Old Timers still got game.
(David P.)
Still Got Game - By Richard Zwirn - 28 Oct 2009
[11 Comments]
Most assert that it’s not fun to get old. Infirmities plague
the body, friends fade away, hair too. Stomachs droop,
children grow up and move away, while wrinkles appear and
some memories disappear. The two best anti-aging remedies
I’ve been fortunate enough to find are running and breeding
Thoroughbreds on our small upstate NY farm. Each provides
opportunities to remain active and motivated. In order to
stave off any potential mid-life crisis and keep my aging in
perspective, I decided to run a marathon for my 50th birthday.
It was not easy “turning back the clock.” Training consisted
of long runs, intervals, & hill repeats for the three months
preceding the big event. My legs labored, hamstrings stung,
lungs burned…dogs chased, deerflies bit, & heaps of laundry
accumulated. I loved every wonderful, horrible minute of it.
On race day I felt invigorated in testing my limits & showed
more grit than gift in finishing. I took more of a beating
than my 401k but felt satisfaction in the effort and result.
Throughout training & the 26.2-mile race itself, I had a great
many opportunities to ponder not only my mid-life status, but
also racehorses. Specifically, the aging ones. I have always
been a fan of the inspiring “old warhorses” in the sport like
Round Table, Kelso, Forego, John Henry, Evening Attire, Better
Talk Now, The Tin Man, and others…the grizzled veterans who
have faced the starter on 50 or so occasions over a five- or
six-year career and have demonstrated not only ability and
durability, but mental toughness. These horses love the game.
They are happiest at play, and running provides this outlet.
There is something left—unfinished—for them to do.
A 9-year-old gelding we bred is still running & winning at
Finger Lakes racetrack. This wise elder may lack the speed &
strength of his younger counterparts but concedes nothing in
terms of enthusiasm & tenacity, regardless of his seniority.
This horse thrives while at the track and loves when those
gates “clang” open. His handlers will know when it’s the right
time for him to greet the starter for the last time…it’ll be
when he is glum during the post parade, sour at the barn,
discouraged in the test barn, and “hurting” while racing.
But for now, he seems as goofy, playful, and competitive as
he did when we prepped him as a yearling.
So, let’s not be too eager to rid ourselves of an old runner.
In fact, the horse racing community might want to consider
showcasing some of these honest, trusted heroes to the public
in a Master’s Circuit series—just like there are in human track
and field circuits. Examples of races for “Old Timers Day”
features might include:
• The Breeders’ Cup Masters Mile (6-year-olds and up)
• The Geezer Gallop (8-year-olds and up)
• The Triple “Sevens” Crown (7 and up–seven furlongs, one mile
and 70yds., 1 7/16 miles)
Age does, indeed, diminish performance; therefore, these
gallant athletes should no longer always have to compete with
the likes of those 3- and 4-year-olds who are in their prime.
The greatest competitors in any athletic endeavor have to come
to terms with the reality that while the mind is still keen to
push as hard as ever, the body is reluctant to respond.
Training regimens certainly need to be tailored (less intensity,
moderate mileage, more variety) to meet the changing needs of
this equine demographic. The temptation exists to do too much
with a horse that’s “long in the tooth.” That is why careful
management is so important. Proper diet and rest, massage, and
icing/cold water therapy are all potentially valuable condition-
ing components—as I recently learned. But the older racehorse
also surely enjoys sporadic breaks from training, as it allows
for rolling in the sand, plucking alfalfa from mother earth, &
gazing at the moonlit distant hills. Easing up in life might be
necessary for all, but being put “out to pasture” too soon is
not always easy. This is especially true for the steeds that
still have a “fire in the belly.” Let them run...but let’s try
to allow for opportunities to compete against their peers. It
will help them, as it has helped me, from “feeling our age.”
For future birthdays, however, I think I’ll stick with doing
less mileage and more cake.
