In Trainer Larry Rivelli’s barn at Arlington Park, there is a small bay racehorse named Helicopter.
Helicopter isn’t a household name for most horse racing enthusiasts.
Helicopter has never competed in a graded race and he doesn’t hold any breeding value for the sport. He is a gelding.
As a two-year-old, Helicopter raced fourteen times and stamped out a performance record for that year that held descriptors ranging from “failed to menace” to “no factor.”
When he began his three-year-old debut, Helicopter didn’t hold any promise as a Kentucky Derby hopeful. It wasn’t even a distant dream.
Helicopter was running in low-purse claiming races and losing in every outing.
It seemed Helicopter just wasn’t meant to be a racehorse.
Then, in March of 2009, Helicopter set foot on the track at Hawthorne Park in an attempt to win a highly-elusive race – his maiden victory.
In his 19th career start, Helicopter delivered a surprising 2 ½ -length victory as he bulleted past his rivals in the field.
He had finally won his first race after eighteen failed outings.
When Helicopter delivered a second career victory, he was privately purchased by Trainer Larry Rivelli in May of 2009.
Rivelli explained, “Helicopter was part of a two-horse package. I think the pair cost roughly $7,500.”
In his first start with Rivelli as the trainer, he won by 8 ½ lengths in a claiming race at Arlington Park and earned $6,000 – nearly covering his purchase price during his third career victory.
After winning his next race by two lengths, Helicopter had begun to demonstrate his potential on the track. He had won three consecutive races in the claiming circuit under Jockey Brandon Meier.
Then, roughly two months after joining Rivelli’s stable, Helicopter was claimed during a race in July of 2009.
Rivelli immediately sought to retrieve Helicopter from his new owner.
Rivelli explained, “I liked the horse. After the race, we privately purchased him back for double of what the guy had paid to claim him.”
Helicopter never ran a single race for the new ownership prior to being recovered by Rivelli.
And, Rivelli never entered Helicopter in a claiming race again.
On September 6, 2009, Helicopter set foot on the track for his next race and clinched another victory.
Then, Helicopter went on to break two track records. He set the record for 10 furlongs in 2:02.95 during a starter race at Keeneland in October of 2009.
In his next outing, Helicopter set another record during an allowance race in Canada, running 10 furlongs in 2:03.47.
Rivelli explained, “Helicopter is a small horse, kind of average and plain-looking. His asset is that he is a distance horse and he never wastes any energy before a race.”
And, he has a good pilot. Rivelli remarked, “His jockey, Brandon Meier, is a perfect match.”
Since Rivelli began training the horse, Helicopter has only made one start without Meier as his rider.
And, Helicopter made it clear how he felt about racing without Meier aboard.
He lost.
Since that race, Meier has remained Helicopter’s regular jockey.
And, they have amassed quite a nice winning record together.
With Rivelli as his trainer, Helicopter has won twelve races with Meier aboard in sixteen starts.
Helicopter has won on varying surfaces – dirt, synthetic and wet dirt.
Recently, Helicopter attempted his first turf race at Arlington Park.
Prior to the race, I saw a bunch of young children standing at the rail waiting to watch Helicopter’s turf debut.
I was curious if they knew anything about horse racing.
I asked one of the girls, “Who do you think is going to win the race?”
She didn’t even pause as she shot back her answer.
“Helicopter.”
In one word, a kindergartner had matched my handicapping pick.
Helicopter was the clear favorite, riding a six-race winning streak.
Sadly, he didn’t win his turf debut.
However, Helicopter has won some fans with his overall winning record.
Fans from all age ranges.
Fans who come to the track.
And, fans that came to the track on a weekday.
Helicopter’s fans don’t care if he is running for roses, large purses or against graded-stakes winners.
They just like to see Helicopter win a race.
And still, Helicopter isn’t a household name for most horse racing enthusiasts.
Yet, it may do some good to start talking about Helicopter in the racing world.
He helps bring fans to the track for an average race on an ordinary day.
And, the local community comes out when Helicopter is racing.
It is an exceptional victory for the sport.
Great story! I love to hear about horses like this guy! He’s lucky he found the perfect trainer and rider combo.
Thanks, Wendy! Helicopter is such a fun horse. It was great to finally see him race.
Jennifer, it’s stories like this one that promote horse racing more than anything else. Thank you for your well written and inspiring piece. TP
Thank you for your nice comment, TP.
Yeah Helicopter! Jennifer, this is exactly what I remember from my youth. Days my parents took us to the track because “Hasn’t Won In 2 Years” was running and ‘he’s due.’ Or miserable, cold rainy Chicago days brightened by “Thinks He’s a Duck” splashing through the mud at 50-1. If racetrack marketers would look at the past, they would see it’s the die hard fan who bets little on each race, multiple times a week, over years and generations that has kept horseracing alive. I remember each program having a photo of a horse with a background story. We actually SAVED THOSE PROGRAMS and shared the stories with our horsey friends. The result: future fans and racing participants without spending millions in marketing. It is this group of fans that has been ignored and responsible for the huge declines in attendance, not the small %of high rollers.
Parents don’t really want to take kids, our future fans and owners, to racinos, or OTBs and, online gambling is a solitary sport with no hope for generation of new fans.
People love horses-period. That’s why so many parents and grandparents spend millions of dollars on horses for kids. Those are potential fans waiting, but they are concerned about horse welfare issues. Individually, we converted many to fans by visits to our stable, but until the industry steps up and addresses the hard issues, many of the horse loving public is inaccessible.
Hi Susan ~ Thanks for the great comment. I enjoyed hearing your stories about horse racing! (I thought I was the only one who saved my programs from my favorite races!)
Great story Jennifer. The Rags to riches stories never get old and this one is all the more charming because he still runs in small time races.
Thanks, Brian. It’s always nice to hear your take on a story!
Keep working ,great job!