay said. “As usual, just a little bit of movement in that heel is enough to warm up the foot. As we look at him here, he is not as sensitive on the coronet band. Now, we just basically made a little trench and got him down to the wall, just about to the laminae; that’s the sensitive part of the hoof. And we put in one set of sutures, which is like stitches, made of stainless steel wire, and we drew that crack together. And probably tomorrow, he’ll be in much better shape. “Of course, Rick will check him first thing in the morning,” McKinlay added. “But everything should just keep progressing. What we’re trying to do is stabilize that heel so we can get quicker healing.”....more
....McKinlay put two stainless steel wires across the five-eighths-of-an-inch vertical crack at the back of Big Brown's left front foot. Then he drew the crack together and stitched it up. He said the horse limped for a few steps -- as Dutrow said, "Ouch, ouch, ouch," -- then was fine.....more
...."There's no way in the world that four, five, six or seven days [off ] the track is going to affect his outcome or his racing ability when he runs in the Belmont," trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. said. "He's not going to get tired because he missed a few days.".....more
...The injury is common and not serious. Healing can range from a few days to a few months, depending on the severity of the crack. McKinlay says there is no infection, and Big Brown is in no pain. But no matter how well the crack heals, the big test will come when Big Brown returns to the track for a gallop and puts his full weight on the foot......more
As the world scurries to learn more about quarter cracks, it is important to reiterate that their severity can vary considerably. Anecdotally, Big Brown fans can be reassured that they are common and, in fact, many horses have overcome this injury before to win historic races. Big Brown suffered two more sever quarter cracks in the 6 months before his Derby win. Other horses that have had quarter cracks before big wins include Cigar leading up to the 1996 Dubai World Cup and Touch Gold in his 1997 Triple Crown-spoiling Belmont Stakes win over Silver Charm. Big Brown's specialist, Ian McKinlay was responsible for treating Touch Gold and also River Keen, who overcame quarter cracks to win the Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup in 1999.
In an interview today with Hoofcare and Lameness Journal editor Fran Jurga, trainer Richard Dutrow shared some insights into the hoof problems that have been in the headlines lately. If his horse Big Brown, owned by IEAH Stables Inc., can win the Florida Derby in near-record time from the outside post position with two hoof wall separations and special shoes glued on his feet, what might this horse be able to do if he was sound?.....more
The previous year, it had been announced that there would be a new race to take place at Nad Al Sheba, Dubai in 1996, called the Dubai World Cup. To be held in late March, it would offer the richest purse in racing, $5 million dollars, in order to attract the best horses in training in the world. Cigar was invited to participate in the inaugural running, and it was the next stop on his schedule. All didn't go smoothly, however. Cigar had developed a quarter crack and missed about 4 days of training completely. His hoof patched up, Cigar and connections boarded the plane for the 6,000 mile excursion. But all of racing worried about a less-than- 100% Cigar taking on this field, the most accomplished ever assembled in racing history considering their combined earnings. From coast to coast, racing fans took to the tracks and simulcast outlets to witness the race. Under the lights of the night-time racing at Nad Al Sheba, Cigar made his patented move and seemed to have put away the field at the top of the stretch as he had always done. But a horse was fast approaching, another American, Soul of the Matter. He pulled up alongside Cigar and even briefly headed him, but Cigar dug down and pulled away to win at the wire. For all racing fans, we could hear in our head the cheer that went up across the country. Cigar was America's best, and now he was the world's best......more
Ian McKinlay is one of the foremost specialists on hoofcare in American Racing and the man who cares for the valuable feet of Big Brown. Big Brown has had many foot problems in his short career. Fran Jurga's blog is one of the best sources on the web for details about hoof care and well worth a read if you are interested in getting more details about Big Brown and his feet.
....“The Big Brown people are in good hands,” said the trainer David Hofmans, who called on McKinlay after Touch Gold sustained a wound to a front foot when stumbling at the start of the 1997 Preakness. With McKinlay’s help, Touch Gold was patched up and won the Belmont. “Ian kept Touch Gold going,” Hofmans said. “He allowed me to train the horse the way I needed to get to the Belmont. He was most important in allowing me to win the Belmont. I could not have won the race without him.”.....more
In an interview today with Hoofcare and Lameness Journal editor Fran Jurga, trainer Richard Dutrow shared some insights into the hoof problems that have been in the headlines lately. If his horse Big Brown, owned by IEAH Stables Inc., can win the Florida Derby in near-record time from the outside post position with two hoof wall separations and special shoes glued on his feet, what might this horse be able to do if he was sound?.....more
Tender Hoof Solutions - Ian McKinlay's company which is responsible for the Yasha Shoes that he wears. Here is a video explaining the shoes:
The severity of a quarter crack varies considerably from case to case. In the simplest terms, it is a crack in the medial wall of the hoof, beginning at the coronet. For more detailed info, refer to the following:
A successful quarter crack repair should be simple, strong, safe to apply and durable. It must be emphasized that the cause of the crack must be addressed in order to prevent reoccurrence......more
It can be a mild superficial sand crack, or a deep fissure that goes through the hoof wall into the sensitive laminae below. Bleeding, infection and lameness are all possible consequences......more
....The American Association of Equine Practitioners defines a quarter crack as "a vertical crack in the hoof wall between the toe and the heel of the hoof." Big Brown's crack, approximately five-eighths of an inch long, is in the back of his left front hoof......more
