Dear
Readers,
The
sound you hear is that of knuckles brushing across lapels all over California,
as horse racing enthusiasts, pundits and fans congratulate themselves for backing
California Chrome—even if
they didn’t.
What a day, what a race, what a
horse and oh yeah what a charming story. Two families, headed by two men, one loquacious,
the other taciturn, take a chance and buy a mare for a mere pittance at auction.
Armed with good humor they name the partnership “Dumbass Partners” in response to
the immediate ridicule they’d garnered when the hammer fell that fateful day.
I’m sure when they signed the sales
slip they weren’t thinking about the Kentucky Derby, but I would be willing to bet
they were definitely thinking about breeding a runner.
California Chrome—a dream comes true, literally.
Steve Coburn revealed to his wife before the foal was born that he’d dreamt it
was a going to be a chestnut colt and this colt would win the Kentucky Derby.
Yikes…this
story provides the type of fuel that keeps every Thoroughbred horse owner
coming back for more. Over and over again, they dip into the well, only to come
up with a bucket far from full. But the spring that fills that well is hope
and hope is the lifeblood of the Thoroughbred industry. “Dumbass Partners” came
away from the well with a bucket filled to the brim and overflowing.
California Chrome, just like my
horse Casual Lies, exceeded the expectations of everybody except the people
that mattered most, his owners, his trainer and his jockey. California Chrome’s
connections, dreamed, believed and embraced the possibility.
Their dream continues, and I can’t
wait to see what comes next.
Take
care,
Shelley
Riley author of Casual Lies - A Triple Crown Adventure
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