Over a month has passed since the Breeders’ Cup, but one
simply cannot cease remembering some of the greatest days of her life. Days
spent watching the heroes of the Thoroughbred racing world are among the
happiest days I’ve experienced in my near-seventeen years. In the three
Breeders’ Cups I’ve attended, I have found absolute joy as my eyes focus upon
the plethora of equine athletes that had nearly seemed to be myths before they
graced my vision. To and fro, the brilliant Thoroughbreds whose names have been
printed upon the pages of numerous racing publications and have left the mouths
of racing fans and experts with great admiration travel about the track, their
prowess captivating those who watch them.
One of the greatest elements of the Breeders’ Cup experience is attending the
morning works. Standing along the rail of the renowned racetrack at which the
Breeders’ Cup is being held, one can watch the flood of gifted Thoroughbreds
travel about the track for hours, each sighting of a superstar just as
thrilling as the last.
And, of course, there is the racing. The assortment of races that form a
variety of Thoroughbred talent is incomparable, exhibiting some of the most
elite equine athletes in the world battling for victory in races that are among
the most renowned on the planet. Emotion, excitement, and drama run high on the
two race days that span the Breeders’ Cup, combining the duels of brilliant
racehorses with the glamour of a prominent racing event.
The Breeders’ Cup is just a single event. However, the little moments are what
make the two-day championships so special. Whether one finds intrigue in the
international flair of the Breeders’ Cup, the fashion that lights up the track,
or, of course, the horses that make the event what it is, the Breeders’ Cup
presents one of the greatest experiences one can enjoy.
Watching the best racehorses in the world exercise about the Great Race Place
in the early morning with the San Gabriel Mountains coated in fog provided
hours of delight brought forth by watching the heroes of the track.
Conversation with other racing enthusiasts while at the Breeders’ Cup made my
heart smile. Royal Delta’s grand victory over a star-studded field in the
Ladies’ Classic evoked the feeling of being in the presence of a moment of greatness.
Groupie Doll’s brilliant win in the Filly & Mare Sprint and Rosie Napravnik’s capture of the Juvenile aboard Shanghai Bobby stressed the theme of
girl power. The victories by Calidoscopio and Little Mike brought huge smiles to
my face, as the underdogs provided their connections with blatant elation. The
Mile offered a showdown of some of racing’s biggest stars, enchanting fans with
brilliant performances from Wise Dan and the beloved Animal Kingdom. And last
but not least, the Classic served as the perfect display of the qualities I
most greatly admire in a Thoroughbred racehorse: heart and determination. Both
Fort Larned and Mucho Macho Man displayed these characteristics in a thrilling
stretch duel.
This year’s Breeders’ Cup – marked by multiple upset victories or not – did not
disappoint. The unparalleled aura the event presents was undeniably present,
bringing together enthusiasts of the sport to watch our best athletes perform
at the highest level. Each special moment of the 2012 Breeders’ Cup was like a
piece to a beautiful puzzle that I will forever cherish.