If the Shoe Fits

I am simply amazed at the staying power of the Big Brown Belmont story. ABC News even covered the "loose shoe" theory as did Bloodhorse and the New York Times. It seems that the loose shoe on Big Brown's right hind leg may provide the most "logical" explanation to date for his stunning loss.

Why are people still wondering about this? The horse lost. There are a myriad of possible reasons why and we will never know the definitive answer. Well, maybe we will but it is going to take a long time. We only recently found out that Phar Lap was indeed a victim of arsenic poisoning and that happened over fifty years ago. So get over it and move on.

The source of all this spinning continues to be Michael Iavarone who has serious financial interests in establishing his reputation as a conscientious owner. First he proclaims his stable "drug free" and then he jumps on the loose shoe theory as his get out of jail card. Couldn't have been the let down from steroids? Couldn't have been the excessive heat combined with lasix? Couldn't have been the inside post position combined with the increased traffic out of the gate?

Wait, remember the starting judge on the track in the blue jacket? Or the questionable ride by the jockey? Or the horse's unusual aggressive behavior in the detention barn prior to the race? Or the crowds? Or the noise? Or the deep track?

I truly believe this is just the latest in a series of possible outs for what was simply a bad performance all around. Big Brown may have come in last on the track but his owners and trainer are still running....