Horse Racing and the Circle of Life

Sporting events often leave a lasting impression on us as fans. We witness and share in moments of great triumph that often stand out as some of the most vivid memories and can even mark a turning point in our lives. And sometimes the sourness of defeat can have just as lasting an impact.

For me, that sport is horse racing. I don't profess to be an expert, nor do I watch or regularly attend races. In fact, I have only been to six horse races in my life. But all six have been attempts to win the coveted Triple Crown. The Triple Crown, one horse's victory in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, is a rare event in sports, happening only 11 times in history. It is so rare, in fact, that it has not happened in my lifetime.

Truth be told, I was born just days after Affirmed rode to victory as the last Triple Crown winner back in June of 1978. And ever since, I have been waiting... waiting for greatness, waiting for heroism, waiting for life to come full circle. Well maybe not life, but certainly the horse racing world.

The first time I ever went to the Belmont Stakes was 11 years ago, when Silver Charm, a gray colt from Florida, captured my attention in winning the Derby and Preakness by a head. I grew up on Long Island and had driven past the Belmont racetrack countless times, but it was that year that I made my debut. And the only two things I remember about the day were: 1. the 75,000 fans packed in on one side of the track going bonkers as Silver Charm led down the homestretch and 2. the absolute silence as he was caught by Touch Gold and finished 2nd by 3/4 of a length.

I was both devastated and hooked at the same time. The following year, I was an intern with Fox Sports assigned to cover the Belmont as a young writer/producer. Real Quiet, a bay colt by from Kentucky by Little Hill Farm won the Derby by 1/2 length and the Preakness by 2 over Victory Gallop. But there was Victory Gallop at the end of the Belmont, catching Real Quiet at the wire.

I vowed that from that point forward, I would never miss another chance to see a horse win the Triple Crown. In 1999, I was back as a fan and spectator to see Charismatic go for elusive Triple. Charismatic won the Derby by a neck and the Preakness by 1 1/2 lengths before suffering an injury in the stretch run and finishing 3rd in the Belmont. My frustration was mounting.

In 2002, I again went as a fan to watch War Emblem go for glory after he won the first two legs. Big, tall and dark, War Emblem stumbled coming out of the gate and failed to get the lead, could not run off the pace, and finished eighth. It was the worst showing of any horse in the Belmont that had a chance to win the Crown.

A year later, Funny Cide was all the rage. The heavy favorite, Funny Cide was a sure thing. An easy pick. But a New York horse named Empire Maker played the spoiler while a wet weekend and sloppy track sealed Funny Cide's fate. Empire Maker won and Funny Cide finished a well-beaten third.

Come 2004 and my expectations were obviously riding high again when a non-filly from Philly named Smarty Jones brought an undefeated record and huge fanbase up for the race. I had never seen the fans in picnic and paddock areas so excited. All my pain could be erased. But something wasn't Smarty on that day and he finished second to a horse named Birdstone. BIRDSTONE!!!!

Calm and quiet personal reflection followed as 2005, 2006 and 2007 came and went without any excitement. But 2008 is here and the hype around Big Brown, the runaway winner of Kentucky and the Preakness, is again at a feverish crescendo. Counting down to Saturday's race has been a mix of nervous excitement and reverse jinxing. And to top it off, I've decided NOT to attend the race.

I've learned a valuable lesson about the circle of life it's not actually circular after all. Like a race, the point is to keep moving forward no matter what is going on around you. And if you do that, you'll be a winner no matter what.

What do you think will happen? Will I get the closure I so desperately crave?