Breeding & Racing Magazine

Big Brown Belmont Loss Cost IEAH US$50-60m

In the US, IEAH Stables co-president Michael Iavarone told CNBC.com the star 3YO Big Brown's controversial defeat in this year's Gr1 Belmont Stakes "cost the colt's owners between US$50-60 million". Jockey Kent Desormeaux pulled up the Gr1 Kentucky Derby & Gr1 Preakness Stakes winner as he attempted to complete the US 3YO Triple Crown at Belmont Park in June. Iavarone said Big Brown "would have commanded a US$300,000 stud fee had he retired as a Triple Crown winner". Instead Big Brown will stand the 2009 breeding season for US$65,000 at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky.