Goodbye, Foggy
Like most horseplayers, I've developed affinities for certain horses while playing the races. But, among these special horses, not every horse is viewed with an equal level of fondness. Some horses merely appeal to the betting side of my soul, typically for their consistency in interesting ways. These horses are ones that, for whatever reason, are profitable, but not terribly inspiring to watch and certainly not awe-inducing. Contemporary examples from the New York circuit could include Naughty New Yorker, who, up until his last race where he showed some new tricks, was a classic consistent late plodding closer, or Freedom Isn't Free, a consistent board horse that has the speed, but not the personality, to win. I like these horses, but don't love them, accepting our relationships for what they are -- mere relationships of convenience to help the grinding out of a profit.
But, then there are the relationships that are deeper -- the ones with the horses that can do something special on the race track. We saw one of my favorites yesterday with Lava Man becoming the first horse to win the Big Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic in the same year. And, in doing so, he fought off the demons of last year by maintaining his form late into the summer season. He now will seek to complete the ultimate rags to riches story -- moving from the claiming ranks to horse of the year by winning the Breeders' Cup Classic. Yet, despite this inspirational performance from a true champion, the weekend was left covered by a tremendous cloud with the news that Lost in the Fog -- another one of these special horses -- had terminal cancer.
I've written about Lost in the Fog before (see the June Archives) and most racing fans are familiar with the exploits of this horse. And, elsewhere this season, I've drank the anti-Kool Aid and become critical of this horse, and openly wondered whether I had been fooled and christened merely a fast developing horse as a great one way too soon. Looking at this performance this season, I had to admit it -- his critics have been right. He was simply beating up on weak horses and was exposed in his first real test during the Breeders' Cup, and he would continue to be exposed during the remainder of his career. But, upon receiving the terrible news, and thinking back about the past two years with the Fog, I finally realize what I've missed in accepting these arguments -- whether LITF was a great horse is absolutely and completely meaningless to his story. By focusing the light solely on this particular question, we are likely to miss a good part of what brings us to the racetrack in the first place.
From the beginning, he was a thrill to follow and observe and made for wondrous anticipation, intense drama, and, especially, great horse races. I remember vividly the first race I watched of him on Fountain of Youth day last year. I was blown away by his performance -- I don't recall ever seeing anything like it. I went home and signed up for a replay service so I could watch what I had seen again and again. And, I was thrilled when I returned to the OTB on Wood Memorial Day and saw him slated to run again -- I had been mesmerized by the sheer speed and intangible wonder that this horse brought to the races. And, when I originally planned a trip to NYC from Denver for the Belmont Stakes that year (the plans unfortunately fell through), I was most excited about being able to see the Fog in person. But, I told my friends to make sure to be there for his race, and sure enough, they came home talking non-stop about Foggy, instead of Afleet Alex.
Yes, on a one-dimensional hierarchical scale, LITF was not historically great, or possibly, even the best sprinter in his particular time and place. But, when looking at the intangibles of what makes a horse race great and what makes this sport thrilling to watch, he was as good as it gets. Even in defeat, he was the consummate race horse -- the type you rush home to see his race and wonder whether he'll wow you again. And that's what makes his story on the racetrack so wonderful and its ending off it so devastating. I'll miss him and what he brings to this sport terribly.
But, then there are the relationships that are deeper -- the ones with the horses that can do something special on the race track. We saw one of my favorites yesterday with Lava Man becoming the first horse to win the Big Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic in the same year. And, in doing so, he fought off the demons of last year by maintaining his form late into the summer season. He now will seek to complete the ultimate rags to riches story -- moving from the claiming ranks to horse of the year by winning the Breeders' Cup Classic. Yet, despite this inspirational performance from a true champion, the weekend was left covered by a tremendous cloud with the news that Lost in the Fog -- another one of these special horses -- had terminal cancer.
I've written about Lost in the Fog before (see the June Archives) and most racing fans are familiar with the exploits of this horse. And, elsewhere this season, I've drank the anti-Kool Aid and become critical of this horse, and openly wondered whether I had been fooled and christened merely a fast developing horse as a great one way too soon. Looking at this performance this season, I had to admit it -- his critics have been right. He was simply beating up on weak horses and was exposed in his first real test during the Breeders' Cup, and he would continue to be exposed during the remainder of his career. But, upon receiving the terrible news, and thinking back about the past two years with the Fog, I finally realize what I've missed in accepting these arguments -- whether LITF was a great horse is absolutely and completely meaningless to his story. By focusing the light solely on this particular question, we are likely to miss a good part of what brings us to the racetrack in the first place.
From the beginning, he was a thrill to follow and observe and made for wondrous anticipation, intense drama, and, especially, great horse races. I remember vividly the first race I watched of him on Fountain of Youth day last year. I was blown away by his performance -- I don't recall ever seeing anything like it. I went home and signed up for a replay service so I could watch what I had seen again and again. And, I was thrilled when I returned to the OTB on Wood Memorial Day and saw him slated to run again -- I had been mesmerized by the sheer speed and intangible wonder that this horse brought to the races. And, when I originally planned a trip to NYC from Denver for the Belmont Stakes that year (the plans unfortunately fell through), I was most excited about being able to see the Fog in person. But, I told my friends to make sure to be there for his race, and sure enough, they came home talking non-stop about Foggy, instead of Afleet Alex.
Yes, on a one-dimensional hierarchical scale, LITF was not historically great, or possibly, even the best sprinter in his particular time and place. But, when looking at the intangibles of what makes a horse race great and what makes this sport thrilling to watch, he was as good as it gets. Even in defeat, he was the consummate race horse -- the type you rush home to see his race and wonder whether he'll wow you again. And that's what makes his story on the racetrack so wonderful and its ending off it so devastating. I'll miss him and what he brings to this sport terribly.
posted by Seth Abrams at 9:00 PM
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