Following my favorite horse, Hogy, from Chicago to Houston

June 11, 2011, was the day I first “met” Hogy. When I say met, I mean that I placed a wager on this unraced 2-year-old that took my breath away in the Arlington Park paddock. This gelding just looked like he was destined for great things. He proved me right that Saturday afternoon when he crossed the finish line nearly eight lengths in front of the rest of the field. Two weeks later, he did it again by 4 lengths.

I remember telling my friends right after the race that we just saw a Kentucky Derby winner begin his career. Isn’t crazy how us horse folk get after a dominating performance by a juvenile?

In 2011, I found myself at a personal crossroads in my life. I was making a decent living, renting a nice apartment and surrounded by great people, but I wanted more. Like Hogy, I was thriving at the Allowance Optional Claiming level but just needed a step up.

I began to follow Hogy with intent. He was one of the first horses I paid attention to outside of my Arlington bubble. He went up to Canterbury and became a stakes winner. The next 12 months would see him go from a disappointing fifth in the Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity to a victory in a claiming-level race. His year was full of ups and downs, but I stuck with him the whole way. Whenever he was running, I was watching.

My life was also full of peaks and valleys during that time, moving from my 20s to full adulthood (still not sure where that actual cutoff is). However, during that time I realized just how much horse racing meant to me. This was the more I wanted. I was ready to return to school and pursue my dream of being at the track full-time.

I also realized the parallels between horse racing and life. Perhaps this is why we are attracted to horses like Hogy. We share their stories, their victories and their defeats.

Fast forward to 2018, and here he is a thriving 9-year-old. This success did not come without a fair share of letdowns and triumphs. And here I am finally living my dream of working at Sam Houston Race Park. Our journeys mirrored one other.

This Sunday, our paths will collide again as Hogy is entered in the Frontier Utilities Turf Sprint at Sam Houston. At about 2:45 p.m. CT I will be watching my buddy romp again. The race is tough, with a draw of 12 including challengers like Imma Bling, American Sailor and Balandeen, but I know my boy can do it.

From Chicago to Houston with 48 starts in between, I still have that same level excitement I had that early summer day at Arlington. I cannot wait to see him on Sunday!

This is what we need more of in horse racing. We need horses with journeys, horses with stories, and horses that make connections. Most importantly, we need to share these stories and remember how truly lucky we are to be a part of this sport.