May 24, 2016

Beyond the Race for the Roses: Will you remember their names?

I did it again with Exaggerator. I named the winner of the Preakness. However, I bring it up for a different reason today. The two horse deaths in the races that preceded the Preakness reminded me what these horses give in every race. They are built for what they do – love it – as they burst from the gates, the vibration of the earth at their stride as individual as their own heartbeat, but who cares when that heartbeat stops?

I speculated about this and my mind turned from the cheers of a race track to the backside of barns; to a veteran hot-walker who wiped proud, understanding tears when word came that a 9 year old gelding collapsed after giving his all—not just for the win, but for the run and the quiet weep of a stable-hand who stood nearby, broken and unnoticed, as a 4 year old filly with a fractured leg was euthanized.

For Homeboykris and Praymedya, there were those who knew their name and loved what they created, and there were those who loved them and would remember their name when they were gone.

The pictures are of the first roses in my garden this year, one pink and one red.