A horse of tremendous talent, Big Brown scored nearly effortless victories in the 2008 Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and Preakness (USA-G1) and went into the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) regarded as the likeliest shot to sweep the Triple Crown since the great Spectacular Bid—and this in spite of the colt’s having missed four days of training due to a quarter crack. But like the Bid, Big Brown failed in shocking fashion, and under circumstances even more bizarre than a woefully misjudged ride and a safety pin that may or may not have caused foot soreness. Bumped about while rank in the early going, he showed no response when asked to run five furlongs out and was inexplicably eased by jockey Kent Desormeaux to become the first Triple Crown hopeful to fail to finish the Belmont after starting in it. No physical issues were uncovered during a thorough post-race examination, and it was not until about two weeks after the race that a photograph showed the colt’s right hind shoe had been partially dislodged. Big Brown returned from his Belmont debacle to win two more races before another hoof injury sent him into retirement, but he never quite regained his earlier luster. Thus far, he has been a better racer than stallion.
Race record
8 starts, 7 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$3,614,500
2008:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2008)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds based on his performance in the 2008 Kentucky Derby.
Rated at 125 pounds on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2008 for his performances in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, 5 pounds below joint highweights Curlin (the American Horse of the Year and champion older male) and 2008 European champion 3-year-old male New Approach (who earned his rating in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, ENG-G1) but highest for 3-year-old males on dirt.
As an individual
A handsome bay horse, Big Brown stands 16.1 hands. His shoulder is well-laid and ties into a deep, muscular body. His feet were his weak point, suffering repeated cracks. He was a fluid mover as a racehorse and was blessed with abundant speed. Playful and energetic, Big Brown likes to rear but otherwise is kind-natured.
As a stallion
Big Brown led the New York regional sire list in 2015 and 2020. As of June 8, 2024, he has sired 34 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Dortmund (USA), Puca (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dornoch (USA), Mage (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Big Brown was bred by Monticule Farm. A US$60,000 yearling at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton fall sale, he resold for US$190,000 at the 2007 Keeneland April 2-year-olds in training sale to Paul Pompa Jr., who in turn sold a three-quarters interest in the colt to IEAH Stables after Big Brown’s maiden victory. Big Brown was trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. and was ridden by Kent Desormeaux during his Triple Crown campaign. Following the Preakness, a majority interest in Big Brown’s breeding rights was sold to Three Chimneys Farm at a reported valuation of US$60 million, though this figure was never officially confirmed and may have included incentive clauses in the event that the colt won the Belmont Stakes and/or the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1). Big Brown retired to stud in Kentucky in 2009 at Three Chimneys Farm. He also shuttled to Vinery Australia. He moved to New York in 2014 after a majority interest in the horse was sold to Andrew Cohen’s Sunrise Stables and Gary Tolchin’s Golden Goose Enterpirises. He currently stands at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions.
Pedigree notes
Big Brown is inbred 3x3 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and great international sire Northern Dancer, 3x4 to 1967 American Horse of the Year Damascus, and 4x5 to 1958 American Horse of the Year and 1972 American champion sire Round Table. Sired by multiple Grade 3 winner Boundary (a son of Danzig), he is a half brother to 2017 Grey Stakes (CAN-G3) winner Archaggelos (by Temple City).
Big Brown is out of Mien, a winning half sister to stakes winner Queen of the Creek (by Theatrical) and to Espial (by Banker’s Gold), dam of juvenile listed stakes winner Sky’s Goldmaker (by Sky Mesa). Mien is also a half sister to Theatre Fan (by Theatrical), dam of juvenile listed stakes winner Broadway Missile (by Heatseeker), and to Campy (by Theatrical), second dam of Grade 2 winner Wells Bayou.
Mien and her sisters were produced from the stakes-placed Lear Fan mare Miasma, whose half sister Falconet (by Hawkster) is the dam of multiple Puerto Rican stakes winner Bright Mahogany (by Bright Launch) and the second dam of 2018 Puerto Rican champion 2-year-old filly Prometida. The next dam in Big Brown’s tail-female line, Syrian Circle (by Damascus), is a winning half sister to 1997 American champion older female Hidden Lake (by Quiet American), English Group 3 winner Ginistrelli (by Hoist the Flag), and listed stakes winner Midway Circle (by Alydar). Through daughters other than Syrian Circle, the siblings’ dam Friendly Circle (by Round Table) is the second dam of I Can Do It All, the champion imported 2-year-old male of 1992 in the Dominican Republic, and the third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Humor Acido, Argentine Group 2 winner Humorada Negra, Grade 3 winner More Smoke, and Brazilian Group 3 winner Uva Preta.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Top: Photo taken by Jessica Morgan during exercise in 2008. Used by permission.
Bottom: Portrait taken by Jessica Morgan at Three Chimneys Farm in 2013. Used by permission.
Race record
8 starts, 7 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, US$3,614,500
2008:
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Monmouth Stakes (USA-L, 9FT, Monmouth)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2008)
Assessments
Earned a Timeform rating of 132 pounds based on his performance in the 2008 Kentucky Derby.
Rated at 125 pounds on the World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2008 for his performances in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, 5 pounds below joint highweights Curlin (the American Horse of the Year and champion older male) and 2008 European champion 3-year-old male New Approach (who earned his rating in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, ENG-G1) but highest for 3-year-old males on dirt.
