Life on the Backstretch

re: Life on the Backstretch

LauraMartin — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 05:46:39 GMT

A wonderful recount of the time spent at a barn. There is so much behind the races that can be known only being close to all the people involved. Bravo everyone on track and off-track!

re: Life on the Backstretch

Azeri1 — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 19:54:22 GMT

Thank you Steve. It was wonderful to read about you learning to hot walk. It seems so easy but it takes some real skill and intuition. More writers should spend time on the backstretch.It's where the true stories are made and the greatest heartbreak is felt. I was allowed to spend a great deal of time on the backstretch myself as a young girl. I often wondered how people made a go of it there and without making each other "family" they wouldn't have been able to make ends meet. In spite of everything (and being young enough not to have to worry so much)it was my favorite place to be.

I remember the wonderful smells of hay and leather and horse sweat. Still the greatest essence in the world. I remember sports night Tuesday and sharing meals and breaksfasts eaten standing up. One of the funniest things I ever witnessed in my life was watching Avelino Gomez, the Hall of Fame jockey, playing outfield on the Jockey Softball Team (versus the grooms) he refused to wear shoes, because he hated shoes and said he never wore shoes in Cuba. Every time he'd end up in the tall grass waiting for a long ball we'd hear whooping and he'd be jumping up and down like a kangaroo because the mosquitoes would bite the living hell out of him with his bare legs.

I really do miss those great people and the vignettes of lives played out against hard work and the embrace of the great unknown that every new day brought.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Will's Way girl — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 19:11:22 GMT

Steve...how do you do it? In a clear, simple and yet mysterious way, your skill with the written word is unmatched. I felt myself with you at Monmouth surrounded by all the unique characters you got to know. I was tired whether you were at the end or beginning of your day and happy when the hot walk was a success (no kicks). I choked on the soaked wood chips and understood why the AA meeting was closed to you...anonymity is the watchword of recovery.

Thank you for sharing your life stories with us...we are all more enriched for your kindness.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Past The Grandstand — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 03:00:09 GMT

Truly amazing piece, Mr. Haskin. You paint a picture with your words. I felt like I was there. I love your work! Thank you for sharing this.

pastthegrandstand.blogspot.com

re: Life on the Backstretch

happyd — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:03:55 GMT

Thanks Steve. You made it possible for me to get a glimpse of life on the backstretch and the many passions that are at play there. I work with horses every day and your descriptions were tangible and very entertaining!

re: Life on the Backstretch

Newracingfan — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 17:59:28 GMT

Fascinating account Steve. I join those who felt as though they were "there." Wonder how many of the racing public have a clue about the real workings of the backside?

re: Life on the Backstretch

Love 'em all — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 17:07:27 GMT

Loved this story, Mr. Haskin!

You folks want more? Go to the search bar at the top of the page and type in - Farewell to Skip Away. Warning: Story is a tear jerker, so have box of tissues handy.

Also recommend reading SA's death notice article from the list; shows a beautiful picture of him.

Thanks again for sharing a most fascinating story about such dedicated people who really are the 'unsung heroes' of the sport.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Hondo — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 16:13:46 GMT

Hi Steve

Great story, I am so greatful you could share this. It brought back some great memories for me and got me thinking back as I read this. Before I was married I had a good friend who was a an assistant trainer at AC and Monmouth in the summer in the early 1980's. I would sometimes spend a weekend at the track to helping out at his barn. I met a lot of great people and some real characters. However, one thing I learned that most had in common was the dedication they had to the sport and the animals, otherwise who would bust they hump for so little they sometimes get.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Bill Rinker — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 04:14:56 GMT

Thanks for another good article Steve. As we all know the heart and soul of the employees on the backstretch are to the Thoroughbred what good soil and water is to the garden. Their care and devotion is a vital part of what keeps a Race Horse wanting to race. I'm glad you were able to share your experience with us. You briefly touched upon the extremities of barn life at the track, and it is truely unfortunate that things aren't better for those directly involved. I think that working conditions could be much better if the tracks would implement a plan of improvement, but I'm not sure that there is much emphasis on changing this archaic dilemma. If the powers that be in Horse Racing want to improve interest and interaction, one much needed way to do so would be to clean up and overhaul the present state of things. I feel certain it will take place at some point in time, I just hope it is sooner rather than later.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Shelby's Best Pal — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 04:01:25 GMT

Thank you for this wonderful story.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Fran — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 02:21:10 GMT

A other wonderful story by Steve! I love reading about his experiences, his take on the industry, and his wonderful stories about the horses and the people! Than you Steve!

re: Life on the Backstretch

Paula Higgins — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 01:49:28 GMT

Steve, I enjoyed every word of this piece. Just wonderful and frankly, you must love horses to do this behind the scenes work. It is really, really hard work. Not a day at the beach that's for sure. But it is clear that the best places have a true comraderie and a love for each individual horse and its little idiosyncrasies such as biting fingers off. I think that seeing a horse you care for do well must be very satisfying. The backside people are very much a part of that victory for good reason.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Alex'sBigFan — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 01:15:30 GMT

Steve this is beautifully written. Thank you for taking us through this portal to the backstretch and giving us a look at what it takes to get these majestic creatures to the races for us. It takes a lot, to quote Mr. Pletcher recently, it is very "labor intensive" what goes on behind the scenes and I appreciate all those backstretch workers who take care of these animals. It's quite a responsibility and I have a newfound respect for them now as well.

