I am finally getting around to posting this, after many failed attempts in which I just could not find the right way to express what I feel about the magic of horse racing.
When the other girls in my class had pictures of Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Phillippe on their walls, I had photos of Secretariat and Count Fleet, Seattle Slew and Ruffian. They read Seventeen and Glamour, I read The Daily Racing Form, The Blood Horse and Horse Illustrated. When the internet was suddenly a commonplace thing in every home, other girls printed off pictures of every movie star they could find; I was excited that I could finally vote on my Kentucky Derby contender on http://www.ntra.com/, and know that my result was on the TV screen with the other cybercappers. In 1995, when My Flag won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies, in a tremendous come from behind effort in the slop, I saw the striking similarity to her mother's run in the 1988 Breeder's Cup Distaff and there were tears in my eyes. All of my friends saw but one saw a "boring horse race." I saw my hero embodied in the next generation. As for my one friend who was interested? Her interest was no longer there when Storm Flag Flying repeated HER mother's feat in 2002. But I was still there, watching the third generation of these fabulous females storm her way under the wire in front.
These horses were my heroes. Oh, who am I kidding, they ARE my heroes. When I was down and out as a kid, they were there running their hearts out, trying their best for the simple joy of it all. They are unfailing, unflinching and unwavering in their beauty and passion. My stress levels have been running high the past couple of weeks, and my solution is what it has always been. I read my horse books, I flip through my article clippings and I smile down at my photo albums. And with the introduction of Youtube, I can watch video after video of my favorite moments, living them as though for the first time. Through them, my heart soars, my spirits fly, and all of my troubles cease to exist.
When the other girls in my class had pictures of Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Phillippe on their walls, I had photos of Secretariat and Count Fleet, Seattle Slew and Ruffian. They read Seventeen and Glamour, I read The Daily Racing Form, The Blood Horse and Horse Illustrated. When the internet was suddenly a commonplace thing in every home, other girls printed off pictures of every movie star they could find; I was excited that I could finally vote on my Kentucky Derby contender on http://www.ntra.com/, and know that my result was on the TV screen with the other cybercappers. In 1995, when My Flag won the Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies, in a tremendous come from behind effort in the slop, I saw the striking similarity to her mother's run in the 1988 Breeder's Cup Distaff and there were tears in my eyes. All of my friends saw but one saw a "boring horse race." I saw my hero embodied in the next generation. As for my one friend who was interested? Her interest was no longer there when Storm Flag Flying repeated HER mother's feat in 2002. But I was still there, watching the third generation of these fabulous females storm her way under the wire in front.
These horses were my heroes. Oh, who am I kidding, they ARE my heroes. When I was down and out as a kid, they were there running their hearts out, trying their best for the simple joy of it all. They are unfailing, unflinching and unwavering in their beauty and passion. My stress levels have been running high the past couple of weeks, and my solution is what it has always been. I read my horse books, I flip through my article clippings and I smile down at my photo albums. And with the introduction of Youtube, I can watch video after video of my favorite moments, living them as though for the first time. Through them, my heart soars, my spirits fly, and all of my troubles cease to exist.
When God created the horse, he said to the magnificent creature,
'I have made thee unlike any other.
All the treasures of the earth lie between thine eyes.
Thou shalt cast mine enemies between thy hooves,
but thou shalt carry my friends on thy back.
This shall be the seat from which prayers rise up unto me.
Thou shalt find happiness all over the earth,
and thou shalt be favored above all other creatures,
for unto thee shall accrue the love of the masters of the earth,
and thou shalt fly without wings, and conquer without a sword.'
-Koran
1 responses:
Beautiful writing, your love shines through like a beacon!
I can understand your love of racing because you describe the horses so very wonderfully... their spirit, their talent, their ability to 'fly without wings'
keep writing!
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