Big Brown racing for more than just history
Big Brown may bring big smiles to the family of a seriously injured cop.
The Triple Crown contender's owners announced Friday that they will donate a portion of Big Brown's Belmont Stakes earnings to the family of Kenneth Baribault, the Nassau police officer injured May 18 in a horrific accident on the Long Island Expressway.
Baribault is in critical but stable condition at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow. While sitting in his patrol car after pulling over a suspected drunken driver, he was struck from behind by another suspected drunken driver, police said.
"Upon learning of the events of the past week, we the family of Big Brown were deeply saddened, and our prayers obviously go out to the family of the Baribaults," said Big Brown co-owner Michael Iavarone of Holtsville.
"At times like this, it is imperative a community comes together," Iavarone said. "Amongst all the joy and happiness, there is a family in grief -- a family whose officer spends his life taking care of our security. It's imperative that people like us who are in the position we're in now stand up and make something good happen."
Baribault's sisters, Danielle Rella and Jennifer Baribault, his 6-year-old son, Christopher, and the boy's mother, Kendra Sauvola, attended the announcement at Belmont Park. Baribault's parents were with him at the hospital.
Iavarone declined to say how much would be donated to Baribault's family, saying that would be discussed with the family in private.
The Baribault family did not speak at the announcement, which also was attended another Big Brown co-owner, Richard Schiavo, as well as Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey and Nassau police officers.
In addition to the donation, Big Brown's jockey, Kent Desormeaux, will wear a Nassau County Police Department patch on his uniform during the Belmont Stakes, said Kelly Wietsma, president of Equispons, which represents the jockey.
Posted Friday, May 23, 2008
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