My family and I went to visit my grandma’s new apartment when I was 10 (almost 11). For some reason Grandma never turned the TV off when she had visitors, and it would stay on. I think she turned the volume down somewhat. This was a long visit (Long even by adult standards) and I was watching whatever images were on the TV. A lot of pretty horses were loaded up into a starting gate, that was interesting, especially since 10-11 is the cusp of the horse longing phase of a young girl’s life.
So the horses started running, and I was watching. No big deal. Then three-fourths of the ways through some horse from almost the back, a horse that had no chance to my eye, took off and just ran like mad. I don’t know when I stood up and began screaming. Then he won! I commenced hopping up and down screaming. Then I noticed my family looking at me. Dad, a sports fan, watched the replay and explained that horses hang back sometimes to give a big burst at the end.
I found this fascinating. It fostered in me a love of the Kentucky Derby (because of course it was the ’73 Kentucky Derby) and I watched all of Secretariat’s races (because of course the horse was Secretariat). I learned the importance of hanging back so you can annihilate the competition later (not that I ever used this information – well, maybe the hanging back part).
And if you want to see him win the Derby, join me as I watch the Derby Saturday – they always replay his Derby win. Every year I watch the Derby, waiting for another big Secretariat moment with a new horse, but no. That record remains unchallenged.
2 responses to “This is what happens when you peak too early”
I’ve always wanted to go to the Kentucky Derby and wear a proper hat and drink mint juleps.And in somewhat related equine news, I saw a man walking his horse today while on the way to work. Mind you, the area in which I live does have some horse owners, so it’s not out of the ordinary to see horses on the street, but it’s still mighty funny seeing a pony gets its morning walk. Hee.
I think of going every year, and every year Secretariat isn’t there so I’m glad I didn’t. Even though this year’s horse did quite nicely. And what the hey? They didn’t show the Secretariat clip this year. Have they forgotten?