It has been discovered and reported that Big Brown has developed a 'slight' Quarter Crack on the inside of his left front foot. Big Brown suffered two other quarter cracks in his feet over the last 8 months, but this is not as bad as those injuries that kept him sidelined for 45+ days. Trainer Rick Dutrow said that he discovered it on friday afternoon and called in specialist Ian McKinlay to treat it. Big Brown is in no discomfort and McKinlay, who has had success in similar scenarios before feels confident that Big Brown's Triple Crown Pursuit is not in jeopardy. He has been kept off the track since Friday, but Dutrow hopes and expects him to return to the track by Thursday. In an interesting comment on TVG, Simon Bray, who used to be an assistant trainer under Bill Mott, reported that Cigar dealt with similar quarter crack issues throughout his storied career. Here are the reports from around the web:
Big Brown has yet to encounter anything that can trip up his historic Triple Crown run. But that may have changed Sunday. Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. revealed that the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner is battling a quarter crack on the inside of his left front hoof that will force the colt to miss several days of training. .....more
Big Brown has a "slight" quarter crack on the inside of his left front foot, trainer Rick Dutrow said Sunday, May 25. The colt did not go to the track Saturday or Sunday......more
"If it was two weeks we would be nervous, but since we have an extra week I'm as cool as we can be. It's bad that this happened, but it's good that it happened at this time," Dutrow said. McKinlay downplayed the severity of the problem, noting that a best-case scenario would allow Big Brown to return to the track on Thursday......more
....“If the race was today, yesterday or tomorrow, this would not be an issue,” said Dutrow Sunday morning at Belmont Park. “The amont of training he is missing is nothing. He is going to be ready to roll.”.....more
...."We didn't know until Saturday that it was a quarter-crack," explained Dutrow, who said he first noticed an issue with the colt's hoof Friday afternoon. "It scares us this happened, but this has nothing to do with his ability to finish what he started. "It's bad it happened, but it's good it happened now. He's going to be OK." ....more
Big Brown, an exceptional thoroughbred, has a very common problem: a quarter crack, which is a split in the wall of a hoof. Trainer Rick Dutrow announced yesterday morning at Belmont Park that the undefeated colt had not trained since Friday because of a condition foot specialist Ian McKinlay termed "very minor." Both expressed optimism that the ailment could be cleared up within a few days, and in the "best-case scenario" the Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner could return to the track "Wednesday or Thursday." The American Association of Equine Practitioners defines a quarter crack as "a vertical crack in the hoof wall between the toe and the heel of the hoof." Big Brown's crack, approximately five-eighths of an inch long, is in the back of his left front hoof......more
....A quarter crack occurs to the hard substance of the hoof, similar to a fingernail, and can be painful and can lead to an infection of the soft tissue underneath. Big Brown did not train Saturday and today. Noted quarter crack specialist Ian McKinlay, who has worked on Big Brown’s hooves in the past, called it a “very, very minor crack” about five-eighths of an inch long in the hoof wall. The hoof is being treated with a solution of iodine and alcohol and be patched Monday with a set of wires and mesh......more
....The quarter crack is a split in the hoof wall, traveling down from the hairline, and it is not related to the previous foot injuries that troubled Big Brown late in his 2-year-old year and again at the beginning if this year, said noted equine hoof specialist Ian McKinlay, who has cared for Big Brown’s feet since last fall......Said McKinlay: ``Unless I make some boneheaded move this will be a walk in the park.’’more
AP News Report - includes comments from McKinlay, Dutrow and Casino Drive spokesman:
Due to the foot problems that Big Brown has encountered in his short career, he is fitted for a special shoe called a Yasha Shoe, developed by his hoof specialist, Ian McKinley. The Yasha Shoe is a two part rim pad system including a hard red pad around the front edge of the foot and a softer black pad around the innr edge of the shoe and in the heels. They are bonded to the actual shoes. This video explains it all:
This is the story of Tom Curl, the local farrier in Florida, who repaired Big Brown's second quarter crack and helped prepare him for the Florida Derby.
"When Curl began cutting out around the crack, he noticed it already was heavily infected, meaning it was actually a more serious separation in the hoof wall. He promptly began treatment, drying up the tissue, but the horse didn’t respond well and reacted violently as his feet swelled. “It took a while to figure out a treatment he liked,” Curl said. “But once we got that going, it looked better and better and better.”.....more
Jan-Feb 2007: Big Brown develops a quartercrack in his other foot and is forced to miss more time, jeopardizing a try at the Triple Crown
Dec 22, 2007: With the quartercrack fixed, Big Brown breezes six furlongs on the dirt at Palm Meadows in 1:13 3/5, outworking Diamond Stripes and giving Dutrow great hope for the 3-year old season
Oct-Dec 2007: Big Brown joins stable of Trainer Rick Dutrow, who breezes the colt on the turf in preparation for Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf, but he is sidelined with a quartercrack in his foot
Sept, 2007: 75% stake of Big Brown purchased in a private sale for around $3.5 million by IEAH Stables
Sept 3, 2007: Big Brown wins debut by 11 1/4 lengths as a 15/1 longshot on the turf at Saratoga
Apr-Sept 2007: Owner Paul Pompa Jr names Big Brown as a celebration of the contract Renewal between UPS Freight and his Brooklyn-based trucking company, Truck-Rite Corp.
April 17, 2007: Big Brown Purchased at Keenland Auction for $190,000 by Paul Pompa Jr., who had owned half-brother Snake River for one race.
Oct 24, 2006: Big Brown Purchased at Faisig Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale for $60,000.
April 10, 2005: Bay Colt Big Brown foaled
2004: for a sire fee of $10,000 Boundary is bred in Kentucky by Dr. Gary B Knapp's Monticule Farms to a broodmare named Mien
