Big Brown back under tack for mile and a quarter (crack?)

As is the practice at Three Chimneys Farm, where last year's 3-year-old champion colt Big Brown stood this spring and summer for an advertised $65,000 in his first season at stud, the horse was under tack this week for a workout intended to keep the farm's stallions fit and happy.

Big Brown was retired after just eight lifetime starts (seven wins, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes) upon being injured while prepping for the Breeders' Cup Classic. He hadn't been ridden since arriving at Three Chimneys as the farm tried to make sure he stayed healthy and sound for the breeding season first.

Finally joining the farm's six-day-per-week fitness routine, Big Brown galloped a mile and a quarter Monday. In what was described by The Blood-Horse as "an easy workout," the 4-year-old colt jogged the first three laps around the farm's training track, galloped for a lap and a half, and jogged home the final half.

No word yet on how many quarter cracks were discovered afterward.