Around the Bluhmin’ Town

By

Judy Bluhm

Oh, Golden Tempo, how you can run! From the back of the pack to first place. What a horse race, especially when the colt in last position makes his move in the final stretch, thundering past the rest of the field. This was one heck of a Kentucky Derby. And against all odds, the racing world was turned upside down. Throw your hats off, ladies! Drink down that mint julep. Something great just happened.

This is also a story about trainer, Cherie DeVaux, making history as the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. Horse racing has been a man’s world, and DeVaux bucked the odds. Her horse, Golden Tempo, still had twelve horses to pass when he broke for the finish with a quarter mile to go. Charging the outside lane, it was a blistering pace to glory.

Imagine about 159,000 people roaring at Churchill Downs and becoming eerily quiet momentarily as the long-shot goes tearing past the favored horses. Whoa! Is this happening? From last to first? When Golden Tempo blazed across the finish line, fans erupted, joyful cries (especially from those who placed a bet on him), squeals and laughter ran through the hallowed stands of Churchill Downs.

We probably know what it feels like to be driving on I-17 with everyone going at full speed, almost bumper to bumper, at 75 mph. It can be scary and requires focus! Now imagine sitting on a horse, in a thick pack of nineteen, going about 35 mph around that final turn of the Derby, with dirt flying, traffic closing in, a crowd screaming, and then accelerating to make the close.

Something happened during that race. Somewhere on that track, the jockey, Jose Ortiz and Golden Tempo believed that they could win. Horses don’t run like that for exercise. There was hope, then belief that “we can do this” and then the most incredible quarter-mile sprint that was one for the ages. Ortiz rode around the pack, adding on more yards to close. Distance doesn’t matter when you are lightning fast. Attitude, belief, desire matters. Sure, this was a big colt, well trained, ready for the race of his life. But winning doesn’t happen just because of training. It’s the jubilant belief that “we got this.”

I recall my trail riding days on my old horse, Baxter. He did like to run (on occasion) but I think his pace was more like ten minutes for a mile, not 90 seconds. We did have neighborly races up and down country dirt roads, and on one occasion, Baxter and I did win. I suspect it was because he wanted to go back to the barn, as it was close to feeding time.

Horses that run in The Derby are like elite athletes. They are not ordinary, or like the rest of us. Yet, watching the spectacle of one horse and rider go from dead last, to attaining the greatest prize in racing, is something to behold.

This is the American story that we love: prepare, believe, give it your all and dreams can come true.

Judy Bluhm is a writer and a local realtor. Have a story or a comment? Email Judy at [email protected].