Cesar De Alba: A Year to Remember

2014 resulted in an assemblage of firsts for jockey Cesar De Alba. His fifteen stakes wins were tops in the nation among quarter horse riders, while the one-hundred plus victories he amassed at Los Alamitos had him vying for their annual riding title. Finding his way to the winner’s circle by delivering on the track has helped solidify Cesar’s rebirth as a jockey, yet it was a delivery of a different nature that spawned his most uniquely profound thrill of the year. On the second day in November, Cesar and his wife Becky welcomed the arrival of their first born child, a boy they named Kevin. “It’s amazing to think that I’ve played a part in creating another life,” Cesar stated. As the calendar year draws to a fulfilling close, there is little doubt that the events of 2014 will furnish memories to last the whole of a lifetime.


Cesar Entering the Winner's Circle at Los Alamitos (Photo Courtesy of Esther Kim)

Cesar De Alba was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to the United States in 1989 when he was just eight years of age. Shortly after the relocation, his father went to work with his uncle at the Dragon Wind horse farm in Valley Center, California. The family took up residence in Valley Center, and as Cesar fondly recalls, it was a childhood marked by considerable happiness. The De Alba household was home to Cesar, his mother and father, as well as a younger and an older sister. Bonds originating during this youthful period have kept the family close up through the present day.

 

Rising at 5:00 A.M. to watch your father gallop horses may not sound like the ideal morning to your typical ten-year-old boy, but then again, Cesar was anything but typical. He relished the trips out to San Luis Rey Downs in the city of Bonsall, California. When his father was not busy galloping horses, he was hard at work breaking babies or performing any one of a multitude of other equine related activities. Cesar absorbed the unrelenting passion that his father exhibited, and he employed a similar work ethic while cleaning stalls or tending to other daily chores.

Nearly every facet of Cesar’s life involved horses in one way or another, yet this did not prohibit the growth of a teenager trying to navigate his way through high school. As Cesar explains, “I was extremely shy as a kid, but high school gave me the opportunity to break out of the shell I had been in.” At Orange Glen High School in Escondido, Cesar flourished both in and out of the classroom, giving all he had to scholastic studies, while taking part in soccer as encouraged by his parents. On the soccer field, Cesar discovered the competitive prowess that would soon become vital to his days in the saddle.

Upon graduating from high school, Cesar began to make his presence known on the Southern California thoroughbred racing circuit. Mornings consisted of shaking as many hands and working as many horses as possible. His first professional mount came in 2001 aboard a Bob Hess Jr. trained runner at Hollywood Park. He finished third in this debut ride more than a decade ago, but the race itself squarely laid a foundation for the prosperous career that then followed.

Life as an apprentice jockey is not for the faint of heart or weak of will. Unfamiliarity with weight maintenance or feelings of homesickness can leave a young rider frustrated and demoralized. Throughout the early stages of his career, these were struggles De Alba would come to know far too well. As Cesar confessed, “Picking up mounts on the East Coast was tough because I missed my family. And despite having an uncle (Eddie Garcia) who was a prominent quarter horse jockey in California, it always seemed I was missing a true mentor during my early days on the thoroughbreds.”

Cesar was introduced to Los Alamitos in the 1990’s. It was an exciting time, venturing out to the track with family to watch his uncle atop the short distance specialists. The facilities back then were quite different from what onlookers might see today. The paddock was erected in the middle part of the infield, and the fan friendly atmosphere allowed for closer relations between the athletes and spectators. These were times Cesar had not forgotten, times that ultimately made those first mounts at Los Alamitos all the more endearing.

Initially, Cesar came to Los Alamitos to ride thoroughbreds at the insistence of his agent, Neil Bricks. He enjoyed his share of good fortune at the four and one-half furlong distance, yet it was not long before trainers were thinking of Cesar as a plausible option for their quarter horses. The rest, so to speak, is history. Cesar’s talents on the thoroughbreds were quickly overshadowed by his mastery of the quarter horses. “Being able to ride each breed has enabled me to better understand the other,” Cesar said. “Thoroughbreds can get lost in a race depending on the traffic or their trip, but a quarter horse instinctively knows that it is time to roll the instant the gate breaks opens.” Prior to 2014, Cesar’s most notable season on record came in 2007, a year in which he tallied more than eighty victories on the track.


Cesar with Paul Jones and Assistant Trainer Rocke Gonzalez (Photo Courtesy of Esther Kim)



Morning workouts play a key role in the success of any horse racing stable. This is a fact Cesar has grown to appreciate and revere during his years in the saddle. He arrives at the track by 6:00 A.M. and immediately makes himself available to trainers in need of workout riders. This willingness to put forth effort for others has resulted in mounts being awarded from a variety of sources. In addition, Cesar prides himself on riding for different trainers, preferring not to identify exclusively with any one particular barn. “It is my goal to earn each trainer’s respect by not shying away from mounts that are offered,” De Alba explains.

Coming of age as a professional athlete requires not only experience, but a certain measure of time. At thirty-three years of age, Cesar De Alba believes that his newfound maturity has had a great deal to do with his revival on the race track. “I am more focused now than ever before,” he admits. Cesar takes pleasure in sharing what he has learned with young riders. His aim is to be the hand of reason that was absent during his own days as an apprentice.  “The best advice I can give to a young jockey is that nothing is as important as remaining humble,” he proclaims.

