This weekend you could watch history be made for the first time in 30 years as Big Brown makes his quest to win the Triple Crown in horse racing. Just 11 horses have pulled off the feat in the past 140 years, the last being Affirmed in 1978.

In the days leading up to the race, we’ve been inundated with media reports about the injury to Big Brown and how he is ready to go. I don’t have the level of expertise of the trainers and doctors in this situation, but they say Big Brown is just fine and ready to race. I cannot argue with that.

But as a huge horse racing fan, I’m torn between the two scenarios running in my mind. The first is the best case scenario of Big Brown doing what Big Brown does and destroy his field of competitors on his way to becoming the 12^th Triple Crown winner. The second is a more disappointing, worst case scenario of Big Brown suffering a catastrophic injury during/after the race, similar to Barbaro and Eight Belles.

Should Big Brown race with a known injury? How bad is the injury? And, what happens to horse racing if something happens to Big Brown?

The tragedy of Eight Belles is still very fresh in the minds of many with investigations being asked of the Kentucky state government. Moments after the Kentucky Derby, the stories weren’t about a horse that won from the 20 post position, but about the horse that had to be euthanized on the track for breaking her two front legs. We know there was not a pre-existing condition to Eight Belles and the answer is that is simply a part of horse racing.

But what if something happens to Big Brown? With the known hoof injury he has, I believe horse racing would take its biggest blow ever to the sport … almost to the point of no return. Horse racing simply cannot withstand another powerful horse ending in such a tragic way.

I think it brings up an interesting debate. Can horse racing survive if Big Brown suffers an injury? I’m not sure it can.

I’m not arguing whether he should run or not in the Belmont. I think that is a no-brainer. If the trainers and doctors say he is OK, then he runs. But you have to be careful. You already have a $50 million stud deal in the bank. This is all about managing the risk vs. the reward.