The owners of Big Brown say they will no longer give their horses steroids and called on others in the industry to do the same, the New York Times reports. The near Triple Crown winner drew scrutiny and some criticism when trainer Rick Dutrow admitted injecting the horse—legally—with steroids in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby.
“I know Big Brown or any of our horses do not need this stuff to win,” said owner Michael Iavarone. “I’m not worried about an uneven playing field, either. The cost of the drug tests are a small price to pay for the integrity of the sport. I’m urging other owners to join us, and let’s turn the game around." (More Big Brown stories.)