About

My first racehorse owner experience

I go to the paddock before the race with excitement pulsating. I’m anxious and pumped as I move over the lush green in the paddock as the horses enter the saddling arena at Emerald Downs. For the past several weeks, we looked at potential upcoming races and watched 'Rooster City' train in the morning. Once he showed us he was ready, we entered him for this race today. I’m excited and nervous simultaneously in anticipation of what is coming. I hardly slept last night while envisioning this moment. This is very cool. Rooster City is now strutting into the paddock. Wow, he looks tremendous. He’s ready and yes, he’s really my horse. Chills run down my spine.

His trainer approaches after saddling him and reassures me that he's "on the muscle" and should fire today! Wow! My heart accelerates. I look up at the tote board and notice he is 3-1 odds. I look around at the spectators surrounding the paddock, each studying the different horses in hopes of gaining an additional insight as to how they will race today. At 3-1 odds, many of them have picked my horse. His jockey walks over wearing my colors and shakes my hand. He seems confident. Jockey and trainer then huddle briefly and finalize their race strategy. They decide to sit off the pace and save his best down the stretch. The jockey hops up as all the horses are escorted trackside.

The bugler formally announces their arrival trackside via the traditional "Call to the Post". A tune I’ve heard so many times before but this time it's different as my horse struts into the post parade. The track announcer relays pertinent horse, jockey, trainer and owner information to the crowd. The pomp and circumstance of the post parade has been part of racing forever and I can feel those hundreds of years of racing tradition flowing through my veins as I hear my name over the speakers as the horse owner. We’re now 10 minutes from post time and I’m more pumped than ever which didn’t seem possible even a few minutes ago.

As I navigate through the crowd towards the owner’s box, this moment is already surreal. I’m almost in disbelief this is my horse and my colors on the track right now, preparing to race. I veer off and place a modest win bet as a personal vote of confidence in Rooster City . I locate my reserved seat amongst other owners, trainers and racing VIPs. Deep breath now. Look at me, I’m a VIP! I’m too excited to sit though as I look across and survey each of the horses warming up on the track. I send Rooster City a reassuring nod and fist pump, knowing he’s fully prepared to battle out there!

It's now post time and each horse is carefully loaded into the gate. The track announcer provides precise updates on their progress one by one. Rooster City now enters the gate, just like a professional. No problems. OK, let’s go. This is so incredibly intense. All eyes from the grandstand and clubhouse now stare at the starting gate. Silence befalls over the track when suddenly, the bell rings, the gates fly open and the track announcer proclaims simply, yet profoundly "And They’re Off”! My stomach tightens. Go Time. This is Awesome!

I intently watch Rooster City after the break and audibly offer my advise as if he hears me, “Cmon, get a good spot, relax and don’t press too hard”. He settles a few lengths behind the leader in the middle of the pack. Good. All of the horses are moving so fast. Instinctively, I roll up my program and use it as a crop to virtually join him on the track. As they move down the backstretch and reach the final turn, I see him nudging forward and gaining position; however, he remains a few lengths behind the leader, who is running strong but I’m confident we'll finish strong, just like we said in the paddock. Gulp.

They round the far turn and Rooster City is running a big race, moving closer and gaining momentum. The crowd noise increases with an escalating crescendo. Through it, I hear a voice shouting for Rooster City and I pick up the pace on my program turned riding crop. As they come down the stretch, he’s still gaining. ‘GO BABY GO’! I shout at the top of lungs as I can’t contain it any longer. I scream out his name and can barely hear myself amongst the crowd noise. Wow, he’s closing fast with another horse at his side. Three horses cross the wire simultaneously. Did that just happen? It’s a photo finish! He was so courageous and so tough. I’m so proud of him and so thrilled to be part of this sport at this level. I look around me and take in the moment. I AM a thoroughbred owner!