A short story of Patty and my earlier years getting into forums and connecting very fortunately with inside horse people (and ya'll know my neat story about meeting Storm Cat, yes The Storm Cat). Anyway in 2000 we tripped to Kentucky and went to the Horse Park for our first real experience with greatness and through contacts we made via racing forums, we got to meet Cigar up close and personal in the barn after his show to the gathering of others. What a thrill and talking with his and John Henry's care taker, we learned wonderful tales of how John would teach Cigar to do things. JOhn was a very bad cribber and thankfully Cigar did not learn that bad habit.
Two years later when I had my infamous meet up with Storm Cat, posing as a legit horseman (maybe with breeding interests, go figure) . . . again we visited the Horse Park for the 2nd time and Patty not to my knowing, while I was doing something aside, fed Cigar peppermints (which be loved) all by herself. I'm thinking for her that's what heaven is like, me standing by her holding her hand,
Those were grand days and we have been so fortunate for people we barely know to accept us into the inter-world of getting in the face (literally) of thoroughbred greatness. We need to do this at least one more time before we can't do it anymore . . . and we still to this day maintain contact with one very special insider. Lucky us, I guess?!
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The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse’s ears – Arabian Proverb
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