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The greatest horse race
By Pat McDaid There are times in a person's life when an event happens that is so dramatic that it no longer lives just in memory, but in the heart as well. Ingrained as emotional feeling rather than bits of data stored. When recalled, they overwhelm the senses as vivid images pulse through the body and the heart pounds with adrenaline once again. Such was the case three to four years prior to the closing of Longacres. I had been to the track about a dozen times and found it fun entertainment. There were two horses at the track that were doing extremely well. Both were beating their opponents handily in their respective classes. Their names were Firesweeper and Heartlifter. When the day arrived where these two champions would face each other, the track was abuzz with excitement. Railbirds were touting their reasons why their favorite choice would win. Handicappers, track personnel and fans alike sensed this race was huge. Each camp loved their champion and knew their horse would win. The race was for a flat mile and tensions loading the starting gate hushed the big crowd. The horses exploded from the gate with a roar of approval from the stands. Heartlifter and Firesweeper were content to let the other four horses set the pace around the first two turns. Then halfway through the backstretch the two made their move. They quickly moved through the pack and were matched stride for stride going around the turn. It was now a two-horse race as they distanced the pack in an awesome display of speed and power. Entering the stretch matching strides the two battled on, neither one wanting to let the other take the lead. Positioned on the rail only a few feet from the finish line, my heart pounded fiercely. People behind me seemed to be shouting in my ear with excitement. Down the stretch they ran with such heart my senses seemed to watch in slow motion as 3,200 pounds of horse thundered home with every fiber of their muscles straining to their limits. Firesweeper ahead a nose, Heartlifter ahead a nose, both swapping the lead with every head bob. They nailed the finish line together with authority and the stands screamed in anguish due to the overwhelming uncertainty of whoever won. I stood there dazed trying to analyze what I just witnessed, at what was happening, through my shaken body. It was such a rush of emotion I will never forget. To this day as I think back of this great race and wonder if I'll ever see another like it. Who won the race? You know somehow, I just can't remember. Who won doesn't seem important now. |