Kind gesture: Walsh brings Test blanket to Melanie Giddings

Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Thoroughbred racing is a sport of extreme ups and downs, as was seen Saturday in the Grade 1 Test Stakes when Maple Leaf Mel broke down and had to be euthanized on the track just before she would have won the race.

Sunday morning on the Saratoga backstretch Brendan Walsh, the trainer of Pretty Mischievous who ended up with the Test victory, brought the floral winner’s blanket to the barn of Maple Leaf Mel and gave it to trainer Melanie Giddings in front of her horse’s empty stall. Still grieving from Saturday’s loss, Giddings was overwhelmed with emotion from Walsh’s gesture.

“She (Maple Leaf Mel) was the best horse in the race, you know, it was just horrible what happened,” Walsh explained at his barn on the Saratoga backstretch. “Like when I think about it, if it happened to her (Pretty Mischievous), I'd be in an absolute mess. So, you know, we weren't sure whether it'd be a nice thing or not to do it, but the team at Godolphin (owners of Pretty Mischievous), they were all for it as well. And I think Melanie liked it.”

Maple Leaf Mel, who is named for Giddings, came to the Test undefeated in five starts and was trying a Grade 1 race for the first time. The New York-bred filly went to the right to the lead, took control of the race, had extended her lead to 2 1/2 lengths at the stretch call and took the bad step nearing the finish line.

There was no ceremony in the winner’s circle after the race, so Walsh had to send his assistant Charlie Lynch to the front side Sunday morning to find the blanket before they could go see Giddings.

“I think Charlie, my assistant, he came up with it,” said Walsh whose voice was filled with emotion. “So, yeah, you know, like, I can't imagine what she's gone through in the last 12 hours. It is just devastating.”

The two trainers hugged as they stood in the shed row of Gidding’s barn after Walsh handed her the blanket. Saturday after the race Walsh had also tried to console the young trainer.

“Oh, she just thanked me,” Walsh added. “I mean she was out in the track yesterday and I went over and gave her a hug because she just stood there crying, I felt so bad. I said to somebody yesterday, I would rather just finish second and everybody come back fine. And we're being fair and square and that was it, you know, so she (Maple Leaf Mel) ran a winning race.”

Walsh talked about how trying Thoroughbred racing can be.

“It's part of the game and sometimes I think it becomes very hard to accept it. It happens to all of us. We all have horses at some point that break down and you feel horrible. Because you've got to remember, guys, we all came into this game because we love horses. That's the bottom line.”

Giddings recently had started as a head trainer and owner Bill Parcells turned Maple Leaf Mel over to her because she had cared for the horse when she was an assistant to Jeremiah Englehart. In her first start for Giddings, Maple Leaf Mel won the Victory Ride (G3) at Belmont Park last month. Thus far, Giddings had won three races from 33 starts.

“To have a horse that good early in your career, they take you from being a trainer starting off and nobody takes any notice of you,” Walsh remembered. “Then you win a graded stake with a horse and people take notice. I can't describe how much you appreciate them for it. It's gut wrenching when something like this happens.”

Giddings was not ready to discuss the loss of Maple Leaf Mel Sunday morning, but she did post a statement on social media.

“Thank you everyone for your messages. I can’t even pull myself together right now or know when I will ever be able too. Maple leaf Mel’s health and happiness took priority over my own for the last two years and now I’m lost without her. She was a true Grade 1 champion.”