2008 Belmont Stakes

[Jake]

It's possible that they set up D'atara to run like shit going into this race to get his odds up knowing he had great pedigree for the distance, but that kind of stuff happens all the time and I don't consider that "a fix"

Da Tara's trainer, Nick Zito, pulled off a similar feat with Birdstone in 2004 (a 36-1 longshot) in denying Smarty Jones the Triple Crown.

Wish I would've remembered that before I hit the OTC and made my bet for this weekend. :(

 

[BB73]

Can you return the money of the people that bet on C Drive?

Just saw this question. Sorry, but no. On previous horse racing bets, I've mentioned this policy (below is post #1 from the Derby thread in May).

I knew that Big Brown would go more odds-on than 1-2 when I created this vbet. Folks tried to take advantage of that, but it didn't work out. To return the bets would be unfair to those who've lost money on scratched horses in the past. The vBookie locks the odds when the thread is created, and the odds are normally better than those at the track (Da'Tara was an exception), but betting on horses that get scratched is part of the risk that's involved.

This thread has been recreated - it was lost in a merge, since the other thread had an earlier start time.

The odds haven't been changed - they are better than Vegas odds as of last night, and will remain fixed. But if you bet on a horse that gets scratched, that's your tough luck.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Big Brown injures foot, career over

There was nothing little about Big Brown's racing career.
From his overpowering victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness to his spectacular flop in the Belmont as he bid for a Triple Crown, Big Brown and his entourage -- including his maverick owner and outspoken trainer -- simply didn't do subtle.
Yet less than two weeks away from his final race, the brilliant champion with brittle feet ended his career not with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita but in front of a few stunned onlookers at Aqueduct following an otherwise routine workout.
Michael Iavarone of IEAH Stables, co-owners of Big Brown, said his horse tore a three-inch piece of flesh off the foot after it collided with his right rear foot while working over Aqueduct's turf course with stablemate Kip Deville.
"This was a complete fluke," Iavarone said. "He hadn't had issues with his feet for a while and to have him come up just like this was a shock to all of us."
The injury could take at least two months to heal, making it impossible for Big Brown to run in the BC Classic on Oct. 25 at Santa Anita. Big Brown is due at Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., by the end of the year to begin his stud career, preventing him from getting back on the track one last time.
"We don't have a choice but to retire him," Iavarone said. "It's gut-wrenching."
The injury itself isn't life-threatening, Iavarone said, but added it's important to make sure infection doesn't set in while he recovers.
"I expect the next few days to be pretty rough on him," Iavarone said. "We've got to take care of him."
Iavarone watched from the backstretch at Aqueduct while Big Brown completed the six-furlong work and thought his horse was ready for a possible shot at reigning Horse of the Year Curlin in the BC Classic until Iavarone returned to the barn and saw the troubled look on trainer Rick Dutrow's face.
"It looks like he grabbed himself in a bad spot," Dutrow said.
Big Brown will spend several weeks in New York while he recovers before being shipped to Three Chimneys.
The injury caps a dazzling but somewhat controversial career for Big Brown, who won seven times in eight starts, including dominant runs in the Derby and the Preakness, and earned $3.6 million.

Entire article: Big Brown injures foot, career over - Horse Racing - CBSSports.com