Even though all evidence might indicate otherwise, there’s never a sure thing when it comes to gambling — especially when dealing with animals.

Big Brown entered the Belmont Stakes last week as the odds-on favorite to be the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown.

The 3-year-old destroyed the competition at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with wins that averaged five lengths over the second-place finishers.

This led bookmakers to list Big Brown as a huge favorite to win the Belmont. The opening posted odds at the Wynn Las Vegas casino were –250, meaning that a gambler had to risk $2.50 for every $1 won.

It’s unknown how many people took the bet since tracking the total value of wagers made on a horseracing event is nearly impossible to calculate, but it’s safe to say that the action was heavy on Big Brown. After opening at –250, the horse moved to –300 at most books as the race neared.

For those who instilled too much faith in the horse, hopefully they posted their bets with money they could afford to lose. Big Brown finished last in the field of 10. Jockey Kent Desormeaux told the Associated Press after the race that he “had no horse,” and pulled up on it near the end of the race.

The race is one of many examples of an athletic event that seems too easy to predict. A similar “no lose” proposition was the 2008 Super Bowl. Remember that one, where the New York Giants upset the undefeated New England Patriots? That game was listed at –260.

In his opening-round matches at the French Open, tennis icon Roger Federer was listed with staggering odds of –950 to win his matches.

Gamblers who decide to go with the flow and wager tremendous amounts of money in return for a little can put themselves into disastrous situations. The smarter money is often betting against the heavy favorites or, more wisely, avoiding the bets entirely.

Big Brown let down the futures gamblers as well as the race-day crowd. The horse had posted odds of 150-1 before the start of the Kentucky Derby to win the Triple Crown. A $100 bet would have returned $15,000, and anybody with that ticket in hand had to be feeling awfully good about themselves — until they watched the race.

Chuck Blount | 210SA contributor