Picking The Winning Horse
August 8th, 2008The most important things one must do before they pick a horse is, to get to know all the horses racing. You need to know their name, the name of their parents, the place where they received their training and the name of guy that intends to get up close and personal with them (the jockey).
I have been around horses since I was eleven years old. I have watched them work, play and gallop around the fields with riders on their back. At first I was terribly afraid of them, afraid they would stomp me, afraid they would bite me and afraid they would squish me. Thanks to my friends Thomas and Fire, I now understand all the things I needed to know about horses and how to make money at the track.
My very first lesson about horses was when I was twelve. My friend Thomas had just received a horse from his dad, for his birthday. His dad Mr. Ed, had returned from out west where he purchased a beautiful shiny black horse. The horse was barely tame. It was one of the few wild horses left roaming free. Thomas loved the wild horse and called it Fire. Fire was truly wild. I watched in amazement as it ran the many acres of their ranch, she was aimless, jumping everything in her sight. When she turned around and headed towards us, I backed away from the gate as I thought she was going to try and jump it. She approached with great speed. One of the hands had a thing to monitor her speed.
“Mr. Ed, that horse has toppled the average top speeds of 55 and is almost at 70. You better move just in case she crashes into the fence.”
His ranch hand may not have been talking to me, but wasn’t waiting. I must have moved a good ten yards away and I still didn’t think it was far enough. That wild horse charged that fence, stopping only inches away before crashing into it. The look in her eyes, her teeth showing and the sounds she made, almost like she was laughing at all of us for running away. She turned abruptly, swished her tail and then went on to run the field some more.
Weeks had gone by after Thomas’ birthday. The ranch hands had been working with Fire constantly. Fire was now considered to be tamed, but still with her spirit intact. It was the lead hand that explained, that if you break the horses spirit while training it, you also remove an essential point motivation for it to succeed. I really didn’t understand at the time but now it only makes sense.
After Mr. Ed was certain we would be safe around Fire, Thomas invited for a sleep over in the stable. I was afraid but I agreed to anyway. With sleeping bag in hand, we went to the hay piles and set up a spot to pitch our bedrolls. My allergies really started acting up so I took a double dose of my allergy meds. They made me groggy and light headed. Thomas figured we should just pack it in for the night so we could wake up at the crack of dawn and have a brown ball fight. I really didn’t understand what he was talking about but I would have agreed with anything at that point.
We had only been asleep for what seemed like minute. I was woken buy a strange sound and nudging. When I opened my eyes, there was Fire, looking down at me. She started talking to me and I could understand her. That was the first and last time she ever did it but I still remember everything she said.
“Wilbur, we don’t have much time. Just listen and don’t say anything. Make sure to remember this all and you will do well in life.”
I did listen intently. I wanted to do well. Then she went into the important things, “If you decide to make a life at the tracks, always remember that you need to know the horses. Know all their bloodlines. Lazy horses produce lazy colts. Dumb horses sometimes manage to multiply, they are best as work horses. Fast horses produce fast colts. Also remember, that a good trainer will produce the same quality of horses most of the time. If they break their horses spirit, you will not have a repeated winner. Also keep an eye on the jockey. If he is over weight, mean or just clumsy, the horse will not do well. Now go back to bed and never tell anyone what I said.”
The next morning when I awoke, Fire was in her stall, standing there and looking at me. I knew she thought I was going to get excited an say something but I didn’t. When Thomas and I was having the brown balls fight, I kept my mouth shut. Actually keeping your mouth shut is important so not to get any brown balls in your mouth.
I never mentioned it to anyone before now. I’m getting up there in age and with modern technology, I’m sure other people have already shared their knowledge, so I am too. I want to pass this on for people to remember me by. Maybe before I die, I will put together The Wilbur Write Horse Track System. For now, this is what you get. Share this with your family and pass along the wealth. Don’t be greedy, just have fun.
