Life Without Horse Racing
Can you imagine it? Just writing that title was like drinking a shot of diesel.
Since
the Derby is the longest held sporting event in the history of our
country, we can say, with complete certainty, that it is the love of the
sport by the millions of people throughout the past century and beyond
that has kept this endearing tradition alive. It is the Fathers and
Grandfathers who took us to the track with them and passed this
excitement down to us. Just last evening I read a post by rafirox who
told us about meeting Johnny Velazquez at Gulfstream yesterday. What I
found most endearing about his post was that he had taken his son to the
track with him and what a memory he gave to that boy. This will be something that his son will look back on when he gets older and tell his friends about the day that he met the great Johnny Velazquez with his Dad back in 2012.
Hopefully, we continue to do the same. We
were all drawn to this amazing sport at a personal moment in time. We
all have our own
memories about a certain race, a great hit or a favorite horse.
Thousands and thousands of people throughout the decades. From breeders
to trainers, to
jockeys, to the ticket guy behind the glass, the track hands, and
handicappers, both professional and amateur, and on and on and on. One
persons opinions or experiences are no more meaningful or important than
the next. It is the collection of these thoughts, opinions, dedications
and memories that carry this amazing sport forward. Each tiny vessel
adds to the whole.
I'm sure that each of us can remember that moment when the bolt struck and you felt that desire to be a part of it all. From a handicapping perspective, I believe for most it is not about the payout, (although, I'd take it any day of the week!) it is about deduction, perseverance,
studying, learning, and listening. It is about gaining knowledge and
the ability to say silently in your head, "I just knew it!" I can recall
with specific clarity, the one and only time in my life when I cashed a
Superfecta ticket in the Kentucky Derby and I floated on air for weeks.
Not because of the payout, but because I did it. We all have had those days of elation and understandably it was that feeling of just knowing it that outweighed the cash for most.
I remember the day at my Grandparents house watching a replay of Secretariat run like a "tremendous machine" and my Grandfather explaining seconds, lengths and furlongs to me. I would kill to have just one day with him now to ask the right questions and listen to him speak. I remember seeing the 1992 Breeders Cup Classic with my Father when A.P. Indy moved "powerfully in between horses" and had taken over like a freight train. I remember the first time I saw Rock Hard Ten and thinking to myself that he was the most beautiful animal I had ever seen.
I fondly remember seeing an old-timer sitting on a green beach chair at Belmont Park. He was all decked out in an old brown hat, floppy pants and cigar. I felt compelled to talk with him.
I walked up and said, "You look like a man who knows his stuff."
He said, "Honey, been comin' to the Belmont Stakes since I was yay-high, never missed one yet."
I asked the man who he liked. He said, "Put it all on Ice Box!"
So I gave him one of my quizzical looks and he says, "What! You don't like him?! He's already won and the race hasn't even started! He's running against cows!"
I said, " Drosselmeyer is going to win this race and Fly Down will be right behind him."
He had the roughest and greatest laugh and said, "Daisy, if Drosselmeyer wins this race, then you come back here and I'll give you a hundred myself!"
I never went back to that old man afterwards but he had a story to tell his friends. A strange girl, out of the blue, gave him the exacta not ten minutes before post time. I was shocked myself! But therein lies the point. He didn't listen to me, but more importantly, I didn't listen to him. Here was a man who obviously knew much more than I and yet, I did not accept his advice. Why on earth would he accept mine? Right or wrong, our own opinion wins out every single time. To put someone down for their opinion is not only foolish , it is simply childish. In 2011, I went back to the same spot looking for that green beach chair, but to no avail. Good thing, because I certainly didn't have Ruler on Ice!
We all have our stories, our favorites, our moments, our opinions, and I for one respect and admire each person who respects and admires the sport. It is the love of the game and the athletes - The Horses - that join everyone together and allow it to grow. It is not competition between fans, it is competition between horses. If we all had the same opinion, then every single race would have even-money chalk. That's no fun. Tolerance, openness and acceptance is all that is required. Let them all in. It is ONE aspect among many that allows us to continue and grow.
A new year begins. We must embrace all who want to join in, for I imagine, Life without Horse Racing, is no life at all.
Written by Lisa DeMichael