In a way I'm lucky because I'm relatively new to racing..... I remember the first horse I ever heard about being put down was Boomzeeboom. I was so shocked, so niave.... I thought this has to be something that hardly ever happens. I had never heard of Ruffian, of Go For Wand, of any of them.
I was at the track the day Snack died. I still have my win ticket. "Where IS he?" I asked when they came across the wire. Looked over and saw him.....
I can still remember seeing the ambulence for the first time and asking my friend, Happy T, if he was gonna be alright... looking at her expression and knowing, as it slowly drove away, no one would ever see him again.
When Lottery Pick won his last race I'll never forget watching the jockey take the saddlecloth to the winner's circle. My eyes went back and forth, from the poor horse to the joyous connections, and it was moments before they realized their horse, their winner, had been hurt. He didn't make it.
Horatio though..... there are a few who come close but that pain will never leave me.
So to anyone who had their heart ripped out today... I'm truly sorry.
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