Bodog Beat

In a sad twist, Big Brown's career has been ended by an injury to his right front foot. (AP Images)

Big Brown's amazing racing career was cut short yesterday at Aqueduct, when the Breeders' Cup contender tore a three-inch piece of flesh off of his right front foot during a workout. Part of the hoof was also missing.

"This was a complete fluke," Michael Iavarone, Big Brown's co-owner said. "He hadn't had issues with his feet for awhile and to have him come up just like this was a shock to all of us."

Iavarone said that because the injury would take at least two months to heal, Big Brown would be pulling out of the Breeders' Cup.

Ivarone said Big Brown, "Not only tore the bulb of the heel off, but half the foot was torn off," he said. "His front and back hooves came together. After he cooled out, he didn't want to keep walking. It's a pretty significant soft-tissue injury. We had no choice but to retire him."

Iavarone said that although Big Brown's injury isn't life-threatening, it's important to make sure infection doesn't set in while he recovers.

"I expect the next few days to be pretty rough on him," Iavarone said. "We've got to take care of him."

The end of Big Brown's career is a blow to the entire horse racing injury. The highly anticpicated matchup between Big Brown and Curlin at the upcoming October 25 Breeders' Cup Classic was a race the Nation had their eye on. The 3-year-old colt won 7 of 8 races and earned more than 3.6 million.

Iavarone said Big Brown's team would reflect on "what he's done for us, instead of feeling sorry for ourselves. For an owner, he's one in a million. The way the fans responded to him was amazing. He won the Derby and Preakness on raw ability. In his last two races, he showed his heart. He was getting to the point where he was putting both of them together, and it kills me that he got this close and not to see it happen. We did everything we could to get to the Breeders' Cup, but it didn't work out. It's just part of the game. I can walk away with a smile and know he's going to live a good life."

Even though Big Brown's out, you can still bet on the Breeders' Cup in the Bodog Racebook.