A Worst Case “What If” Scenario

6. June 2008  - Published by Jeff Pugh
Comments (4)

This weekend you could watch history be made for the first time in 30 years as Big Brown makes his quest to win the Triple Crown in horse racing. Just 11 horses have pulled off the feat in the past 140 years, the last being Affirmed in 1978.

In the days leading up to the race, we’ve been inundated with media reports about the injury to Big Brown and how he is ready to go. I don’t have the level of expertise of the trainers and doctors in this situation, but they say Big Brown is just fine and ready to race. I cannot argue with that.

But as a huge horse racing fan, I’m torn between the two scenarios running in my mind. The first is the best case scenario of Big Brown doing what Big Brown does and destroy his field of competitors on his way to becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner. The second is a more disappointing, worst case scenario of Big Brown suffering a catastrophic injury during/after the race, similar to Barbaro and Eight Belles.

Should Big Brown race with a known injury? How bad is the injury? And, what happens to horse racing if something happens to Big Brown?

The tragedy of Eight Belles is still very fresh in the minds of many with investigations being asked of the Kentucky state government. Moments after the Kentucky Derby, the stories weren’t about a horse that won from the 20 post position, but about the horse that had to be euthanized on the track for breaking her two front legs. We know there was not a pre-existing condition to Eight Belles and the answer is that is simply a part of horse racing.

But what if something happens to Big Brown? With the known hoof injury he has, I believe horse racing would take its biggest blow ever to the sport … almost to the point of no return. Horse racing simply cannot withstand another powerful horse ending in such a tragic way.

I think it brings up an interesting debate. Can horse racing survive if Big Brown suffers an injury? I’m not sure it can.

I’m not arguing whether he should run or not in the Belmont. I think that is a no-brainer. If the trainers and doctors say he is OK, then he runs. But you have to be careful. You already have a $50 million stud deal in the bank. This is all about managing the risk vs. the reward.

Horse Racing , , , ,

Comments

Bret Sims
Bret Sims
6/6/2008 11:55:56 AM #
Horse racing will be fine even if something terrible like Big Brown or any other horse got hurt or killed.

I think it is funny that PETA has issues with a horse racing and have a fit when a horse is injured but where are they to pay for the medical bills of the jockey's that get seriously injured?  When you put the life of an animal above that of a human then you have lost your way.  Oh, I digress.

Horse racing would lose some air time and the casual fan might walk away but horse racing will survive.  It survived the Great depression and World Wars, it will survive a bunch of animal activists throwing a hissy fit.
Jeff Pugh
Jeff Pugh
6/6/2008 1:27:07 PM #
Very valid points. The PETA freaks are just that ... freaks. I just think the media bloodbath would cripple the industry, at least for a while.
Dan Clasgens
Dan Clasgens
6/6/2008 1:58:48 PM #
The injury is being blown way out of proportion and is pretty common for horses. The reality of the matter is that horses weigh a ton and there ankles are yet so small. What happened to Eight Belles, breaking both at the same time, is almost unheard of. Still, many horses are put down annually (racehorses and others alike) because once they break their foot they are done.
Adam Bartel
Adam Bartel
6/6/2008 5:02:39 PM #
I don't think a major injury would kill horse racing; if it could, then Barbaro's death would have done that already.  Horse racing just isn't big enough anymore to be killed, if that makes sense.  People would be upset about it for a while, but then it would fade into the background and racing would return to its niche sport status.
Comments are closed