Fall Of The Turtle

I'm willing to admit it was a bad claim.

I've heard that 70% of horse owners lose money, 20% break even, and 10% come out ahead. I'm in the majority. My once hopeful partnership has been dissolved and I'm horseless again.

For those who haven't wept with me for the past year, the partnership began with a Dixie Union filly named Snitch who ran 4 straight races in the money for us though never won. I liked Snitch. She was a good claim. Catch My Cat was our next selection after we lost Snitch and our luck didn't improve. Still running in the money, albiet at slightly lower levels, Catch My Cat managed to stay competitive right up until he too was claimed. At this point logic took a holiday.

Enter Worthy Lover, aka The Turtle. The Turtle was my 5th choice of the claimers in the race we found him. I've come to believe the horse has a terminal illness. I'd ask the previous owners but they're still giggling down at the bank. Oddly enough The Turtle brought us our only win in the last year and 3 months. No longer able to compete at Aqueduct and Belmont, The Turtle moved out to Finger Lakes where he ran a scorching 1:00.02 over 5 furlongs and came home a winner. Hard Spun's final Derby workout would have beaten The Turtle by more than 12 lengths. Glory doesnt last forever and The Turtle started running as though he knew what would happen if he broke a leg. His most recent fiasco a week ago today found him running 36th out of 8 horses and delaying the next race. His regular jockey didn't even think it worth his time to ride him. After purchasing Snitch for $20k we can't give The Turtle away for $4k. Well done. It gets better. One of the partners had the gall to call up and inform us that the trainer thinks The Turtle is coming around and we need drop more quarters into the partnership piggy bank. We're exiting stage left. I wouldnt give the trainer enough cash for an extra value meal to keep this horse running, or more importantly give the decision makers the chance to claim a new lead pony. The next one would be three legged and blind.

In all seriousness I wish The Turtle the best of luck with the newly alligned partnership and I'll always have a soft spot for him for bringing me my first win. And every time I see his picture high up on my wall I'll remember a day when dozens of people in upstate New York watched him jog home a winner and assume the throne as king of the $4k claimers.