Cesar leads by example and handles himself with the utmost humility. He chooses not to highlight specific horses he deems as more memorable than others, yet does concede that Moonist has had a greater influence on his career than any other who came before. Trainer John Cooper’s three-year-old phenomenon has helped Cesar to regain an elite level of confidence. Over the course of the 2014 season, Moonist and De Alba combined to win nine of ten starts at Los Alamitos Race Course, four of which being highly regarded stakes races.

Despite the overwhelming achievements on the track, Cesar maintains that there are parts of his game he would like to improve upon moving forward. He believes his most valued asset lies in the ability to sit quietly on the back of a horse, but does hope to become even more proficient at getting his mounts to break exceptionally fast. It is with little hesitation that Cesar sings the praises of the gate crew at Los Alamitos, and he is quick to mention Rodrigo Aceves, Ramon Sanchez, and Cruz Mendez as fellow riders he admires sincerely.



Cesar De Alba with Becky and Baby Kevin

 

Cesar now calls the city of Cypress home, and he is just minutes away from the track that has brought him such acclaim. His wife, Becky Fitzgerald, is a state track veterinarian who is also employed at Los Alamitos. De Alba explains that time away from the track is spent working alongside of Becky as she makes farm calls to animals in need throughout the greater Los Angeles area. He remains fit by running three to four miles each morning on race days, a regimen that has nearly become necessity due to his deep-seated affinity for pizza. “I can never get enough pizza,” Cesar chuckles.

Cesar’s love for the animals is apparent from the second he begins to speak. “Horses are not machines. They are living, breathing creatures that can have an off day, an off hour, or even an off moment. This is something the general public sometimes forgets,” he says. What will not be forgotten is the resounding willingness to work and desire to learn that has aided Cesar in becoming a more accomplished jockey, and a more well-rounded man.

Whether the accomplishments of 2014 are duplicated in the upcoming season or not, one thing is certain: For Cesar De Alba, his wife Becky, and baby Kevin, 2015 is sure to be a year filled with an abundance of added blessings.

 

 

 

Crack Of Dawn Said He

Equine Variations on a Theme by E. E. Cummings

Crack of dawn said he

Morning frost said she

Did you sleep said he

Standing up said she

Busy day said he

Bluebirds sing said she

Much to do said he

Autumn scents said she

Will you run said he

Like the wind said she

Gobble fuel said he

No more gruel said she

Graded stakes said he

Just a race said she

Worth is earned said he

Human myth said she

Master's voice said he

Devil's trill said she

Near our barn said he

Loathe the thought said she

Piercing sight said he

Needles con said she

Do not fear said he

Not my first said she

Cannot watch said he

Through the hide said she

Curse the pain said he

Punctured pride said she

Will you run said he

Like a mule said she

Master's wrath said he

Lesson learned said she

Off you go said he

Giddyap said she

Anno Domini 2014

Et In Honorem Divinum Creaturae



Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Victor Vasnetsov



Bits and pieces of our past are typically found in stories that are unraveling in the present. In biblical times, the apocalypse was considered to be a transcendent revelation, a turning point in history when good would overcome evil, an indication that a well-defined interval of time was coming to a decisive end. The rise and fall of empires signaled the birth of new ideas, and along with this progressive way of thinking, came an altered understanding of what these revelations truly implied. Recently, mankind has adopted the notion that this is a reference to the end of days, but time has an uncanny knack for distorting truth, and even the most devout historian will concede that an apocalypse unequivocally embodies change.

Horse racing offers the sporting world its own version of the apocalypse each and every year. Juveniles emerge as three-year-olds on the first day in January, while racing stables across the land cast their sights on the Garland of Roses and Black-eyed Susans in months that follow. Breaking news is a morning occurrence, unheralded barns charm their way into mainstream society, and defections from the Triple Crown trail are often pandemic.

As the last of July’s fireworks are being unleashed into the night sky, the horse racing world refocuses its attention on older, more accomplished equine athletes. Pillars of the sport are applauded with religious fervor as they run in a variable medley of graded stakes events, contests serving as stepping stones to the most coveted event of them all: the Breeders Cup.

The year in racing simmers to a collective calm during the early part of autumn, but as the days dwindle away to Breeders Cup weekend, fans begin to muse over the multitude of prophesies that have already been written. An apocalypse is defined by change, and at no other time is change greater than when the torch is being passed from one noble champion to the next. Mucho Macho Man prevailed in last year’s running of the Classic, but he and several other notables will not compete in 2014 due to retirement, or in some cases, injury.

The year of the horse has quietly become the year of the three-year-old. Many are touting the 2014 Breeders Cup Classic as the Kentucky Derby that never was. Roughly half of the field will be made up of horses that were eligible to compete in Triple Crown races. Chances are, one of these gifted creatures will be anointed Horse of the Year.  We must summon up the trumpets and sound the bugles, for the four horses of the apocalypse are about to ride.

The White Horse is most accurately depicted by California Chrome. He was the first to have surfaced as he spread the word of racing across the land throughout his victory campaign. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner maintains a following that is characterized by righteousness, but this has in no way deterred him from seeking the ultimate, end of the year honor. Some believe him to be a false prophet, but the conqueror shall willingly pass judgment on those foolish enough to deny his message.  

