Big Brown-Curlin matchup could be worth $5 million

[shoeman530]

BOSTON, Mass. -- Suffolk Downs is offering a $5 million purse for the Massachusetts Handicap if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and Curlin go undefeated and start in the race against each other.

The $5 million would include a $1 million participation bonus for each horse.

The 1 1-8-mile race, to be run Sept. 20, currently carries a $500,000 purse. The extra money would be funded by a company controlled by Richard T. Fields, the largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs.

Big Brown could become the first Triple Crown winner in 30 years if he wins the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Curlin was the 2007 Horse of the Year.

"If they are to square off, we feel that a $5 million purse is a great incentive and what better place than at Suffolk Downs in the city of Boston, the sports capital of the world," Fields said in a statement Thursday.

The purse would be $3 million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and Curlin start the race but one or both horses have a loss this year. The $3 million would include a $500,000 participation bonus for each.

"We're not looking to run away from Curlin," said Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, which owns Big Brown. "I'm not looking forward to running against him because he's a special horse."

MassCap winners include Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Riva Ridge and Cigar.

[insidethe8thpol]

BOSTON, Mass. --
"We're not looking to run away from Curlin," said Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, which owns Big Brown. "I'm not looking forward to running against him because he's a special horse."

Between this stable and dutrow, its more like the WWE everyday. It would be nice to see the race, but nicer if a herd of shetlin poines trampled over them and shut them the hell up.

I would like to see Big Brown have a 10 length lead in the stretch only to smell dutrow lighting up a bone behind the toteboard and leap the fence to get a toke on it

[meaiken]

I hope it happens. I think it will as long as Curlin wins the stephan f foster and Big Brown wins the Bemont and Travers.

I think both parties will go for it. They each get a cool mil for showing up.

I really want it to happen. I am traveling to New York tomorrow 2-2.5 hours to see the belmont stake I will surely trave the 1.5 hours to Boston.

Curlin Beats Big Brown in the head.

[weazel079]

As of right now Curlin is too good for Big Brown.

[meaiken]

As of right now Curlin is too good for Big Brown.

Even if Big Brown wins he's still would not be classified as a "Great Race Horse". Seattle Slew never got called great till he was 4. Even Curlin wasn't great till later in his 3 year old year. Just because you win the triple crown doesn't make you great. We still have to see how good the rest of thease horses really are.

Either way. They both retire at years end anyway. There's talk about a match race in December, but that won't happen. After Ruffian, you'll never see a match race unless horse scratch from a race.

I think This Mass Cap race will go only if they both win there respected races. I just hope Curlin doesn't bouce after returning fron Dubai. He shouldn't.