Big Brown Owner, Trainer May Be Limiting Horse's Earnings

Are Big Brown's Earnings Limited?

Triple Crown hopeful Big Brown's "failure to win hearts might limit his earnings potential," as racing fans "haven't embraced Big Brown the way they have past champions, thanks in part to the checkered past of his owner and trainer," according to Tim Lemke of the WASHINGTON TIMES. While the owners of horses like Secretariat, Affirmed, Funny Cide and Smarty Jones "still earn money from the sales of everything from hats and T-shirts to photographs and posters," Big Brown so far has "failed to gain the popularity" of those thoroughbreds. Secretariat.com President Leonard Lusky said of Big Brown's appeal compared to previous horses, "You don't seem to have the same level of affection. ... If the owners don't have a sense of obligation to the fans, it may not last. If the owners are very accommodating to the fans, he will be an enduring and beloved Triple Crown winner." Horsehats.com Owner Dave Williams, whose site sells caps featuring famous thoroughbreds, said Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow has "kind of said some things that rubbed some people the wrong way, so that does play some role." Lemke notes Big Brown's earnings potential also "could be impacted by what his future holds," as industry sources said that the horse can "make millions from stud fees by retiring early, but his race winnings and merchandise sales would improve if he were to continue racing even for just a year or two." A longer career also would benefit UPS, which signed a sponsorship deal with the horse and jockey Kent Desormeaux before the Kentucky Derby. UPS PR Manager Kristen Petrella: "Obviously we'd like to maximize this opportunity as much as we can" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 6/3).