Bayern bursts confidently away from a starting gate as if equipped with a mighty sword. Representative of the Red Horse, he is here to spill the blood of others as he throws down the gauntlet with his catch me if you can mentality. The Red Horse divides the population, leaving a fraction awestruck by his speed, while others frown upon the front-running style and label him as lacking versatility. Make no mistake about it: this is the bringer of war.

The Black Horse reminded the nation that fairy tales are best reserved for children’s books. Tonalist brought balance back to the game by insuring that the Triple Crown famine would continue for at least one more year. Impeccably bred, the Black Horse is symbolic of the wealthy and illustrates the class gap in contemporary society and in horse racing. There will be no injustice should blue-blooded law reign supreme come Breeders Cup Saturday.

The Pale Horse scatters darkness over all that dare face him. Adversaries have lined up alongside of Shared Belief seven times, and seven times the competition has languished hopelessly in defeat. He is the grim reaper, small in stature, but wielding an unthinkable amount of power. This is the little train, the Pale Horse, preparing to ravage once more.

Our apocalypse does not indicate the end of time, but the end of the year in racing as we know it. The coronation of a newfound champion will take place on the first Saturday in November. The racing world is sure to rejoice as the year’s grandest revelation becomes the sport’s most celebrated reality. Many are ready to march into the starting gate in hopes of capturing the Classic, but all eyes will zero in on four horses as they ride off after destiny.

Parade of the Tearless Eyes

The world of horse racing is merely a microcosm of life as we know it. It is a world filled with lost souls in search of riches and privileged souls in search of themselves. It is a world dependent upon controversy and debate, yet one that abounds with poignant competition and delightful solidarity. Horse racing drives human emotions to unimaginable extremes. The highs have been likened to being touched by the hand of God, while the lows can incite ideations of leading the loneliest existence on earth.

Mankind’s ability to formulate thoughts and articulate feelings helps to distinguish our species from all others. It is this giftedness which allows those associated with the sport of kings to express themselves in ways that define individuality. Thoughts become emotions, emotions are intensified by feelings, and eventually those feelings evolve into the attitudes and behaviors that are so publicly on display.

Six primary emotions were identified by American-born psychologist Paul Ekman in 1972. The classification model he devised consisted of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. Each of these universally recognized emotions plays a pivotal role in the horse racing community, yet none of them are as misunderstood or complex as sadness.

We pacify ourselves with peaceful solutions when we are angry, we excuse ourselves from situations and environments that precipitate disgust, and we look for shelter or comfort when we are fearful. Surprise is reconciled by the acceptance of matters at hand, while happiness is embraced for as long as lighthearted sentiment will allow.   

Sadness is an emotional pain characterized by loss, despair, or grief. It is the emotion that most frequently goes unresolved, and in the horse racing world, it is as commonplace as the equine athletes themselves. It can be said that a willingness to love requires a willingness to grieve. For the impassioned people aligned with our beloved sport, this willingness often culminates in either triumphant joy or indomitable sadness.

Humanity needs little guidance in the midst of happiness or gaiety. People will naturally gravitate towards winners and place their trust in the hands of those who are most likely to succeed. We have mastered the fine art of celebration, but our capacity for coping with grief and loss leaves much to be desired. In horse racing, the heartaches are real as despondency seemingly lies in wait for one victim after the other. Everyone connected to the sport is susceptible and there is no magic pill that provides even the slightest shred of immunity. 

 Jockey colonies across the land are a proverbial grab bag of ethnicities, ages, and genders. Gains and accomplishments are measured in mounts that have been secured, purse money earned, and extended blessings of good health. Gains and accomplishments are worthy of celebratory moments, yet along with each individual achievement, comes the birth of another’s misfortune. Mounts bestowed upon jockeys might have little or no chance of winning, or worse yet; the offerings may be gifted far too sporadically. There are never-ending battles with weight scales and the potential for serious injury is always present. Much to the disbelief of some, jockeys do not retreat to plush stalls at the conclusion of a card, waiting for the next racing day to begin. These are authentic lives with families to look after, mouths to feed, and bills to pay. Aspirations of fame and fortune are admirable, but loss and despair can sometimes surface as cold reality in the jockey’s life.

Owners flirt with destiny and risk thousands upon thousands of hard-earned dollars on the animals they love and the sport they cherish. Unfortunately, ownership cannot guarantee happiness as salvation can never be found on the back of a talentless horse.

Trainers balance relationships with their equine athletes that are parental in nature and professional in practice. There is time set aside for teaching and for work, time for rest and time for laughter. Trainers and horses bask harmoniously in the glow of victory, while they wallow as one in the grips of defeat. This unity allows for growth, growth which can only be achieved through the emotional wellness and stability of both horse and human.

Workers employed along the backstretch remain the lifeblood of any race track.  They are devoted souls, creating kinships with God’s creatures that are quite unlike those formed by any other group. From sunrise to sunset, their hearts and minds are focused exclusively on the welfare of the animals. An aptitude for their craft is overshadowed solely by the innate ability to comfort and nurture life. Unbreakable bonds such as these are not meant to be broken, yet every so often, the gates of sorrow swing open in the case of an untimely death.  

