Earlier this year, I visited Kentucky to meet Monarchos.
I wanted to see the fastest living Kentucky Derby winner in the flesh.
It was just as simple as that.
As the big gray champion emerged from his stable, Monarchos was well-mannered and kind. He allowed himself to be pet, stood patiently for photographs, and gently devoured my bag of carrots with delight.
I was thrilled about my visit with Monarchos.
He is a celebrity in my world.
And, it is always nice to find out that your celebrities are truly kind at heart.
When I returned home from Kentucky, I realized that Monarchos is just a gray horse to many of my friends outside the racing universe.
It was just as simple as that.
“How was the Kentucky Derby?” I was asked by one friend.
I had to find a nice way to tell my friend that the Kentucky Derby hadn’t occurred yet.
When I mentioned that I visited Monarchos, another friend asked, “Is that your horse?”
I didn’t own a horse at that point. And, if I owned Monarchos, I certainly would have mentioned my Kentucky Derby winning horse in earlier conversations.
This was my first experience of trying to explain horse racing to non-enthusiasts.
Nothing was simple about it.
Shortly after these conversations, I invested in a horse. He’s a two-year-old in training and hasn’t been entered in any races.
However, my small investment created a giant misunderstanding among my non-racing enthusiast friends.
Zenyatta stood at the center of the confusion between the two worlds.
I talked about Zenyatta’s undefeated record at cocktail parties and my friends would ask how she is doing.
I kept saying, “She’s still undefeated!”
It was just as simple as that.
I thought we had arrived at a common ground.
Then, I went to Hollywood Park to watch her claim her seventeenth career victory in the Vanity Handicap.
When I made a photo album of the trip, a friend asked “How did your horse do in her race?”
I replied, “I wish I owned Zenyatta.”
In my mind, it was just as simple as that.
However, when I had to explain in greater depth that I don’t own Zenyatta, the confusion on my friend’s face spoke volumes.
It was as if to say, “Why don’t you?”
I went on to explain that Zenyatta has made roughly $6 million in her career and has remained undefeated in seventeen consecutive races. She’s not for sale.
Then, I realized her earnings or record meant nothing to my friend.
In personal defeat, I explained to my friend that Jerry Moss, the co-founder of A & M records, owns Zenyatta.
When I mentioned that she was named after The Police album, “Zenyatta Mondatta,” I received immediate recognition.
“Oh, ‘Zenyatta Mondatta.’ That makes sense!”
It was just as simple as that.
But, was it? I’ve listened to that album many times and I’ve never heard Sting belt out any lyrics about Zenyatta’s racing career.
In retrospect, the words “The Police” and “Zenyatta Mondatta” were the only parts of our conversation that resonated with my friend.
Since that moment, I’ve wondered how to discuss horse racing with the non-racing world.
There seems to be nothing simple about it.
As far as I can tell, non-racing enthuasists have gathered these gems from my conversations:
“There are some gray and brown horses that run fast. One dances pretty well. The Kentucky Derby is an important day. And, ‘Zenyatta Mondatta’ is a great album.”
It is just as simple as that.
So, after growing tired of giving explanations, I decided to just quietly enjoy going to the races.
And then, the two worlds unexpectedly met for a brief second in time.
As I was heading to the track on an ordinary day, a friend asked me, “Is there an important race today?”
I joked, “Yep. Secretariat is in a match race with Seattle Slew today.”
When she laughed, I realized my friend knew I had just told her a fairy tale.
However, I also realized she knew some Triple Crown winners.
I began to dream about the next Triple Crown season.
And wish… it was just simple as that.
As a fan of racing who doesn’t know terribly much, I can concur. I can also guess that once you take a friend to the races, they’re at least SORT OF a fan? My friends ask when I’m taking them back all the time. I have to actually REMIND them that they can go without me!
TIP: Secretariat’s Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes are all on Youtube. I DEFY anyone to watch them (at the very least the Preakness) and NOT get into it!
Thanks for the great comment, Kendra. (Secretariat’s Triple Crown races are one of my favorite things to watch. Thanks for the reminder!)
What a marvelous story. Simple and fun.
Great stuff Jennifer!
Thanks for the nice comment!
I preach the Gospel of Horse Racing everywhere I go, and I go to many different places each month. Only once did I think the person I was talking to care. I wear a baseball hat when I travel, always a horse hat and not once has anyone even made a comment about it. In my office is the picture of every single Triple Crown winner as well as pictures of superstar horses over the past thirty years. No one even mentions them except the nice older man from Kentucky who came to do business with me. I’m an optimist and I believe we are fans of the greatest sport on Earth but popular culture seems to have moved on. Their loss!
Hi Turk! Thanks for the comment. (It makes me happy to hear that I’m not the only person with horse pictures all around my office! And, I enjoy your blog!)
Great topic Jennifer, I deal with the same thing all the time. After years of pestering my friends I’ve actually made some progress, some of my friends can even name races Curlin won without help! (: I call that progress. It might have something to do with the fact that I have four huge pictures of his different races on my bedroom walls!
The best way I get people enthused about racing now is by showing them Rachel Alexandra’s Haskell and Zenyatta’s Breeders’ Cup Class. The cheering of the crowds in those videos send chills up and down the spine, everyone always gets more excited when they hear the crowd going so crazy.
Great post!
Thanks, Brian. I think it is wonderful that show your friends the races! (I’ve never thought of that.) As always, looking forward to your next great post on Railrunner!
I found your article by accident while surfing my favorite subject on the net. I have laughed out loud throughout reading it. I can so relate. Very glad to know I am not alone. Friends and family humor me and nod their heads in quiet politeness as they listen to my excited description of a beautiful TB or a Rachel or Zenyatta race. They have no real interest or a clue as to what I am talking about. My only salvation is a trip to Versailles, KY a couple of times a year to visit a female school friend of mine who actually is in the breeding/racing business. These trips feed my soul. Thank you for the laughs.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Susan. It’s nice that there are other people out there who can relate. (If it makes you feel any better, I’m making my friends join me to see the “Secretariat” movie.)