A Horse to Soothe the Soul

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

karenmarie — Sun, 18 May 2014 17:10:05 GMT

Oh my goodness, What excellent writing and feeling. And mostly everyone's comments as well. Your gift of writing certainly facilitates others to reach inside of their own creativity. What a beautiful gift you share Sir. Thank you.

You wrote in words what I feel in my heart. I truly wish California Chrome his groom, exercise rider,trainer, owners and hot walker much luck in the upcoming Belmont. Whether they win or loose, they have already won, and their stories will live on because of wonderfully talented people, such as yourself.

I am an old race tracker, did everything from hot walking, to training and even rode one race. I in my senior years have one thoroughbred I adopted from Frank Stronach. He is my California Chrome and if he could speak, I think he would thank you too.

I was once asked "Who was the best horse you ever rode" My answer was "All of them".

Thank you Steve from all of the race track people out there and the thoroughbred horses who give their all. They really are loved and respected by many.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Greg R — Fri, 16 May 2014 03:26:38 GMT

Soldier Course: I believe that Wayne Lukas, an acute observer of conformation, said that he likes a long neck. I am not commenting on whether C C has a particularly long neck - IDK.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Thecuz — Thu, 15 May 2014 21:06:19 GMT

I finally got the chance to read what I knew was coming....a more than spectacular article about Chrome and his dumb ass partners. As usual...you did not disappoint. "

Romantics and poets have a way of creating their own endings and making people feel and envision the beauty they are trying to portray with their words " yes..sir..you do.....you move me...I've missed this place.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: cs.bloodhorse.com/.../a-horse-to-soothe-the-soul.aspx

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Soldier Course — Wed, 14 May 2014 17:10:29 GMT

I've noticed that California Chrome seems to have an unusually long neck. Does anyone know if this would have any effect on his performance, like increased oxygen intake, for example?

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Donna Heim — Wed, 14 May 2014 06:33:45 GMT

LOVE IT!!!

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Greg R — Wed, 14 May 2014 04:19:27 GMT

I don't know whether Cal Chrome is another Alysheba, Seattle Slew or Spectacular Bid (equine heroes you mentioned above), but I don't want to see this ride end yet.

If the Shermans worked Cal Chrome twice in four weeks between the S A Derby and the KY Derby and not at all in these two weeks before the Preakness, does that mean that they would probably work him ONCE in the three weeks between the Preakness and Belmont?

I usually respect the other returning Derby horses more than "new shooters" in the Preakness, but I would fear Bayern more than the Derby starters this time.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

TheFish — Wed, 14 May 2014 03:30:50 GMT

Steve, great article. You forgot the most important, unraced horse from many of our childhoods, though: Marvel the Mustang! He actually could move!

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

regina — Wed, 14 May 2014 01:41:22 GMT

Exactly why we love racing, gets under your skin and in your blood. For all connected with California Chrome, may your dreams come true.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Proud Acres — Tue, 13 May 2014 23:52:00 GMT

Mr.haskin's, you never disappoint. I loved this story and especially since I live 8 miles outside of YUBA City! Run Chrome (jr) run, may the gods be forever in your favoe

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

MK — Tue, 13 May 2014 23:50:56 GMT

A beautiful Story, beautifully written. You are a master, Steve. Thank you for sharing your perspective.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Uncle Smiley — Tue, 13 May 2014 23:18:12 GMT

Dr. DB

Do you remember Bud Collier, the host of Beat The Clock.

By now he must be an alte clocker.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Uncle Smiley — Tue, 13 May 2014 23:15:38 GMT

Steve, may I quote you...so susinctly stated...

"There are no more kings, and we are trying desperately to convince the world we are still a sport."

Maybe California Chrome is that call to rouse the people to enjoy this sport?

Seattle Slew did so in '77' and there are similarities with these two thoroughbreds and their connections.

All this being said, I am seeking a Baffert, Bayern, Napravnik turn out this Saturday.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Soldier Course — Tue, 13 May 2014 21:14:57 GMT

About twelve years ago I discovered that my mother's brother Jack and I shared a love of horse racing. Uncle Jack was a character. He loved the horses and couldn't wait to tell us about the day he won $10,000 at Arlington Park.

Uncle Jack did me a big favor a few years before he passed away. At the time I was puzzled by his gesture, but now I understand. I had been given a lovely silver tray by a dear friend when I graduated from college 45 years ago. Over time it had become scratched and tarnished to the point that I'd stopped using it. Uncle Jack happened to notice it one day and offered to repair it. Little did I know!

Uncle Jack took the silver tray and brought it back a few weeks later, restored to its former glory. But I was at a loss for words when he told me what he'd done to my tray. He said, "I coated it with chrome."

