August
27, 2014
Dear
Readers,
Well,
I have certainly taken a long vacation from my blog. There’ve been many reasons
for this, but suffice it to say, sometimes life consumes your will.
I
watched Sunday’s Gr. I TVG Pacific Classic, going one mile and a quarter, a diminutive
colt with the iron will of a giant, took on a stellar field of hardened runner’s.
To say Shared Belief spanked them, might be a bit of an over statement. But
when the running was over, and the time of the race was registered, few would
say they hadn’t just witnessed a very special horse.
So
what’s next? Apparently, a clash of the titans is on the horizon and a lot
sooner than Breeder’s Cup weekend.
I’ve
been anxious to see California Chrome run again. Now I’m nervous. You can’t
expect a million dollar race to be easy. But it just got a lot harder. Shared
Belief’s connections are eyeing the same race California Chrome’s camp has
chosen for their super stars comeback. And that is the nine furlong Gr. 2 Pennsylvania
Derby with a one million dollar purse up for grabs. Yikes!
No
matter how confident California Chrome’s people are, this can’t be what they had
in mind for his first race after a layoff.
Now
about that layoff, everyone expected the horse to get a break. But most trainers
would have given their horse that break, in house, so to speak, walking and
jogging, along with the occasional easy gallop.
My
hat’s off to Dumb Ass Partners and Art Sherman. Turning Chrome out, in a safe
and familiar environment, was a brilliant move. The first week or so, I’m
sure the horse was wound up, whinnying constantly. But once his mind cleared
and he calmed down…let the healing begin. The picture posted, of Art standing
in a wide open paddock, communing with Chrome, no halter, no shank, it says it
all.
So
California Chrome is back in training, and from all reports doing so in an
impressive manner. How much condition does a horse lose with that amount of
time off? It depends on the individual, but very little in most cases,
especially when it’s weeks, rather than months we’re talking about.
But
nonetheless, and I repeat, they can’t be thrilled with the possibility of
facing a monster like Shared Belief, and without a race under their belt.
We
will see what the coming weeks bring, but the showdown, now or later, will be
watched by untold millions.
On
other subjects, I lost my lovely Nigel to an incurable condition. He faded
quickly, and though he wasn’t in pain, death had clearly crept towards his
soul. The decision to let him go, rather than suffer to the end, was a struggle
between need and loss, for me.
Nigel
was a rescue from Florida greyhound racing. He was a rack of bones, with untold
ticks stuck-in over a good deal of his body, when he arrived to the rescue organization.
We treated him and then I took him home to foster, and ultimately he stuck like
one of those ticks into my heart, and I adopted him.
Over
the five years I was blessed to have Nigel in my life, he never barked once, he
didn’t lick me or other people, he didn’t get on the furniture, he loved children
and small dogs. Halloween was a treat for both him and the kids who came to the
door. RIP my gentle friend.
On
a less sad note, Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure won a Bronze Medal in
the just announced 2014 Global EBook Awards.
I’m working hard on a book of
short stories, as well as a novel length piece based in Kentucky during the American
Civil War. Here are the opening lines of “To The Steeple.”
CONFISCATED, TRADED, AND STOLEN. The
armies, on both sides, had taken all their horses. What they’d left, along with
the detritus of armies on the move, were the disease-ridden, starved, and
crippled horses, like this one.
Isabella placed the saddle over the withers of the scarred
veteran of the War Between the States. Pausing, she let her fingers trail across
the flank of the huge stallion. Dull and straw-like to the touch, the horse’s
chestnut coat did little to hide the outline of his boney frame.
I
hope to have the story done and published before the end of the year. I will
keep you apprised.
Take
care and thank you for sharing,
Shelley
Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
