Postby petersd » Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:47 pm
In 1984, I was a 13-year old teenager who'd gone from a slender 5'5" to an unbelievably thin 6'1" in the space of a year. My parents were on an acrimonius and inevitable slide toward divorce. I wasn't particularly good at sports or social skills, and as a middle child was overshadowed by my more athletically inclined brother. But somehow I'd picked up a love of horse racing along the way, and where other kids had baseball posters on their wall, mine had Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Alydar and Spectacular Bid. Except for the wall over my bed. That one was reserved for John Henry.
Of course there was no Internet at the time. An old Daily Racing Form was a treasure - a Keeneland catalog book a gold mine. But luckily our cable company carried Santa Anita and Oak Park races. Plus, whenever John Henry went east, it was always for a big race, so it was sure to be televised. It would have taken a stick of dynamite and a crowbar to get me away from the set on those days.
I couldn't count on a lot during those days. I couldn't even count on the fact that John Henry would win. But I always knew he tried his best, made it thrilling to the end. I would build in anticipation for one of his races, agonize right before, then take great delight in watching him run, regardless of the finish. He gave me sanity and hope during one of the most difficult times of my life. And ultimately he gave me a career.
Fast forward many years. Now, I'm married and with two small children. We live not too far from the Kentucky Horse Park. Every summer for the past three years, we'd make the annual trip out there. My kids would delight in the ponies and the overall beauty of the place. They couldn't understand why Dad would insist they sit in a small, circular grandstand while they paraded in a small, non-descript elderly gelding. They were even more confused when I insisted they stand by him for photos.
This year we didn't make the trip. Soccer practices, family visits - life, intruded. When I heard John was sick a couple of weeks agao, I told my wife I needed to get out there. But there was the Keeneland sale. Then a week in California. And when they announced the news last night on the local broadcast, I went off to sit by myself for a while. And I thanked John Henry for what he'd done for me. For helping me during a tough time. For giving me inspiration to get into this amazing business. For letting me take his photo with my children.
And I apologized for not getting out there one last time.
I will regret that.
God Speed old friend. If anyone deserves a peaceful rest, it is you.
What a horse.
