Turns out, the largest cheers of the day went to a horse named Ventura.

Fans inside the Derby Club, the satellite wagering facility located at the Ventura County fairgrounds, exploded with glee Saturday afternoon when Ventura romped home first in the seventh race at Belmont as a 9-1 long shot.

They looked on in stunned disbelief just a couple hours later as Big Brown stumbled home last in the Belmont Stakes, ignobly ending his bid to win horse racing's Triple Crown.

"It's a little sad," said Barbara Sargent of Camarillo, who gathered with friends to witness Big Brown's quest for history. "But the most important thing is that the horse isn't hurt."

Her friend, Susan Bennett of Camarillo, echoed that sentiment.

"I just hope he's OK," she said.

The Belmont Stakes and Big Brown attracted an estimated crowd of 1,200 fans to the Derby Club on Saturday. That's considerably more than might gather for a typical day of races, said club officials.

Fans indeed ended up witnessing history, just not the history they expected to see.

Instead of becoming the first horse in 30 years to win the Triple Crown — or the first since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978 — Big Brown succumbed to the Triple Jinx.

Since 1978, 10 horse have gone to the Belmont Stakes seeking to complete the Triple Crown by winning the final leg. All failed.

Now make it 11.

"I can't say I'm surprised," said Craig Minney of Ventura. "The reason being is that it's so tough to do. There's a reason all those other horses have failed. (The Belmont Stakes) is a long, hard race."

Minney, 45, says he bet against the last Triple Crown winner all those years ago. He said his choice was Alydar, which lost a tight duel down the stretch with Affirmed in 1978.

He didn't have the winner Saturday, but he was hardly alone. Da' Tara, which ended up going wire to wire, was the longest shot on the board and paid $79 on a $2 bet.

"That horse was like 38-1," marveled Minney. "That was awesome."

Most fans came expecting a Big Brown coronation.

Sargent said she typically visits the Derby Club for Triple Crown races. This year's Belmont Stakes was extra special, she said.

"It's been 30 years since any other horse has been able to do it," she said. "I'm confident that this horse (Big Brown) can do it. It's not just a horse race today. This is history."

Bob Tripp of Ventura, who said he has been a racing fan for 40 years, said Big Brown looked invincible in winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

"He is just awesome," said Tripp. "In my opinion, he is head and shoulders above any other horse out there."

Tripp said he placed his bets Saturday on that assumption.

"I've conceded Big Brown the race," he said. "I'll use him in a couple exactas and trifectas."

Then, as an aside: "That's only smart if (Big Brown) wins."

Juan Valmon of Oxnard said he came to root for Big Brown.

"It's fun to think that history will be made," he said. "I hope he does it because it will be a special moment."

Dan Beneteau of Ventura brought friend Theresa Starr to the Derby Club on what he considered a prime-time occasion.

"It's always fun to be here for a Triple Crown race," he said. "It's even bigger with what Big Brown can do today."

Even youthful fans could appreciate a shot at history.

Ahmed Elgiadi, a 25-year-old from Spokane, Wash., was visiting the club with 22-year-old Erin Grether of Camarillo.

Both were born, of course, after Affirmed's triumph in 1978.

"It (the Triple Crown) has never happened in my lifetime," he said. "I hope it happens today. I won't even bet on the race. I just want to see (Big Brown) win."