[Richard Zwirn completed his birthday marathon in 3:15...
not bad for an old plodder]
11 Comments:
When horses enjoy what they do, and are well-tended, why
drag them from the life they have always known. Some horses
prefer to be busy. One need only to reflect on all the great
horses we have heard about who sulked when they left the
track. Here's hoping the racetracks, perhaps on Grandparents'
Day, put together the Geezers' Gallop, Masters Marathon, or
Senior Sprints. Seems like a great way to get the entire
family out to the track...and use the opportunity to fund-
raise for the Thoroughbred retirement groups.
--AGS 28 Oct 2009 3:43 PM
Oh yes, and no whips should be allowed during the senior
races! I think the plodders know how to do their jobs at
that point!
--AGS 28 Oct 2009 3:48 PM
As someone who celebrated my 50th this year, and grew up
not far from Finger Lakes Racetrack, I really enjoyed this
article and applaud your effort - I couldn't run a marathon
at 25, let alone 50! I rather like the idea of a Senior Tour
for thoroughbreds, too!
--Oldie 28 Oct 2009 4:09 PM
What a great message you have written! In these days when
so many young horses are so quickly taken off the track
before we have a chance to see what they can do, I count
myself a fan of many of the old timers out there still
competing. I would love to see a series much like you
suggest, and think it would be wonderful for the oldsters
(who really are young for many other equine sport disciplines)
to be able to compete amongst themselves rather than facing
the three year olds. Thank you!
--txhorsefan 28 Oct 2009 8:42 PM
Amen! Wonderful thoughts!
--Doz 28 Oct 2009 9:26 PM
As someone else who turned 50 this year, I was feeling old
until I heard about a 100 year old still doing daily yoga.
I hope that someone who can make it happen has read your
ideas because they are industry-perception changing. There
have been so many complaints about horses retiring so young
that fans don't have time to get to know them. Well, showcase
the older ones in a way that plays to their strengths and
people will follow them. So many people already do.
--Karen in Indiana 30 Oct 2009 5:14 PM
We had two old "grandpa" geldings that raced until 12-they
loved every minute of it! Retired sound as the day they were
born. They hated it, but rules are rules. As to racing
keeping you young-I swear I age 10 years every time our 2's
start the first time!
--Dreamer's Mom 30 Oct 2009 10:27 PM
Isn't it great that we don't need celebrities, politicians
or athletes to motivate us to do something good and right.
My cup gets filled every time I go to the farm to visit my
horses...it's like a shot of B-12. My trainer always finds
a place for older horses to retire. There are good people
in our "business." Thanks for your story, it motivated me
to go out and run this morning.
--LABob 03 Nov 2009 8:55 AM
I laugh when you guys refer to 9 year old horses as old.
On the show circuit, these horses havnt even hit prime. On
another note, my soon to be 20 year old Thoroughbred by Gone
West is THE most athletic horse still in the barn. THE most
well conditioned, sound and good looking (and im not being
biased) horse many have ever seen. He can still run em up at
:11 his last bits (we gallop him 3 times a week to keep his
cardio up) and he still jumps over 5'3" with room to spare.
All this barefoot with no injections and a light joint supple-
ment. I strongly believe a horse can go as long as you want,
if you take care of them and give them a job and keep it FUN.
--Amanda 03 Nov 2009 11:41 PM
This idea may help breeders/owners not start their racehorses
until they are READY (3 or 4 years of age?), and to breed more
SOUND animals so that they can last and participate in these
"elder series" of races.
--green guy 04 Nov 2009 9:03 AM
I definitely second Richard Zwirn's comments in Final Turn
in the 10/31/09 issue. The old, hardknocking veterans have
always been my favorites. We have the Seniors Tour in the
professional golf world. Why not in racing? The old guy,
With Anticipation, winning the Sword Dancer at Saratoga under
Pat Day is one of my favorite race memories. As owner of an
aging gelding myself, I would love to be able to enter him
in a race for 6 year olds and up.
--Harold "Chip" Everling 09 Nov 2009 1:50 PM
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F.H.
> www.bloodhorse.com
>
> Still Got Game - By Richard Zwirn - 28 Oct 2009
> [11 Comments]
>
> the body, friends fade away, hair too. Stomachs droop,
> children grow up and move away, while wrinkles appear and
> some memories disappear. The two best anti-aging remedies
> Thoroughbreds
I knew him a little when he wore Levi's and only had cheap horses.