Lady Eli is The Miracle Lady
Today, a new stage in a miracle occurred for a wonderful lady. Lady Eli, winner of the Belmont Oaks at Belmont Park, took a giant step in her recovery and return to the races by posting her first three furlong workout at Palm Meadows in Florida. She went three furlongs in :38 4/5. It was the slowest workout at the distance of the day, but that doesn't matter. The fact that Lady Eli is walking, jogging, let alone working out, is a miracle in of itself. It has been a long journey for Lady Eli to comeback to where she is today, and there is still a long way to go. How did we get to where we are in her recovery?
On July 4th, 2015, Lady Eli defeated 13 other fillies in the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Belmont Oaks. It was the biggest win of her career and it raised her perfect record to six for six. Trainer Chad Brown was all smiles and praise after her performance. Brown even went far as to call her the best filly he had ever trained. After the race, many fans and commentators wondered where she would race next. Many wondered if she would take on the boys later that year. All of this, however, went sour very quickly.
Moments after the race, Lady Eli was being walked back to her stall when she stepped on a nail in the paddock. The nail was removed, but the damage was done. Lady Eli's feet were suffering from pain, and doctors soon after gave the connections a devastating diagnosis, laminitis. A painful, inflammatory condition in the hooves. It is a deadly disease for horses, as many in the racing community remember the disease striking 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro after his injury. This news severely hurt the racing world, and most of all, those who knew her the best. It was a tough pill to swallow for all in sport.
Lady Eli, however, showed everyone her toughness and heart. She made enormous steps in her recovery. Lady Eli responded to treatment and her hooves got better. Her doctors were stunned at the result of her progress. She continued her recovery at Dell Ridge Farm in Kentucky. After a while, Lady Eli improved so much that she shipped to Chad Brown in Florida in December, and today, at long last, posted her first work. Lady Eli is a hero, an inspiration to many in the racing world. She is a walking miracle, and though it's a long way before she races again, today was a giant step. Here is to many more miracles ahead. May God Bless Lady Eli.