To Our Readers
August 6 – He was worth the wait. American Pharoah is just what I had hoped he’d be. My first up close and personal encounter was at Kelly Breen’s Barn Number 12 early the morning of Monmouth Park’s Haskell nvitational. Pharoah was taking his morning nap with two fans outside his stall keeping him cool on a warm morning. He lifted his head and looked at me and I thought my heart might pop. What gentle and kind eyes. I’ve heard him called ferocious, which I find a bit silly. He’s a sweetheart but I guess not in his competitor’s eyes. He looked like a baby, with his legs wrapped up in white tape, curled up in his straw. I told him, “Go back to sleep baby; you have a very big day ahead.” I’ve worked at the track and have owned horses most of my life. I was afraid I would disturb him and certainly didn’t want him getting excited. Instead, he listened, and put his head back down. I was officially hit by lightning. The same thing happened when I bought one of my horses, Trouble Eternal. He walked out of his stall, much taller a horse than I ever should have owned, but lightening hit. I looked at my husband and told him, he’s the one. He was aghast because I hadn’t even ridden the horse yet. I explained it didn’t matter and that he was it. I was right. The relationship between me and Trouble, which was a ridiculous name for a wonderful horse, was perfect to the end. Clearly, I realized I couldn’t take Pharoah home, let alone stay long, but I felt the same way about Secretariat when I met him. There’s just something about horses, especially the goofy ones who like attention. When I watched Pharoah approach the paddock, it was clear he was amused by the throngs of fans with raised cellphones snapping, cheering and yelling his praises. His turns around the paddock were equally calm with Pharoah looking around at the crowd and probably sensing they were there to see him. Not that he didn’t have worthy competitors in that race. Keen Ice made a valiant attempt and Upstart ran really well for a horse that hasn’t run since the Derby when he had to be pulled up. I met his owner, an elegant woman, who was happy Pharoah won although she promised her horse would be back in stride soon enough. The pageantry this year rivaled the Derby with hats and dapper outfits everywhere and a star-studded group of spectators. Bill Murray gave the “riders up” call in the Paddock, Jon Stewart was on hand and Sugar Ray Robinson, II was in the paddock. There were many more but the real star to me was Pharoah. A reporter, photographer and I worked our way through the 61,000-strong crowds to the gate leading us onto the dirt track shared by the field of horses. The race was off and I watched Pharoah win the race from not more than 20 feet away. He wasn’t even tired and had even been slowed in the stretch to protect the mighty animal from injury. When I was 20 years old, I was in a dreadful accident Aug. 2 and it became a bit of a dark day. Boy did Pharoah change the meaning of that anniversary for me, forever. I am so glad I met the gentleman.
Let’s have coffee!
Jody Calendar
Executive Editor/Co-Publisher
editor@tworivertimes.com
