I’m in the sport of Thoroughbred racing because my great-grandfather was a professional gambler who ran with Bugsy Siegel and called Santa Anita his office. It was his love for the “horse beach” (as it was called by the kids), that led to Nana bringing Mum who brought me.
But my love for horses stretches deeper than just a casual affinity. Along with my parents, I was raised by a Welsh/Thoroughbred pony named Coco.
She was a former champion showjumper by the time my little three-year-old hands got on her, and she was the most beautiful and kindest mare I will ever know. For the first few years of our partnership, my legs didn’t reach the end of the saddle, so Coco was both pilot and plane.
We lost her about ten years back but I can’t help but think that she’s watching today, giving Rachel Alexandra a big whinny for capturing the Preakness Stakes.
Like Rachel, Coco never took a diss laying down – if she wasn’t the first one you said “hi” to when you walked into the barn, you got a cold shoulder worse than any human I’ve ever known. And Rachel’s not much different: today was a lesson in “you wanna keep me out of the starting gate, I’ll give you a reason to fear me.”
Despite the best efforts of Mine That Bird’s owners, running second stamped him as a legitimate horse and proved that the Derby was anything but a fluke. And mucho props to Musket Man for yet again clunking up for third, while Flying Private gets the gold star for learning how to be a racehorse (from last in the Derby to fourth today is pretty good).
With nearly 23 years in horse-related activities, I think I’m qualified to make a call on how special a horse is.
Smarty Jones was special. Street Sense and Curlin were special. Big Brown was talented but didn’t have that extra umph that makes a horse special.
But I don’t know if I’ve ever been in the company of a mix of raw talent, elegance, and grace quite like we’re seeing with Rachel Alexandra.
I take it back – the last time I saw a horse like this … Coco.
This is a great post. Speaking from the heart is priceless. Go Mo.