We are then left with the horse players, the handicappers. This eccentric bunch has been systematically wired with the gamut of human emotions. Discarded tickets tumble along grandstand floors and take to the air like tiny feathers on windy days. These images in no way reflect the horse player’s disdain for Mother Nature, but rather, they illustrate anger or disgust that gnaws from within as perfectly laid plans have gone awry. Pleasant surprises and spells of happiness await the ardent handicapper, but those moments are often fleeting as sadness and fear loom around every bend. The horse player will press on at any cost, in spite of empty pockets or relationships lost. This unwavering perseverance is the result of being equipped with creation’s most selective memory.     

Sadness is derived from loss, and loss is symbolic of the things that we can no longer have. In horse racing, it comes in many forms and signifies different things to different people. Losses can affect confidence and hope; one’s monetary worth, and indeed, their self-worth. Bodies are sometimes battered and minds can be broken, but no loss is as profound as the loss of another life.

Psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is perhaps the most renowned authority to date on death, grief, and loss. Following years of work with terminally ill patients, she published the ground-breaking book entitled, “On Death and Dying” in 1969. Kubler-Ross explored death and loss in a multifaceted way, and from a multicultural point of view. She explained the grieving process as one that is comprised of five acutely unique stages. 

Denial is the stage where disbelief overrides reality, while the anger stage can prompt individuals to lash out behaviorally or place blame for the loss itself. Bargaining occurs as negotiations take place with higher powers, and the depression stage is one that cripples both function and sensibility. Persons may be predisposed to more than one or all of the stages, but peace can ultimately be found when acceptance has overpowered one’s grief. These stages are vital to the struggles in life and quintessential during times of death. 

Dance With Fate Following Victory In The Bluegrass Stakes (Photo Courtesy of Heidi Carpenter)

2014 has been a year marked by record-setting achievements and inconsolable tragedies. Not long after witnessing a valiant chase of the ever-elusive Triple Crown, the horse racing community endured two devastating losses.

Fortune tellers might proclaim that prophecies are simply written in the stars, but in some instances, a name alone can be prophetic. Trainer Peter Eurton’s three-year-old sensation, Dance With Fate, was euthanized after sustaining critical injuries in a training accident at Del Mar Race Track on the twenty-fourth of July. The dark bay beauty had already captured the Bluegrass Stakes at Keeneland, run a respectable sixth in the Kentucky Derby, and was just days away from a start in the San Diego Handicap. Exercise rider Joe Duran was also seriously injured in the accident that claimed the life of Eurton’s talented colt. Initially, the outpouring of support for their camp was tremendous, but as the ink slowly faded from the pages of outdated newspapers, both the horse and rider had quietly become but a memory.

Less than two months later, Belmont Park was ready to open its doors to the public on the fifth of September for its Fall Meet. Early that morning, Juan Vasquez, an exercise rider and part-time trainer, was fatally injured while working an unraced two-year-old for trainer Bruce Brown. Social media erupted with reports about Vasquez and the racing world was soon abuzz with news of his passing. Friends and colleagues were quick to hold interviews so that the thirty-nine-year-old native of Mexico could be fondly remembered. With the day still in its infancy, track officials decided to go on with the card as originally scheduled.

Early in childhood, we are taught that things get better despite the circumstances and that emotional pains will lessen when given time. These clichéd words offer little reassurance to those stricken with unfathomable amounts of sadness. Regrettably, some people become mired in one stage of grief or another as the opportunity for healing cannot be clearly seen. The mystery then lies in weaving one’s way through these stages so that acceptance and peace can eventually be attained.

It is essential to find support sources beyond ourselves when coping with losses of any magnitude. Chaplains are employed at horse tracks all across the land to assist the racing community through times of hardship, loss, and death. Grief counselors are at work in every major city in America, and hospice providers can bring comfort to persons consumed by sadness. When coping with loss, we must call upon our own sense of spirituality, pay homage to life that has been lost, look after our physical health, and be willing to reveal heartfelt feelings with one another.

Horse racing is not merely a sport, but a fellowship. This is a world filled with courage, companionship, and hope. It is a world revolving around animals, yet one that endures because of the strength that people share with each other. We are creatures of emotion, forever blessed, without a need to follow suit in the parade of tearless eyes. 

PROFILES FROM THE GRANDSTAND

Anthony Gutierrez: The Southern California Kid

No journey in life can begin without a defining moment, a wrinkle in time when everything that was formerly understood becomes forever changed. Horse players often happen upon this moment during their first visit to the track, yet for Anthony Gutierrez, that initial trip to Santa Anita Park in 2006 was far from unforgettable. “All I can remember was a feeling of boredom and wanting to leave,” Tony recalls. Just eight years later, it is essential to now reflect on the evolution of a horse player by taking a closer look at the growth of the man.

Anthony Gutierrez and girlfriend Carla at Santa Anita Park

Tony was born in the Southern California city of Long Beach in 1987. The oldest of four children, he has two brothers and a younger sister. He spent a portion of his childhood in the Central Valley town of Modesto, but has called Long Beach home for the vast majority of his years. Memories from youth often draw out like a highlight reel in the mind, and if this holds truth for Tony, the most treasured images on his reel are those revolving around his mother. He credits her for both his upbringing and for making the sacrifices necessary to raise four children as a single parent. “My mom was the ultimate role model,” Tony stated.

