Tragedy

on the first Saturday in May.

We don't know what Eight Belles means on a horse farm, but in nautical terms "eight bells" marks the end of one's watch shift. - USAToday

Such a heartbreaking end to what should have been a glorious day.

It's Breeder's Cup today

Midnight Lute apparently had jet ski shoes on today. What a race!

What a little racehorse taught me about life

I read the news today, oh my. And, for a follower of the "ponies", it is a sad day indeed. The legendary racehorse, John Henry has passed. Gone to the big race in the sky to battle down the homestretch with the other greats of the sport.

And, I am heartbroken, indeed. For John Henry, although giving me great thrills at his exploits at the track, also taught me a great deal about life.

No..really.

John wasn't from the true "blue" blooded side of the track. His sire, Ole Bob Bowers was once sold for $900. John himself wasn't purchased for millions at the well-heeled sales at Saratoga. He barely brought in $1,100 at the Keeneland sales, after bashing himself in the head in the stall and arriving into the sales ring bloody.

He "suffered" the indignity of being gelded because he had his own mind...and mean temper. He also was undersized. Underweight. Underbred with unremarkable conformation.

He raced early on. He was a "workhorse" and managed to bring in some money and some attention. He was finally purchased by Dotsam Stable, the stable of Dorothy (Dot) and Sam Rubin. They shipped him out to California to the stable of Ron McAnally.

And...in the California sun and the glare of the racing public....John Henry blossomed. He started winning. Big. And the racing "elite" took notice. The fans turned up in droves to see "the little horse" that could. He captured the nation's imagination.

He certainly captured mine.

I would ride the Greyhound bus from Santa Barbara down to the tracks in the Los Angeles area, camera in tow and Racing Form in hand. And watching John in action truly was breath taking. Coming from the "nose bleed" section of the pack to win by a whisker he would give us thrills and excitement, and, yes, disappointment. He didn't win them all, but you knew he gave it his all. And we all loved him for it.

He was a ham. He truly loved the fans..almost as much as we loved him. I would squeeze up to the paddock rail to see the little guy. He would look around the ring, and, I kid you not, spot the cameras. As he was being walked around the ring, he would stop infront of someone who had a camera and "pose" until he heard that shutter click. I have a couple of great photos of him "smiling" at me.

So, what did he "teach" me, you ask...well...

John showed everyone that one can truly go from "rags to riches." It didn't matter if you weren't from the good side of the tracks or bloodlines, you could still have the talent to prove yourself an individual.

John showed that you could turn your anger and "meanness" to do good, and be productive. He was cantakerous, often ill-tempered, even after being gelded. That was just who he was...and he turned that "meanness" into a productive end result. Dogged determination.

John showed that winning wasn't the only thing....it was HOW YOU RAN YOUR RACE. It was the effort that mattered. Sure, winning was a great thing, but it wasn't the ONLY thing. Showing heart. Giving the task at hand your best effort. THAT was the important thing.

John showed that intelligence was part of any game, too. Chris McCarron often said that John knew when to move in the race, all by himself. He (Chris) was just along for the ride.

John also showed that knowing yourself was a key component to a "winning" life. He would walk carefully to morning workouts, making sure he didn't stumble on rocks or collide with other horses more "high strung." He knew that taking his time to the track was his "modus operendi". His "peeps" understood that too. John trained them well.

John was the "working man's" horse. He earned his place of greatness in the sport, and in our hearts, through toughness, tenacity and hard work rather than sheer brilliance. He taught us that life involved hard work, and having to work was nothing to be embarassed about. It was to be celebrated.

His final race record stood at 83 starts, 39 wins, 15 seconds, and 9 thirds with $6,497,947 in earnings.