Horrified at what he'd done to my precious silver tray, I asked him what he was thinking. Now I know.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Will — Tue, 13 May 2014 20:28:20 GMT

Turning down big money for a Cal bred from the other side tracks that cost them little or nothing to have bred. Owned by a couple of cowboys and trained by an aged former exercise rider of Swaps who's as old as Wayne Lukas. That's what it took to put a little sport back in "the Sport of Kings" which had become too much business and too little sport. The trio is about as far as it gets from royalty. This was a story made for Steve to memorialize and write it well he did - as always.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Hondo — Tue, 13 May 2014 18:27:20 GMT

Steve

Excellent piece. We have all become too in love with speed. One of the first things I was taught was claimers are governed by speed and good horses are governed by class. Class is not how fast you go but how you go fast....it is that inner drive and stamina that make a horse refuse to quit regardless of the time and when need they can go very fast.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

MoeQ — Tue, 13 May 2014 17:02:06 GMT

Terrific column. The sport needs more Coburns and Mitchells.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

MonicaV — Mon, 12 May 2014 22:38:06 GMT

Dr. D,

Yes, I remember Truth or Consequences! Bob Barker was the host before he did Price is Right who was hosted by Bill Cullen I believe.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Dr Drunkinbum — Mon, 12 May 2014 17:57:57 GMT

Monica V.

Me too. I think the song was 63 or 64, but I'm not certain. I do remember that we sang parodies of his parody, changing the words to fit the occasion. I'm glad you mentioned that you loved Fury. Nobody ever mentions that show. Do you remember Truth or Consequences?

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

MonicaV — Mon, 12 May 2014 17:40:35 GMT

mz,

I started that nephew on horse racing when he was 3 years old! He is now 23. He loved watching the races on TV and grew up loving them and racing.

It's always been about the horses for me. I bet but I'm not a serious player. I've had some really good hunches though. I was at Keeneland several years back. I had been visiting a lot of the farms and I walked on to the grounds and the horses were in the saddling area and I saw one I really liked. I put $5 across on him and I won $100. I immediately went to the gift shop and spent it on horse shirts! I used to have Derby parties and went all out with red rose arrangements around the house, I ordered the glasses for that year and everyone got one to take home. I had it catered and made the Derby pie myself and it was a great time.

There is nothing more beautiful than seeing one of those horses walking over to be saddled. Their coat gleaming in the sunlight and their muscles rippling and their beautiful faces looking at the crowd. I remember a film that was made I think, during Secretariat's TC attempt and they were showing a thoroughbred running in slow motion and talked about artists who always painted a horse with one foot on the ground when in fact, they actually leave the ground with all fours. The horse is a running machine with it's heart pumping fast and pumping blood and oxygen thought it's body. It's really a marvel and one of the most beautiful and moving things I have seen is at the Kentucky Horse Park. At the entrance there is this huge picture of horses running and the caption says "Thou shall fly without wings". That made me cry and it's making me cry right now writing this because they truly do fly. God truly outdid Himself when he created the horse.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Tairaterces — Mon, 12 May 2014 16:54:01 GMT

Thank you Steve, you did it again!!!

And thank you to Mr. Martin, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Sherman & California Chrome for letting us ride along with their dream.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Thisismypolicy — Mon, 12 May 2014 01:28:44 GMT

But Andy Beyer said his female family was garbage, how can we have any faith in him

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

predict — Sun, 11 May 2014 20:24:45 GMT

Steve,

What a wonderful piece. Never tire of reading your great stories of this sport.

Here it is Mother's Day and let us pay tribute to the one who brought us all into this world, and probably told most of us at some point they could take us out too. But let us us especially remember the one who brought us this special horse we love hearing about, and that is Love The Chase, for she really put it all on the line when she gave birth to this special colt. And isn't she suitably named, for it truly is the chase that has kept these owners in possession of this horse. I think we all "love this chase" for the Triple Crown, that brings us all together at this great site, The Bloodhorse", so take time today pay tribute in someway to the one for whom we celebrate tdoay.

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

RedRose777 — Sun, 11 May 2014 17:56:19 GMT

I totally agree about the misplaced fascination with the time of this particular Derby. So many greats have run seemingly slow races only to come back and set records in their very next start. Regarding Chrome, he has already displayed the ability to run fast and maintain that speed. How quickly some forget the old adage, "pace makes the race."

This horse is push-button. He is kind. He does what is asked. He is beautiful with a gleaming copper coat and glistening mane and tail. He is reminiscent of so many champions in his pedigree.

The beginning of your piece struck me and so many others because we all share a common bond, a thread that binds us...we love horses. We all felt drawn to fictional and non-fictional horses alike because it was in our bloodlines. It's something that cannot be explained as well as it can be felt or experienced, but Chrome has given us another chance to experience this inherent emotion.

I sincerely hope and pray we do not see the demise of horse racing, for if we did, a piece of all of us would die along with it. How sad that would be. For now, let's just enjoy the ride and live vicariously through the connections of Chrome and this incredible dream come true. I can't think of a better time to Crown a champion.

Thanks Steve. Take care!

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

Linda in Texas — Sun, 11 May 2014 15:47:34 GMT

It is Mother's Day, so Happy Mother's Day to all the mama's, grand mums, sister's, and aunt's, etc. in the people world and to all the mares, grandmares, sister's, and aunt's in the horse world. Linda

re: A Horse to Soothe the Soul

MonicaV — Sun, 11 May 2014 15:24:14 GMT

Dr. D,

I think we must have grown up at the same time. My favorite show was Fury too and I can't believe you mentioned Alan Sherman's Camp Granada song! I loved that song!