The big horse is back

Big Brown here. I’m back on the track and back on the blog, and I’ll tell you why I cut off this writer for a week. He was trying to hustle me for a book deal, bugging me constantly. Then my hoof thing came up Friday, so I got a little edgy and bummed out.

Before that, my mother, Mien, called from Kentucky and said all the mares down in Lexington were gossiping about how obnoxious I’d become. She was so upset and so embarrassed. So I thought it over and decided “No press.’’ It’s lonely at the top, and once you’re up there, all the media wants to do is chop you down. You’re just a commodity. I’m an affectionate, easygoing horse, but even I can take just so much.

Still, who knows how much longer I’ll be in the spotlight. How many more times will I race? Stud duty at Three Chimneys is my future, and I know I won’t be running as a 4-year-old. I hope I can make it back to Saratoga for the Travers and then go to the Breeders’ Cup, but you never can tell. I can hear you thinking, not only is this horse a killer runner, but he’s smart, too. As my boss Michael Iavarone said, “Big Brown is all class and takes care of himself on the track. He not only outruns the other horses, he out-thinks them, too.”

I’m going to miss reading quotes like that, so while I’m still racing I’m going to keep talking, too. The hoof’s feeling fine, so bring on the Belmont.