Horse Racing Is Therapy

Horse racing is therapy.

People have asked me why I always say that or the meaning behind the statement. It means many things for me. It was brought up in a conversation I was having with one of my favorite jockeys of all time, Ramon Dominguez.

May 15, 2016, two months after seeing my best friend pass away in front of me, I had this weird dream that seemed so real. We were sitting there like we always did and he said, “Stop worrying about everything buddy, it’ll all work out kiddo.” The next day I got up, made my coffee, and went online. I played a horse named Decorated Soldier (in memory of my buddy, he was a Vietnam vet) with jockey John Velasquez (aka Johnny V). He won. I sent Johnny V a tweet thanking him.

Later on, I told Ramon about it through a Facebook message. Then my phone rang. It was Ramon. At that point I didn’t know if I should laugh or cry. We were on the phone for about two hours just catching up. He said it’s so nice to talk to someone who knows so much about the sport and the mental aspects of it. “Horse racing is therapy.” Ramon had to retire from racing after a bad spill at Aqueduct on January 18, 2013 when he suffered head injuries. Before that happened, my family was (and still is) big Ramon fans. Heck, my dad got thrown out of the bar at Saratoga Racecourse for cheering him on too loud! There was a time at Saratoga something happened in a race and everyone booed Ramon. We saw him a couple weeks later at Delaware Park and my sister asked, “Can you sign this for me? I wasn’t booing you at Saratoga.” He remembered and laughed. Because of his accident, I felt I could relate to him with my own past experience of epilepsy and the effects it has on me sometimes. I told him that. I also mentioned that I might do a road trip to Delaware Park the next week to go clear my head. It was the opening week of the 2016 racing season. He said go for it! So I did.

I walked around for a bit, talked to some people, got a racing form and a beer and walked over to the paddock. There I met Michael Matz. He signed the picture book I made. Edgar Prado had just finished a race and waved for me to come over and see him. I started shaking a little. Well, a lot. I knew it was just nerves or all the anxiety leaving my body all at once. We talked for a while. I told him I had been in touch with Ramon. Edgar signed the picture book and his bobble head and we got a picture together. Someone said, “Here’s the tip of the day - only bet jockeys in white pants.” I hadn’t laughed like that in a long time. I said to Edgar “horse racing is therapy,” and he agreed. While I was still there I texted Ramon the picture. He replied, “happy girl with her favorite jockey.” I showed Edgar and said thank you, good to see you again, see you at Del ‘Cap, and left.

Later on I saw Edgar and told him about it. He couldn’t stop laughing either. My dad, who is 82 and the one responsible for getting me into this great sport, came walking towards Edgar and I. I said that’s my dad Ed. Everyone calls him Ace. I joked and said if I were ever to own a racehorse I would name it All Ace’s Fault. I was so happy my dad finally met Edgar after all these years. We got a nice picture together and again I sent it to Ramon. He said, “Awesome, a day to remember!”

I met Larry Jones and Jose Ortiz as well. I asked Jose and Larry to sign the picture book. Larry said “You want my autograph in this? Let me put my glasses on so I don’t sign over anything important!” Edgar signed the book and wrote, “My Guy Barbaro.” He asked what my favorite part was. I joked with him and said my book report will be on your desk tomorrow. All joking aside, I said my favorite part was when he and Ramon were in the jockeys’ room before a race and he got a text message in Spanish saying, “God put you on this earth for one reason, whatever you do in life, make sure you fulfill that purpose.” When he showed Ramon he laughed and said whoever wrote that probably sent it to the wrong person. I think Edgar was surprised that out of all the ornaments that the horse rescue were selling earlier that I picked a Barbaro one. He signed it, and I have it hanging up where everyone can see as you walk into my house.  It truly was a day to remember!

Pennsylvania Derby - September 2016: This is where the family gets together, makes a bunch of food, and head to Parx for the day. My cousin, who is a trainer at Parx, was already there and did our set up. We arrived about 12:30 and settled in. The Permanently Diabled Jockey Fund (PDJF) was having a poster signing in the paddock with jockeys Mike Smith (Songbird), Kent Desormeaux (Exaggerator), Javier Castellano (Cathryn Sophia) and Mario Gutierrez (Nyquist). I went over, got my poster and a t-shirt, and waited in line. I took some pictures, talked to people, met up with some friends. The jockeys signed the poster and the picture book and I got some pictures with them. I hung out for a while and met up and took pictures with Kent Desormeaux, Steve Asmussen, and Julien Leparoux. I snapped some pictures of them walking down the steps for the big race, then walked back to our table.

I sent the picture of Julien and I to Ramon. He said, “great picture of two great people!” I won a couple bucks that day but that didn’t even compare to the memories I made. “Winning in money is nothing compared to winning in friendship.” Another quote from Ramon I hold close to my heart. That is why I say horse racing Is Therapy. I think I scientifically proved that recently.

About a month ago I went to the doctors. I turned my phone down, but not off. My neurologist tested my blood pressure and it was sky high. He was ready to drive me to the ER himself. I told him about losing my friend and we talked about other stuff. He was sitting at his desk filling my med when my horse racing app kept going off. I said, “Sorry, it’s therapy.” He was fine with it.

Ramon did a video on Periscope and I asked, “May I get this? It’s my friend.” He said yes because we were pretty much finished. After watching the video, I said to my doctor, “Do me a favor. Now test my blood pressure.” He did, and sure enough it was perfect 121/80! He was amazed. I laughed and told him, “Horse racing is therapy!”

I’m seven years seizure free now and I make sure everyone knows. I have plenty more memories to share and more to come in 2017. Until then, cheers and see you next time at the paddock for riders up!

~Written by Becky Trettina