In school, Tony excelled in history, but also admits to having harbored an intense dislike for math. Sports played a pivotal role in his early life as well. “It seemed that I was involved in one sport or another at all times,” he explains. “Baseball was definitely close to my heart, but soccer will always be my first love.” As he matured into adulthood, Tony would soon carry that affection he held for competition into an arena he had yet to explore.  

The young man from Long Beach would first watch the horses run at the insistence of his girlfriend, Carla. Despite the detachment he felt during that first trip to the race track, Tony chose to give horse racing another chance. Eventually, the sport that he had once declared a mystery had attracted him to a new way of life.

A Day at the Races

Tony has attended races at all of the tracks on the Southern California thoroughbred circuit. This includes Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Fairplex, and the recently closed Betfair Hollywood Park in Inglewood. Each venue offers something distinct and appealing to its guests, yet none are as special to Tony as Los Alamitos Race Course in the city of Cypress. The track best known for its quarter horse racing is the site that Tony considers his home away from home. It is there he can likely be found on most any weekend of the year.

Horse players develop their craft with a particular style by which they approach the game. For Tony, the pick four is by far and away his favorite of all the possible wagers. His tickets are primarily designed based on the strength of his selections and on the sequence that awaits him. “I enjoy the value that can be found in a succession of races,” Tony remarked.

Incorporating various handicapping angles to finalize his tickets, Tony relies heavily on both class and pace to help determine his action plan. He also employs another tactic that is utilized by many seasoned horse players, and that is to play the entire race out in his head prior to the horses ever stepping onto the track.

Tony feels that his greatest strength lies with the quarter horses, attributing this to the experience he has gained while watching them run on a regular basis. He does concede, however, that he hopes to improve his handicapping through a greater understanding of fractions. “I would like a more in depth grasp of how the fractions in a race will ultimately impact the outcome of a contest,” he says.

Thus far, Tony has used the knowledge he has attained to make several notable scores, the largest coming on a pick four ticket at Los Alamitos that netted him roughly five-thousand dollars. 

Over the years, he has had the opportunity to witness many of the sport’s greatest athletes compete. Garrett Gomez and Rodrigo Aceves are two jockeys he admires greatly. Bodemeister and Curlin are among his most beloved thoroughbreds, and he is quick to note Apolitical Jess, Wave Carver, and Blues Girl Two as three of his all-time favorite quarter horses. The most memorable moment Tony recounts in racing was watching Zenyatta win her nineteenth consecutive start in the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Eight years has eternally altered the course of Anthony Gutierrez’s life. In that short period of time, an inquisitive young man became a horse player, but perhaps more importantly, that horse player has begun to realize his dreams not only at the track, but away from it.

Tony does construction work part-time and is currently working towards a college degree in communications. He lists jogging, reading, and spending time at the beach as just a few of his other interests. He is an avid sports fan aside from racing, and he places great emphasis on the relationships that he maintains with others. Family is an integral part of Tony’s life, but food is a main ingredient as well. The Southern California Kid would happily direct anyone interested to the best spot in Long Beach for a torta de asada or a wet burrito.

The goals that Tony has set for himself are admirable. Graduating from college is near the top of this list, but the idea of marriage at some point in the future is also a very motivating objective. “When I have children, I plan on becoming the male role model that was absent in my own youth,” he professes. Stability is now of the utmost importance to Tony, and it takes little more than a brief conversation with him to sense his sincerity.

No journey in life can begin without a defining moment, but then again, no moment in and of itself can define the entire journey, either. Unfinished stories are commonly riddled with uncertainty, yet as Anthony Gutierrez’s story continues to unfold, it is brilliantly clear that his outgoing nature and sharp intellect will allow him to accomplish many great things.  

Follow Tony on Twitter at Anthony Doubles@tony_pk4

Knocking At The Door Of Destiny

Equine athletes are not unlike those found in any other sport. In order to achieve success, they must exhibit a certain degree of speed, strength, and endurance. These are vital to the performances seen on the track, yet the traits alone cannot define greatness. The longest, most grueling of the Triple Crown races is the Belmont Stakes. It is a twelve-furlong battle of attrition, designed to humble the faint-hearted, and referred to as the Test of Champions.   

Ernest Hemingway once wrote that courage is grace under pressure. As tens of thousands prepare to descend upon Belmont Park in New York, it is easy to believe that Hemingway might have coined this phrase with the Belmont Stakes on his mind. There can be but one champion as ten others will fall desperately short. The Belmont is a test of courage, and he who triumphs here will have displayed an unequaled amount of grace under pressure.

The Contenders

Rock Star Royalty: This designation is for the elite in the current three-year-old division.

California Chrome- Art Sherman’s prized colt has been victorious in six consecutive races. He has shown a versatility which allows him to run on the lead or sit comfortably in behind the pace setters. He has also engineered an uncanny knack for steering clear of in-race traffic and trouble. Breaking from gate number two coincides nicely with his running style. California Chrome moves with a seemingly effortless stride, and his blinding turn of hoof is about to earn him a Belmont victory and a place among horse racing’s immortal few.

