It was the last day of the year 1997 and the gelding was racing. The odds were good and we were to make some money according to the experts. I've always wondered who the experts are who predict winners. Are they clairvoyant? Do they work strictly with past records, or do they play their own hunches? I've always assumed my hunch is as good as theirs any day of the week and bet accordingly.We went to the paddock to take a look at the other horses racing against our so-called winner. They all looked in top form; who's to know? You place your bet and take your chances.
We claimed our horse in March and over the period of nine months he won four times for us. I always wondered how come he didn't wine at least every other race he was in. I spoke about that once with a friend who had owned a horse a few years ago. He was astonished and in no uncertain terms (and a good sprinkling of pithy language) asked me if I had all my marbles in one basket. He asked me if I knew how very fortunate I was to win at all let alone four times. I guess I quietly say to myself, well, why are you in the business if you are not going to win? I am still naive enough to believe that your horse should bring in some money, and why not first place?
The trainer and his wife and my husband and I sat back to watch the race. He did well and came in second. This horse usually either comes in first or dead last. He never knew there was a second and third slot until today.
We were happy for all of us and turned to go to collect our winnings on the bets we made when we heard an announcement. Our prize thoroughbred had been claimed.
On my part there was total disbelief. The trainer looked shocked because he certainly did not expect the claim. I had recently learned that the trainer can scratch the horse if he is aware that it is going to be claimed prior to the race. It was obvious that he did not know.
Ann, his wife, returned with a bridle in her hand and tears in her eyes. She appeared to be as devastated as we all were. It was difficult enough for me, but I wasn't the one who got up very early to feed, clean and run this horse every morning. I told her how sorry I was.
What do we do now? My first reaction was to reclaim the horse the next time he ran in a claiming race. The trainer advised that we let him go and find another worthwhile horse. My husband and I do not have the expertise to be confident about picking another winner. We talked with the trainer and told him to get us another horse. I never realized that we were actually hooked on race horses until this happened. Our gelding had made enough in winnings to pay for himself and all the other expenses we incurred.
We would miss him. It was a sad ending to the last day of the year.
As we walked from the track to the car I was still not certain I didn't want to reclaim him. I realize this is a business and we are all in it to make some money. Well, we don't know what the next year will bring but I do know that there will always be an empty spot in my heart for our very first entry into thoroughbred racing. Goodbye my friend.