Welcome to Big Brown Triple Crown . com, where you will find information, videos, commentaries, articles and other tidbits relating to Big Brown and Horse Racing's Triple Crown. Use the links down the right side to navigate through the content. If you have a comment, feedback, or something to add, contact us at BigBrownTripleCrown@gmail.com. Have a look around, Get Daily Updates in your Email, fall in love with this great horse and sport, spread the word about Big Brown and enjoy his Triple Crown run.
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
Big Brown was on the Belmont park track this morning. He jogged around the mile and a half track in the rain and trainer Richard Dutrow reported that he was very happy with his move and that he looked better than he did before the Preakness.
....“I guess we surprised everybody today. I think the decision to go to the track this morning was made late last night. Big Brown was just getting too aggressive in the barn. He needed to go to the track"......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:
Despite suffering from a case of laryngitis and unable to speak much, trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said that Florida Derby (gr. I) runaway winner Big Brown came out of the March 29 event in good shape. Dutrow said the undefeated son of Boundary was doing well back at his Palm Meadows Training Center barn March 30 and his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (gr. I) preparation plans would be solidified later in the week. .....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