The Gladiators: These warriors will battle down the stretch and should hit the board.

Commanding Curve- Dallas Stewart’s colt sat out of the Preakness after finishing a hard-charging second in the Kentucky Derby. He should relish the added distance in this one.

Ride On Curlin- The runner-up in the Preakness Stakes ran a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby. He has followed Chrome’s every move and is peaking at the right time.

Tonalist- Christophe Clement’s colt scored an impressive win over a sloppy track in the Peter Pan Stakes. Drawing outside in post eleven could potentially prove a daunting task.

The Bandits: This group is sly enough to be within striking distance at the quarter pole.

Commissioner- Commissioner is a fresh face on the Triple Crown circuit and has had the advantage of a race over the Belmont track. Todd Pletcher is sure to have him in high gear.

Samraat- New Yorkers will be cheering on this son of Noble Causeway. He ran fifth in the Derby and will benefit from his use of tactical speed as he breaks from post number seven.

Wicked Strong- The winner of the Wood Memorial ran fourth in the Kentucky Derby and has two wins in six starts. The added distance should help his chances of hitting the board.

The Also-Rans: This motley bunch is fortunate to have insured a spot in the starting gate.

Genral A Rod- Competed in all three Triple Crown races and ran fourth in the Preakness. Maker’s colt is simply not talented enough to have any significant impact in the Belmont.

Matterhorn- Pletcher’s other entry is lightly raced, and he most recently ran an uninspired fourth in the Peter Pan Stakes. The on track performance should justify his very long odds.

Matuszak- This son of Bernardini’s lone win came in a Maiden Special Weight contest held in September of 2013. He will clearly be out of his league as he takes his place in the gate.

Medal Count- Medal Count won the Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland before placing eighth in the Derby.  He appears to have a bright future on synthetic surfaces, but drawing the rail post here will certainly not help his chances against this group.  

The atmosphere at Belmont Park on June 7^th is sure to be an electric one. Some will have the good fortune of witnessing history be made first hand, while others will gather around television sets to revel in the magical moment alongside of their family and friends. Eleven equine athletes will pit their courage and skill against one another, but in the end, the horse that has been knocking at the door of destiny will pass through and become a legend.  

Perfectly Polished

California Chrome Poised For Kentucky Derby Run

In a time when the collective cheers of a nation are typically reserved for Super Bowl MVPs and World Series champions, horse racing is about to unleash its own version of unbridled pandemonium. The field for the 140^th running of the Kentucky Derby has now been set. This year’s bunch is perhaps the most meaningful to load into the gates at Churchill Downs in recent memory. Racing has endured its fair share of black eyes in 2014, and the sport presently sits at a crossroads that can only be traversed on the back of a newfound hero.

In 2012, J. Paul Reddam’s colt I’ll Have Another was blazing a triumphant path towards the ever-elusive Triple Crown. This achievement would never be realized, however, as injury forced him into retirement just one day prior to the Belmont Stakes. Not since the likes of the great Zenyatta has an equine athlete captivated audiences outside of racing’s inner circle. The sport has been waiting for its next guiding light, that transcendent figure capable of pumping excitement back through the veins of mainstream America. This wait may soon be coming to an end as a California-bred three-year-old is about to take center stage on racing’s most coveted day.

Perry and Denise Martin, Carolyn and Steve Coburn (Photo Courtesy of Benoit Photo)

The stories behind California Chrome and his connections have been well-chronicled. The horse nicknamed “Junior” is the first foal out of a little known mare named Love The Chase.  The mare was purchased by first-time owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn for a meager $8,000. Love The Chase earned only one victory during her brief time on the track, yet that did not deter Martin and Coburn from their lifelong dream. A groom standing nearby as they made the purchase remarked that someone would have to be a “dumb ass” to buy the old girl. 

Naturally, the new owners next did what seemed most fitting as they aptly named their operation DAP Racing, short for Dumb Ass Partners. They chose green and purple for their racing silks in honor of their wives’ favorite colors. A bright green jackass was also emblazoned on the silks as their way of poking fun at the high society and riches so often associated with the sport. Yes, it’s safe to say that Martin and Coburn are as blue-collared and well-liked as they come in a world that centers squarely on the almighty dollar.

Love The Chase was bred in California to a sire named Lucky Pulpit. When the time came to name their new foal, Martin and Coburn remained unconventional, asking a waitress at a restaurant to pull a name out from a hat during dinner. The name that waitress pulled was none other than California Chrome.

Art Sherman (Photo Courtesy of Benoit Photo)

Trainer Art Sherman’s career in racing dates back to an era when female carhops were still delivering food on roller skates. As an eighteen-year-old in 1955, Sherman found his way to the Kentucky Derby as an exercise rider and traveling companion for the legendary Swaps. The trip out to Louisville took the pair four days in a dusty rail car. Swaps, also known as the California Comet, went on to win the Derby that year and would eventually go down as one of only three California-bred horses in history to pull off the herculean feat.

Sherman’s first professional mount as a jockey came in 1957 at Hollywood Park, and over the next twenty-one years, he enjoyed moderate acclaim at race tracks all across the land.  For many athletes, life after their career can be deflating, but Art Sherman was determined to make a name for himself as a trainer long after his days in the saddle had come to an end.