As an individual
A handsome bay horse, Big Brown stands 16.1 hands. His shoulder is well-laid and ties into a deep, muscular body. His feet were his weak point, suffering repeated cracks. He was a fluid mover as a racehorse and was blessed with abundant speed. Playful and energetic, Big Brown likes to rear but otherwise is kind-natured.
As a stallion
Big Brown led the New York regional sire list in 2015 and 2020. As of June 8, 2024, he has sired 34 stakes winners.
Notable progeny
Dortmund (USA), Puca (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Dornoch (USA), Mage (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Big Brown was bred by Monticule Farm. A US$60,000 yearling at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton fall sale, he resold for US$190,000 at the 2007 Keeneland April 2-year-olds in training sale to Paul Pompa Jr., who in turn sold a three-quarters interest in the colt to IEAH Stables after Big Brown’s maiden victory. Big Brown was trained by Richard Dutrow Jr. and was ridden by Kent Desormeaux during his Triple Crown campaign. Following the Preakness, a majority interest in Big Brown’s breeding rights was sold to Three Chimneys Farm at a reported valuation of US$60 million, though this figure was never officially confirmed and may have included incentive clauses in the event that the colt won the Belmont Stakes and/or the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1). Big Brown retired to stud in Kentucky in 2009 at Three Chimneys Farm. He also shuttled to Vinery Australia. He moved to New York in 2014 after a majority interest in the horse was sold to Andrew Cohen’s Sunrise Stables and Gary Tolchin’s Golden Goose Enterpirises. He currently stands at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions.
Pedigree notes
Big Brown is inbred 3x3 to 1964 Canadian Horse of the Year and great international sire Northern Dancer, 3x4 to 1967 American Horse of the Year Damascus, and 4x5 to 1958 American Horse of the Year and 1972 American champion sire Round Table. Sired by multiple Grade 3 winner Boundary (a son of Danzig), he is a half brother to 2017 Grey Stakes (CAN-G3) winner Archaggelos (by Temple City).
Big Brown is out of Mien, a winning half sister to stakes winner Queen of the Creek (by Theatrical) and to Espial (by Banker’s Gold), dam of juvenile listed stakes winner Sky’s Goldmaker (by Sky Mesa). Mien is also a half sister to Theatre Fan (by Theatrical), dam of juvenile listed stakes winner Broadway Missile (by Heatseeker), and to Campy (by Theatrical), second dam of Grade 2 winner Wells Bayou.
Mien and her sisters were produced from the stakes-placed Lear Fan mare Miasma, whose half sister Falconet (by Hawkster) is the dam of multiple Puerto Rican stakes winner Bright Mahogany (by Bright Launch) and the second dam of 2018 Puerto Rican champion 2-year-old filly Prometida. The next dam in Big Brown’s tail-female line, Syrian Circle (by Damascus), is a winning half sister to 1997 American champion older female Hidden Lake (by Quiet American), English Group 3 winner Ginistrelli (by Hoist the Flag), and listed stakes winner Midway Circle (by Alydar). Through daughters other than Syrian Circle, the siblings’ dam Friendly Circle (by Round Table) is the second dam of I Can Do It All, the champion imported 2-year-old male of 1992 in the Dominican Republic, and the third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Humor Acido, Argentine Group 2 winner Humorada Negra, Grade 3 winner More Smoke, and Brazilian Group 3 winner Uva Preta.
Fun facts
- Big Brown was named in honor of the United Parcel Service, popularly known as “Big Brown” because of its brown-painted delivery trucks and the brown uniforms of its drivers. Taking advantage of its namesake’s popularity, UPS sponsored the colt’s run through the Triple Crown, a move which researchers into corporate sponsorship estimated gained nearly US$6 million worth of public exposure for UPS.
- Big Brown was the seventh horse to win the Kentucky Derby while undefeated and the fourth horse to enter the Belmont Stakes with a chance to sweep the Triple Crown while undefeated, following Majestic Prince (1969), Seattle Slew (1977), and Smarty Jones (2004). Only Seattle Slew managed to win the Belmont and exit the Triple Crown as an undefeated champion, a feat later emulated by Justify in 2018.
- Big Brown was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby with three or fewer previous starts since Regret in 1915.
- Big Brown was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby from post position 20 or any position further outside since the advent of starting gates (first used for the Kentucky Derby in 1930).
- Big Brown was the innocent catalyst of a furor regarding the use of anabolic steroids in racehorses after Richard Dutrow mentioned that he routinely gave the colt (and his other horses) a monthly dose of such a medication. While the medication used was legal at the time in the racing jurisdictions in which Big Brown competed, the disclosure brought a great deal of negative publicity to horse racing, especially after Big Brown flopped in the Belmont after not getting his steroid dose the previous month. Racing jurisdictions across the United States for the most part responded over the following year by banning the use of anabolic and analgesic steroids in racehorses in active training. (Horses that are sidelined and not actively training may still be treated with steroids for various medical reasons.) Dutrow was not penalized for any wrongdoing in Big Brown’s case as there was no evidence indicating he had treated the colt with any banned substance, but he was later given a 10-year suspension of his trainer’s license beginning January 17, 2013, for over 70 violations of New York racing rules including multiple drug violations, a penalty honored by the racing commissions of other states.
- Big Brown carries an unusual white marking near the girth area on his left side. The marking has been described as about the size of “a couple of half dollars.”
Photo credit
Top: Photo taken by Jessica Morgan during exercise in 2008. Used by permission.
Bottom: Portrait taken by Jessica Morgan at Three Chimneys Farm in 2013. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 8, 2024