• Voted 7 Eclipse Awards
• Voted Horse of the Year 1981 and 1984
• Won Horse of the Year more than once, but not in consecutive years
• Voted Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse 1981
• Oldest horse to win Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year - at age 9
• Oldest horse to win a Grade 1 race - at age 9 (tied)
• Voted Eclipse Award for Outstanding Male Turf Horse - 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984
• Won 30 stakes races
• Only horse to win the Arlington Million (G1) twice - 1981 & 1984
• One of only two horses to win the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) twice - 1981 & 1982
• Won more grade stakes than any other Thoroughbred - 25
• Voted racehorse of the decade for the 1980's
• Retired as the world's richest thoroughbred - July 28, 1985
• Inducted into National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1990
• Ranked #23 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 Racehorses of the 20th Century

It wasn't the awards and the acclaim that were bestowed upon him that made him so legendary, it was his dogged tirelessness and his "never give up" despite the odds attitude. It was the lessons that he taught this little railbird girl, and his millions of other fans around the world, that will never be forgotten. It was the hope that he gave us, all of us "non-blue bloods", that someday, we, too, could show class and greatness.

And, one of the most controversial, but most exciting of John Henry's racing days....the Santa Anita Handicap of 1982. I was there. Screaming my throat and lungs raw...cheering him on...jumping up and down along the rail along with the thousands of others....rooting on the "little horse that could."

John Henry, the "Steel Driving" horse with a "cinderella" story.

God speed, John. God speed.

God Speed, John Henry

“The mighty heart of the great John Henry has, at long last, yielded to time," expressed John Nicholson, executive director of the Horse Park. "The racing industry has lost a legend, but more significantly, many people have lost a personal hero. John Henry’s true legacy was written in people’s hearts far more indelibly than his superlative racing career could ever reflect. - The Bloodhorse

I remember seeing him at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. He loved the crowds. He posed for the cameras. He was a ham. Chris McCarron, one of the legendary jockeys who "rode" him, once confessed that John knew what he was doing during a race and that he (Chris) was just along for the ride.

And, my....what a ride it was.

It's Not Fillet Powder....

It's FILLY POWER!

Rags to Riches went from her knees at the start to her nose at the wire.

"One small stumble for filly...one giant payback for fillykind."

What a Belmont! I'm sure to check in with Left at the Gate for follow up coverage.

It's the First Saturday in May

that means only two things. Kentucky Derby. Mint Juleps.

Oh, make that three things. The third being checking in on Left at the Gate to see who he likes in the 9th at Churchill.

The Perfect Mint Julep from Maker's Mark

1 liter Maker’s Mark
Lots of fresh spearmint leaves
1 cup distilled water
1 cup granulated sugar
Powdered sugar for garnish
Mint sprigs for garnish

1. To prepare the mint extract, remove about 40 small mint leaves – wash and place in a small mixing bowl. Cover with 3 ounces of Maker’s Mark. Allow the leaves to soak for 15 minutes. Then gather the leaves in a clean, soap-free piece of cotton cloth and vigorously wring the mint bundle over the bowl of whisky. Dip the bundle again and repeat the process several times. Then set aside.

2. To prepare the simple syrup, mix 1 cup of granulated sugar and one cup of water in a cooking pot. Heat to dissolve the sugar. Stir constantly so the sugar does not burn. Set aside to cool.

3. To prepare the mint julep mixture, pour 3 1/2 cups of Maker’s Mark into a large glass bowl or glass pitcher. (Pour the remaining whisky from the liter bottle into another container and save it for another purpose). Add 1 cup of the simple syrup to the Maker’s Mark.

4. Now, begin adding the mint extract 1 tablespoon at a time to the julep mixture. Each batch of mint extract is different, so you must taste and smell after each tablespoon is added. You may have to leave the room a time or two to clear your nose. The tendency is to use too much mint. You are looking for a soft mint aroma and taste – generally about 3 tablespoons.

5. When you think it’s right, pour the whole mixture back into the empty liter bottle and refrigerate it for at least 24 hours to marry the flavors

6. To serve the mint julep, fill each glass (preferably a silver mint julep cup) half full with shaved ice. Insert a sprig of mint and then pack in more ice to about an inch over the top of the cup. Then, insert a straw that has been cut to one inch above the top of the cup so the nose is forced close to the mint when sipping the julep.

7. When frost forms on the cup, pour the refrigerated julep mixture over the ice and add a sprinkle of powdered sugar to the top of the ice. Makes 26-30 servings.