You see Steve I told you when you took your self imposed vacation, that even if you wrote an article "about stall mucking" we all would be enthralled. I imagine it's not pretty back there at times, what with urine soaked wood chips, manure faced colts, stench of unflushed toilets, but it's all part of the intense caregiving level these animals require. I could feel the hotwalking you were doing. I got to walk a female jumper in Morocco two summers back named Carmenia, and it was an awesome feeling. You can feel their strength and power just walking them.

I hope enough is being done for the families of these workers. I know in NY there is Anna House, a facility where backstretch worker's children are cared for and I believe Mr. Rob Whiteley is involved with scholarships for backstretch workers's children in KY. Thanks Steve for this great expose of the backbone of racing and I am glad you got that opportunity to experience it and enrich your knowledge of the sport.

re: Life on the Backstretch

louie — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 01:11:18 GMT

Great article it shows the humble side of horse racing.I would like to help with some prayerbooks for the jockeys .I will send them free of charge,just let me know were to send them via e-mail.I take it you have it seeing that i entered it .

re: Life on the Backstretch

hank — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 00:29:47 GMT

Absolutely a great article as usual, gave a good view of the real behind the scenes of a very hard tough life, people see all these trainers, who looked like they just got out of a dry cleaners, a lot of people involved to a race stable, i have experienced it first hand, and it is one business that takes more than it gives back, a lot of sacrifices, Dreams destroyed in a split second and all that is left are memories.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Dr Drunkinbum — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 23:52:47 GMT

Extraordinary tale of courage, where the mere mortal city boy dare not go, spendidly told so that the reader has no doubt about this adventurer's love and emotion felt upon recalling this trek into the unknown world of the backstretch wrought with pitfalls and danger. I love this piece and wonder to what lengths one would have to go to to be able to read the highly prized "long version."

re: Life on the Backstretch

Tiz Herself — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 23:29:53 GMT

Beautiful, beautiful Steve - I love it. Skip Away was my number 1 and still is.... thank you so much for sharing this.

I hope to one day meet Carolyn and hear her recounts too...

This made my day Steve - awesome job as always :)

re: Life on the Backstretch

Steve Haskin — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 22:37:15 GMT

Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments. As usual, they are all much appreciated.

TizAllie, your comparison to the Escherian Stairwell blew me away, as does the Stairwell. Thank you very much.

Alysheba, welcome aboard, so great to have you and I hope you enjoy the ride.

to all those who like they were there, I have done my job, and that is great to hear.

Shazaam, glad to hear of your experiences working on the backstretch. My early days on the Belmont backstretch in the late 60s and early 70s with my father were some of the most special days I can remember

re: Life on the Backstretch

Bellwether — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 21:50:25 GMT

It's all about the Horses back there and you have to be cut out for it...Thanks for bringing back the sweet memories Steve...

re: Life on the Backstretch

Shazaam — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 20:12:35 GMT

Once again, you have captured my senses and attention so wonderfully. I ran a boarding barn for 3 years and that was the happiest time of my life. I also had a full-time office job, a husband and step-kids. The barn helped me keep my sanity. It was an enormous amount of work but it went easily because I loved it. Office work, not so much, but a girl has to pay the bills. I so look forward to all of your articles. As a horse can have a good "turn of foot", you, Mr. Haskins, have a good "turn of pen". I wish you'd put all of this into a book, I'd be first in line to buy it.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Ascot_Doll_wins — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 19:36:22 GMT

My goodness Steve, what a wonderful and amazing piece that is. I thank you so very much for sharing it with us.

re: Life on the Backstretch

rowdee — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:47:41 GMT

Thank you for the "insider's" glimpse into a part of the world of horseracing that courses so deeply thru your world.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Jackie WV — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 17:29:26 GMT

Wow Steve, GREAT story!! I felt like I was there. I never imagined that life on the backside was easy, but I don't think I realized just how difficult it could be. It lets you know they must truly love what they do. I work in an office every day and most of the people I encounter in a days time are simply just not happy and it shows. What a sad way to live. My recent experience on the backside of Saratoga was so uplifting. I came across many grooms, exercise riders, hot walkers, etc. and even though none of them knew me, I was always greeted with a smile, a nod, good morning, nice to see you, beautiful morning...... These people seemed truly happy!! God Bless them all. We should all be so lucky as to wake up every morning and love what we do.

Steve, thanks for sharing your story. As usual, it was told beautifully!! It's evident how much you love what yo do. You're a lucky man!

Jackie

re: Life on the Backstretch

TizAllie — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 16:08:03 GMT

Thank you for rewriting this tonic for the senses. I missed the original. Trying to analyze what it is about your writing that draws me in and makes me feel what you are experiencing is like trying to explain the Escherian Stairwell. I can't explain the slight of pen, yet the results are magical.

re: Life on the Backstretch

Alysheba88 — Mon, 12 Aug 2013 15:53:49 GMT

You nailed it, Mr. Haskin. I have only recently begun reading your blogs and am enjoying them immensely. I only worked at the track briefly, a month at Belmont Park in the spring of 1990, but you have captured perfectly the vivid memories I have of that time. Add my thanks and appreciation to those of the countless others who enjoy your words so much!