Horse racing fans and sports bettors will be making a quick trip to the betting windows this weekend as the post-time for the Belmont Stakes draws near. Post positions were drawn earlier today and wouldn’t you know it — Big Brown will be racing from the No. 1 position. If history serves him (and his owners) well, we could be looking at our first Triple Crown winner in 30 years — more winners (23) have started from the No. 1 post than any other position.

As for Big Brown’s much publicized cracked left front hoof, trainer Rick Dutrow says it continues to improve. “He’s in better shape now than he has ever been,” Dutrow told reporters.

Hoof specialist Ian McKinlay will make one final repair to the injured hoof on Friday, replacing the sutures with new ones, adding a drain if necessary and an adhesive to close the crack. “The adhesive that we’ll rebuild that wall with is stronger than the hoof itself,” McKinlay told the Associated Press.

If all goes according to plan and Big Brown wins the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, the colt will then be entered int the Travers Stakes on Aug. 23 at Saratoga in upstate New York, then he’s off to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and then finally — Big Brown will be retiring to stud.

“The only thing that will keep Big Brown from running in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is Big Brown,” Michael Iavarone said. “If he is healthy, he will run.”

According to a press release, Michael Iavarone and Richard Schiavo, the managing partner of International Equine Acquisitions Holdings (IEAH), which owns Big Brown, and trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. all said they plan to run Big Brown in the Breeders’ Cup.

The Breeders’ Cup takes place over two days from Oct. 24-25 at Santa Anita Park. With a total purse of $25.5 million awarded (up from $23 million in 2007), it is the most important and richest event in American horse racing.

Can Big Brown go the distance?

It might sound like a crazy thing to do, but betting against Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes on June 7 might be a real good move. Big Brown is only getting 2/7 for the Belmont, so it would take a big bet to make any money. He may be a heavy favorite to win, but there are a couple of issues that could stop his run for the Triple Crown in its tracks.

First off, Big Brown has developed a crack in one his front hoofs. He has had problems with them in the past, and if he’s not 100% then I doubt that he can win. The second potential obstacle is the distance of the track. Brown is not a distance-bred horse, and the Belmont is the longest race in the Triple Crown. He’s going up against a field of horses bred for long races, such as the mile and a half track at the Belmont.