Requiem for a winner
 

He wasn't a big star... he wasn't a star at all.

He ran though, he won a few and showed that sparkle and when he was retired - for some reason - his people saw fit to bring him back to the races.

It's easy to judge and point fingers and ask why...

Maybe he missed it. Maybe he was a dud at stud or maybe he wasn't finished yet.

Who knows.

Proud Cardenal won the 3rd race at Fairplex the other day.

In a sickeningly cruel twist of fate this old warrior (he was 11) died on his way to the winner's circle.

Racing can be the most beautiful spectacle... living, breathing art in progress.

It can twist and break and spit out your heart and doom you to a Dante's Inferno-like repetition of heartbreak and distress.

It can inspire you and make the quiet vocal, make the hard-hearted light again, make children of us all.

Like the most beautiful forms of art it can move you in ways that words cannot justify.

This though... this is the darkness... this unfair ending for an unlikely hero in front of few who knew and loved him and thousands of strangers so yeah... I choose to remember this guy becasue he is a reminder of the extremes and parallels of this cosa nostra... this thing of ours. I'm sorry for the holes in the hearts of those who knew, worked with, owned and loved him and for those who had to witness that joyful moment turn to one of sorrow.

We're all fragile. None of us deserve to be forgotten.

I won't forget him.

On this day, you start a thread about a horse that died a few days ago? Really?

What does one have to do with the other?

This is a horse racing related board, after all.

Thanks.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a tribute to Proud Cardenal. Today's date doesn't diminish Proud Cardenal's life, and a Proud Cardenal thread doesn't diminish today's date.

The 2 have nothing to do with each other.

What does that feel like, being so smug and pompous? Being so presumpteous as to assume I would care what you think?

Who would start a thread like this and today of all days?

I would.

I start threads without cowering in fear thinkng uh oh the bitter old man brigade is gonna swoop down and (gasp!) be mean if i do it.

Get over yourselves. You're the ones who look like assholes.

You see who started it and that the word requium is in the title so you know damned well what kind of thing is coming but instead of just ignoring it, me, whatever? Hell no why miss a chance to show your disapproval and displeasure?

You guys remind me of a bunch of old ladies with expressions that scream soiled kitty litter so go right ahead... slam me, show how superior you are. Go ahead and be bitter and pat yourselves on your backs for showing one of the pretty horsie posters who is in charge.

I just don't care.

He deserves to be remembered.

(Charlie none of this is addressed to you, so you know).

Hey thank you for this.

* * *
(Oh and for the record I didn't know he had died until today).

Bitter old man? Wow, I didn't know I was bitter or old. I don't even take a single medication, something that you obviously need.

I love horse racing, but I also love my country as 23 years in the Air Force will attest. Forgive me if I'm a little offended reading about a horse dying on an anniversary that saw nearly 3,000 human beings murdered.

I applaud your service.

You and I are both choosing to be here today, now, and while all our hearts bleed for the memory of the day please don't pontificate to me and make it like because of the day it is somehow in bad taste to start this or any thread. It does not diminish anything, it is not disrespectful, I don't believe it's in bad taste.

I can pause to remember and do the small acts of patriotism and talk about and remember with loved ones and watch the tributes and feel sick inside but it doesn't mean that anthing else i choose to do on this day is somehow unAmerican. I don't think most of us are spending the day at church or anything.

Again I applaud and admire you for your years in the service.

I do completely disagree with you though and if no one else will tell you how bitter you appear moist of the time? I will.

You do.

Next time don't read the thread if you think something so innocnet is mortally offensive. It's that simple.

Ok, thanks. We'll have to agree to disagree. I am neither old nor bitter, but if it makes you happy to think so, go with that.

With all due respect, it's a horse racing story on a horse racing board. Ok so he was an eleven year old no name horse, but what if it was Uncle Mo or another big name horse, should that not be reported/posted today just becuase of the date? Are you offended that on the 10th anniversary there was a full slate of MLB games and of course the opening Sunday of the NFL season? Life went on today, just like it should of. It doesn't mean that people didn't reflect/remember what went on 10 years ago today.

I do think it should be a National holiday, but unfortunately it would only become the new end of summer. Just like to many people the only thing Memorial Day is, would be the begining of summer. Now that's offensive.

I respect and Thank You for your service from the bottom of my heart. Believe me, I fully understand what today represents. But in the grand scheme of things, I'm sure that you could look around and find many more offensive things today instead of this thread. But, it's a free country and you are entitled to your opinion. Thank you for your service again.

:tro:

MMSC is a reporter now? I don't think starting a thread about a horse is the same as reporting the death of a big name horse.

I guess Steve Byk should just feel totally ashamed that he posted about Beyers and Shaun's collarbone injury on this of all days. (Am I allowed to be sarcastic on a message board on 9/11? Hmm.) It's a free country which is particularly noteworthy today. MMSC has a good heart and doesn't deserve to be lectured to for something like this. I, for one, am glad that on this day (as you keep hammering) she posted about something important to her.

I'm sad to hear about this horse's loss. Very tragic, and no it doesn't have to compare equally to the anniversary of 9/11 to be tragic. In a moment of celebration, an animal lost its life unexpectedly. That's sad. You can be sad about more than one thing at the same time, at different levels of sadness. If you don't want to think about things like this on 9/11, don't come on the board. You brought any offense on yourself, and frankly, I think the decision to take offense is incredibly odd.

:rolleyes: Steve's spelled out how to treat other posters in the past and that speaks for itself. I've done my duty standing up for MMSC. (It might be a little lengthy but WWMMSCD is something we should seriously think of putting on a bracelet and selling to DT forum members.) You wanna get into a fight and interfere with my happy enjoyment of the Keeneland yearling sale online, you won't be able to. Sorry. Have a nice day.