I am woman, wife, mother, grand-mother, horse-owner in that sequence. It has been one year since I doled out over $9,000 for my first acquisition -- a four-year-old, gorgeous, proud black gelding, a thoroughbred race horse. Why? I still don't know -- other than I didn't need another car.

Understand, I knew nothing about horses other than one must find a trainer you can believe in and then trust his or her judgement in the choosing of a WINNER!

I found the trainer through number two son who, with two of his friends, owned several horses. The trainer had been a jockey himself for many years and had gone into the training end of the business after he had retired from riding professionally. Who would know horses better than he?

Allow me to digress for a moment. My husband and I used to go to the race track two or three times a year. I never would bet on a particular horse, but would bet on the jockey or the color of the silks the jockey wore. Laugh if you want, but I always come home with money in my pocket. My trainer was the jockey I bet on most frequently.

When the opportunity arose for me to claim a horse I was very enthusiastic and excited. That black beauty belonged to me and the trainer agreed to take care of him at a price.

Owning a horse is a costly operation. The list, for those of you who have thought about acquiring a winner but never gave a second thought to the expenses, is mind boggling. They need to be ridden, walked, groomed, and, of course, fed every day. Do you buy yourself a new pair of shoes every month? No? Well, your horse will need new shoes every month and he or she has four feet. How often do you see your doctor? Once or twice a year? Well, your horse sees the vet several times a month -- and guess what? You as the horse's owner foot the bill. How often do you go out to dinner and order filet mignon? Rarely, you say? Remember, if you want to keep your horse happy and healthy you must see that he is fed well. You periodically go out to visit your horse and find out if he is in good condition, happy and does his stall smell clean? This all comes with a price tag.

Let's by-pass all the nitty-gritty daily money grind and move up to the day when your horse is entered in his first race for you. Prior to the race, you must purchase the silks that the jockey will wear. You choose your design and colors -- mine are yellow and white. I think they are the best-looking silks in the race, bar none. Of course, this horse deserves the best so his bridle, blinders and blanket all match -- why not?

He draws the second post position, which is great, the trainer says, and the horse is ready. It is helpful when your trainer knows all the jockeys and he can pick who he feels will do a good job for our money-maker. Oh year, never lose sight of the reason you bought the horse. He is an investment and is going to give you a large return on the money he has cost you.

They are off -- and HE leads the pack. He is doing a fantastic job for you and your cheers are louder than the rest because, after all, your horse is six lengths in the lead and is going to make for you half the money he cost -- and this is just his first race.

They round the last turn on the way to the finish line and all of a sudden my horse has begun to slow. He is passed by all the other six horses in the race. Yes, my friends, he comes in dead last and I can't believe my eyes. Were you aware that, in a horse race, the first six horses in order are paid a percentage of the prize money? My black beauty got ZIP! Why? The jockey says he just got tired. Bull! Well, he'll be racing again in two weeks. If nothing else he has taught me that winners sometimes do lose, BIG!