Horse Racing Industry Under Fire

When Eight Belles suffered a fatal injury at the 2008 Kentucky Derby, everyone gasped in horror. When Big Brown blew away the field at the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, only to finish in dead last at the Belmont Stakes (and effectively killing all hopes of ever seeing another Triple Crown winner anytime soon), horse racing fans everywhere went numb in disbelief.

What was happening to our beloved horses? Where did we go wrong?

Those questions and more will be answered soon when US Congress begins its hearings on the ethics of horse racing.

"When you talk about the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, Preakness, the whole country focuses on those, they attract stars from Hollywood, and it's all pretty romantic and wonderful," says US Rep. Ed Whitfield (R) of Kentucky, who holds hearings Thursday. "But in everyday racing, there are horses going down, and then the horses unable to fulfill their promise going to slaughter. The greed has trumped the concern for the horse, it's trumped the safety of the jockeys, and it's trumped the integrity of the sport."

It will be interesting to see what Congress will learn and take action on as a result of these hearings. Considering the horse racing industry brings in a whopping $40 billion annually, doing away with the sport entirely is an unlikely option.

Read more on "Horse Racing Under New Congressional Scrutiny" here.

Belmont Post Positions Drawn: Big Brown is No. 1

More horses have won the Belmont Stakes from the No. 1 post position than any other position at Belmont Park. Let's hope Big Brown makes good on that stat come Saturday.

On Wednesday morning at Belmont Park, the post positions for the highly anticipated Belmont Stakes were drawn, and the good news from Big Brown's stable is that the favorite to win drew the No. 1 post position. Since 1905, there have been more wins from the No. 1 position (23) than any other position.

Here is the complete field for the 2008 Belmont Stakes, including post position, horse's name, and odds to win:

1. Big Brown 2/5 odds
2. Guadalcanal 50/1 odds
3. Macho Again 20/1 odds
4. Denis of Cork 12/1 odds
5. Casino Drive 7/2 odds
6. Da'Tara 30/1 odds
7. Tale of Ekati 20/1 odds
8. Anak Nakal 30/1 odds
9. Ready's Echo 30/1 odds
10. Icabad Crane 20/1 odds

Get your Belmont Stakes odds at the Bodog Racebook and bet on Big Brown to become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years!

Big Brown Still the Best

Even with a cracked hoof, Big Brown is still the best horse entered into this weekend's Belmont Stakes. At least, that's what trainer Rick Dutrow is saying.

"There's not any issues with our horse," Dutrow said. "He's right on target. He's by far the best horse in the race."

After undergoing a minor procedure to repair his front left hoof, Big Brown was back on track and ran five furlongs in under a minute.

"He jumped over a big hurdle today," Dutrow said.

Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay will be called back on Friday to make one last repair job to Big Brown's foot, a patch job that will mean a good cleaning and new sutures, along with an acrylic adhesive that will leave the hoof better than new.

"The adhesive that we'll rebuild that wall with is stronger than the hoof itself," McKinlay said.

That being said, the proof will be in the pudding when Big Brown makes his way to the gates at Belmont Park on Saturday afternoon. With the Triple Crown on the line, all eyes will be on the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner to run the race of his life.

Bet on the Belmont Stakes and bet on Big Brown to take the Triple Crown!