I've had overnight to proccess the retirement of Rachel Alexandra. We may never know what made Jess Jackson retire his filly yesterday. It could be that he didn't want to lose again, or the fact he's in failing health himself (cancer), or the fact that she just wasn't the same. I'm by no means a Jackson fan, so I'm not going to defend him on this year's campaign. In all honesty, this is not what this post is about either. This is about how Rachel helped me know that it was okay to love again, in more ways then one.
2008 and 2009 where rough years for me, emotionally, physically and mentally, both in a horse racing sense, and personally. Eight Belles had broke down in the Derby, Big Brown one of my least favorite horses won the Derby, and then Casino Drive was scratched from the Belmont horse racing wise. Personally, my dad was diagnoised and subqently passed away of colon cancer, and I dropped out of college to save money. Needless to say horse racing was the last thing on my mind.
However a month after the 08 Derby, I was reading Blood Horse's Maiden Watch blog. This blog covers stallions whose oldest foals are 2yo and Medaglia d' Oro was one of the stallions that was featured. The day I read the blog, a MDO filly out of a Roar mare was one of those listed. I noticed the first part of her name was Rachel. Of course with my first name is Rachel, it got my interest. It was for the Debutate Stakes, where she finished second. I added her to my Equibase Virtual Stable and then waited to get her workouts. She ended up being off for several months and next ran at Keenland (her lone time on a synthetic surface) where she won. Another try in stakes company this time in the Pocahontas where she finished second again. This was when I realised she had potential.
Then I saw that she was trained by Hal Wiggins. Naturally, I thought to my grandfather whose first name is Hal. Sometimes destiney does that to you. Her Golden Rod win was one of my favorites as she was able to turn the tables on Sara Louise who had beaten her in the Pocahontas. Little did the world know, she was just warming up. After winning the Martha Washington, and Fair Grounds Oaks, the Fantasy was her prep for the KY Oaks. For me personally it was bittersweet as not only was it my mom's birthday, but it was the day after my dad passed away. When I was able watch the replay I started to cry.
Our house was under repair at the time, and I was unable to view the Oaks at the Hotel we where staying at. However, I was able to squeel like a little girl when I read that she won by a little over 20 lengths. Two weeks later when she ran in the Preakness, I was able to finally see her on tv (I had watched most of her races on the internet). After the race, my mom, sister and myself went out to dinner to a restraunt near the hotel. When we got in there NBC was still on and Lester Holt was explaining that Rachel won and there where people cheering! I couldn't believe it, even though we where only a few minutes away from Delaware Park, horse racing is really not a big thing in Delaware. While we where waiting for a table, a man pulled out his phone and told the family that the filly (meaning Rachel) won the Preakness. Of course she won that race just 10 days after being sold and transfered to Steve Asmussen.
You could tell that Calvin Borel loved Rachel, the fact that he took off Mine That Bird who had won the Derby the day after the duo won the Oaks says something. Keep in mind two years before, Calvin was just a nose a away from winning the Preakness on Street Sense after taking the Derby with the 06 2yo Champ. Of course Curlin won the race on his way to become 2 time Horse of the Year. He went as far as saying that Rachel was the best horse that he's ever ridden. That's how I felt as well, in a way Rachel tought me that it was okay to love again (I'm currently loving my vol. job for the first time in 2 years, and I'm working on planning out a novel that I'm going to be writing in the near future). I know it sounds strange that a horse who I had never met did that, but there is something about her. And I'm not alone in that thinking either. Rachel had fans all over the world, and brought together people who may otherwise not have met. Funny how things work out like that.
When I first titled this post, it was a A One of Kind Horse, but that didn't feel right. That's when I came up with Simply Rachel. It felt right, it's how I want to remember her. So what's next for our favorite heroine? A date with Curlin next year, hopefully in 5 years (when the foal will be three) we'll see him/her on the Derby/Oaks trail. I know that lightning doesn't strike twice when it comes to horses of Rachel's caliber, maybe with this little one it will. Also a trip the Hall of Fame where she should be inducted in her first year of elegbility. In the meantime, Lotta Kim is carrying a full sibling to Rachel with her dam (Kim's Blues) also carring a foal by Medaglia d' Oro.
This isn't a goodbye, but a hello to a new journey in life. Hopefully one that will bring just as much wonder as Rachel brought onto the track.
No comments:
Post a Comment