Back in March of 2013, Art Sherman received an email from Perry Martin that included a very specific outline for the two-year-old colt heading to his barn. The email was entitled “The Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Martin listed the races that California Chrome would need to successfully compete in so that his spot in the 2014 Kentucky Derby was secured.  Rather than dismiss the outlandish blueprint from this first-time owner, Sherman read it through with great sincerity, and opted instead to set Martin’s detailed plan into motion.

California Chrome (Photo Courtesy of Eric Dives)

California Chrome’s first race came in April of 2013. He was entered in a four and one half furlong maiden special weight affair held at Betfair Hollywood Park. Chrome did not win. He would run a solid second that day, but was entered back just three weeks later at the same level to record his first victory.  The next four races included a fifth in the Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes, a first in the Graduation Stakes at Del Mar, and consecutive sixth place finishes in the Del Mar Futurity and the Golden State Juvenile Stakes.

It was then that Art Sherman used his thirty-five years of training experience to make a difficult decision. Alberto Delgado had ridden California Chrome in all but one of his career starts. Delgado had done an admirable job, but Sherman also knew that racing at the elite level would require a more seasoned and savvy rider. Enter Victor Espinoza.

The majestic chestnut and his new jockey were about to reel off the most divine string of victories that California horse racing had seen in quite some time. The final stakes race run on the hallowed ground at Hollywood Park was the King Glorious on December 22, 2013. California Chrome was dominant, pulling away late from his in-state rivals under a hand ride by Espinoza. He would do the same in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita one month later. These victories were important, but the team knew that their horse would only be taken seriously if he were to face off and win versus non-state-bred competition.

California Chrome delivered again. He obliterated a talented field in the San Felipe Stakes, and it was around this time that stories behind the horse and his connections truly began to surface. Much to the surprise of many, California Chrome was training at Los Alamitos, a venue best known for its weekend quarter horse racing. His presence there brought great credibility to the track destined to fill the void left by Hollywood Park’s closing.

The racing community learned of Junior’s affinity for Mrs. Pasture’s Horse Cookies, and fans were subsequently shocked as they uncovered the lineage behind the sport’s newest icon. Reporters were lining up for interviews with Martin and Coburn, hoping to unearth as much information as they could about the enigmatic pair. Art Sherman referenced the mighty colt as his “Swaps” and stated repeatedly that Chrome was nothing short of a rock star. All that remained in the Golden State was to go out and win the Santa Anita Derby.     

California Chrome Romps in the Santa Anita Derby (Photo Courtesy of Eric Dives)

Bob Baffert, John Sadler, and a host of other trainers saddled their very best in hopes of ending the California-bred Prince’s streak at three. Fortunately for Art Sherman and his team, hope and reality can rarely stand together in the winner’s circle. California Chrome did not break smoothly, yet once Victor Espinoza helped him regain his composure down the backstretch, the outcome was all but sealed. Hoppertunity and Candy Boy turned in commendable performances, but the day would unequivocally belong to the horse from the humble beginnings. California Chrome was victorious, this time by more than five lengths.

Perhaps Denise Martin (Perry’s wife) said it best as she described California Chrome’s meteoric rise to a Sacramento based reporter. “He’s not just our horse anymore; he’s his own horse, the people’s horse.” Martin explained.

As the gates break open for the 140^th running of the Kentucky Derby, there will be factors and uncertainties that simply cannot be accounted for. The horse racing world will still be lying in wait for its next guiding light. Some people will scream for a longshot, while others will root on a jockey, but their voices will quickly be silenced as the cheers rain down for the horse that is perfectly polished. 

Capture The Turnstile Gang

Sunrise. This one eases ever so gently out of bed. She turns back the down comforter and stretches her naked arms in the air to praise the glory of morning. Her gratitude does not end there. Recently painted toenails are guided into a pair of sheepskin slippers, and as she stands, the smell of freshly ground coffee begins to overwhelm her senses. She fashions her auburn hair in a schoolgirl’s ponytail as she saunters off towards the kitchen. An avocado omelet and the Daily Racing Form are awaiting her arrival.

This one is fast at work, desperately gathering up loose change from the four corners of his apartment. He tears back the couch cushions, and then proceeds to ransack the pockets of his previously worn trousers. The coins are deposited in a small plastic bag, yet they do not slide easily from the clutches of his clammy palms. He amasses just enough for bus fare, the entrance fee, and three six-dollar plays that have been mapped out with cautious optimism. It is almost time to leave, but before he can do so, a decision must be reached as to whether or not a shower or shave will be worth the added effort.  

This one refuses to depart without his lucky pen, and that one places an old Irish florin at the bottom of her aging purse. This one will not go without her multi-colored paper clips, and that one never forgets to slip three rubber bands over his right hand and onto his wrist.

1957 Ford Thunderbird

Daylight. A 1957 Ford Thunderbird is rolling down the boulevard. This one is married to a man that specializes in classic car restoration. Her delicate fingers fumble through a gaudy Coach Handbag as she searches for her instrument of choice. A small cylindrical gadget is then pulled from the bag and the rubbing of red gloss along her puckered lips commences. The rear view mirror has been positioned to reflect a lone image. She pushes the Maui Jim sunglasses up past her hairline, while smiling pretentiously into the glass. The Thunderbird is virtually driving itself as the reflection she admires is set to turn heads in the clubhouse. 

This one parks his powder blue Oldsmobile just inside the gates which separate the dead from the living. It is his last stop on the way to the track each and every Saturday morning. Typically, he brings sunflowers, but today a bouquet of white lilies is placed atop the grave he dreams of in his sleep. The headstone bears his last name and the year of birth inscribed is strikingly close to his own. A cardigan sweater clings to his arched back as he bends down to lovingly dust cobwebs off of the marble. He lets out a calculated sigh, wipes Saturday’s tear from his wistful eye and whispers, “Bring me a winner today, Pumpkin.”

In The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus once wrote, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Some believe the inspiration for these timeless words came from Lady Liberty herself, but to the horse player, these words imply something altogether different. Here they are, the huddled masses, converging in droves and making a mad dash for the entrance as first post draws near. They are spirited and filled with hope, a merry band of eccentrics fixated on success and yearning to breathe. This is the Turnstile Gang.

This one invests in Jimmy Jack's Jive Picks in the parking lot, and that one tucks a copy of the Daily Racing Form under his left arm. This one relies solely on her Nokia smart phone, and that one swears a program is all he needs to get the job done. Others require fewer visual aids. These are the souls who have already studied the card long into the wee hours of yesterday morning. Their plays have been painstakingly designed, and on occasion, a crumpled sheet of yellow paper is all that stands between them and a better way of life.

The Turnstile Gang Settles Into Place (Photo Courtesy of Eric Dives)

Families are here to enjoy a day in the sun together. Journalists are here to chronicle the efforts of the horses and trainers, owners and jockeys. The Fashionistas are here to make an impression, and the Grunts are here to grind out good fortune. The beauty of the track is that no individual is any more or less important than the next.

This one has budgeted ninety dollars for the day. Ten of these dollars went for parking, fifteen will be reserved for lunch, and twenty will be hidden in the secret compartment of his wallet, just in case of an emergency. That one carries no cash. She is here in admiration of the horses. This one flashes a Diners Club Gold Card near the automated teller machine, and that one pulls a chunky roll of bills from his sock each time he is in need of money.

Bets are made and wagers placed, some with deep thought, but others in haste. This one stashes the voucher back in her bra between races, and that one frequents the window of the teller who remembers more than simply faces. This one bets the jockeys, and that one bets the number nine. This one bets the trainer, and that one bets the horse that dropped their lunch not far behind.

The track offers uncensored exposure to a wide array of sights, sounds, and peculiar smells. This one is scraping Wrigley’s spearmint off the soles of his Nike Air Max sneakers, and that one is recounting her days in junior high band as she soaks in the majesty of the bugle call. This one is up to his elbows in an order of chili cheese fries, and that one has undoubtedly robbed local retailers of their annual supply of Chanel No. 5.

In Anticipation of the 77th Santa Anita Handicap (Photo Courtesy of Eric Dives)

The Turnstile Gang congregates in flocks. This one is part of the Baseball Cap Constituency. He is red in the face, laughing, and has been drinking the afternoon away sixteen splendid ounces at a time. The Preppies migrate to places inhabited by Silver Hairs and Hippies, while the Grunts do their best work alone or in small packs. This one sips pink lemonade through a straw and associates exclusively with fellow Lemonade Sippers and Fashionistas. That one speaks Mandarin and plenty speak Spanish. This one talks to a hearing impaired child with her hands, and God only knows what language that one is trying to speak.  

The races themselves bring out the best and worst humanity has to offer. This one prays to St. Christopher before each race, convinced that the patron saint of travelers will insure a safe trip for both the jockeys and the horses. That one paces incessantly during the post parade, while calling out to the track’s leading rider in hopes he might sit slightly off the speed. This one offers a high five to anyone within an arm’s length away, and that one seems to forget there are words in the English language containing more than four letters. This one screams until his cheeks have turned a shade of purplish-blue, and that one likes to toss her Stetson high in the air anytime her horse finishes in the top two. Let us also make mention of the Braggarts and Dancers, Program Slappers and Whippersnappers.

Celebrations break out among certain flocks, while tantrums are thrown and excuses become rampant in others. This is the way of things as the racing card lumbers along.

The Turnstile Gang springs into action for the last time as twilight closes in. This one cashes out at the window and makes a beeline for the ladies’ room. Once inside, she enters a stall and locks the door behind her. She tallies up the winnings in private, a firm believer that flaunting her luck in public will make for bad karma. That one begins the long, arduous walk over the hot asphalt and back to his car. A lump he has never felt before settles in like a potato at the back of his throat. He cannot breathe. He has barely come to terms with the fact that dinner this week will now consist of little more than Saltine Crackers in a watered-down chicken broth.  

Nightfall. This one puts her head upon the pillow and sleeps, dreaming of the day she will next venture off to visit the palace of infinite possibilities. That one curls his battered body into the fetal position on the kitchen floor. He vows never to return again to the scene of his financial undoing. This one is something like you. That one is something like me.

This one.