Better Talk Now receives a bath following a morning workout at Fair Hill, MD. (author's photo)
It’s never easy to write these posts, as I’m one who tends to struggle with goodbyes. There’s never a simple way to come to grips with the retirement of one of your favorite horses. It’s been said that bad news comes in droves. Racing fans know this all too well. In recent days we’ve had to stomach the losses of heroes such as Kona Gold and Summer Squall. Now comes news that one of the most beloved horses in training, Better Talk Now (aka ”Blackie”) is injured and will race again no more.
Better Talk Now striking a "rock star" pose while eating some grass (author's photo)
Like many, I had been hoping to see him run in his final race in New York this fall and was looking forward to the closure that an opportunity to say goodbye might provide. We all knew this day was coming, as the old man wasn’t getting any younger, but I can’t help but feel a bit of a punch in the gut now knowing we won’t see him run again. Part of me feels selfish (and foolish) for that though, as he had already given us so much over the years. This wasn’t the way his story was supposed to end though. I think we all had dreamt that somehow, someway, he’d go out on top as a winner – just as he deserved.
Having spent most of the week thus far in the hospital myself dealing with some emergency surgery (appendicitis), I was unaware of this development until arriving home this morning. Suffice to say it was not the kind of news I was hoping to come home to.
Trying to be the ever the positive “glass half full” type, there are some important silver linings here to this story that we must keep in perspective.
It goes without saying that it’s fortunate to have identified the injury and safely retired Blackie rather than have had something go horrifically wrong on the track. Now he’ll be able to retire and live out the rest of his life while still in the care of Graham Motion and his top notch Herringswell Stables operation at Fair Hill, MD.
I know I tend to sound like a broken record about some things here from time to time, but having had the opportunity to visit them at Fair Hill earlier in the year on the morning of Del Cap day- this is where he belongs. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. From top to bottom Herringswell Stables is the definition of a class act.
If I ever have the pleasure of owning one of these magnificent animals, I’ll do all I can to ensure my horse is under Motion’s supervision. You can just feel the love everyone involved with them has for their horses. Of course, Blackie was the “rock star” of the barn, and since he’ll stay there I suspect he’ll continue to be so.
Motion has commented several times that he considers Better Talk Now’s Breeders’ Cup Turf victory in 2004 as the highlight of his distinguished career as a trainer. Looking back, I think that was one my favorite highlights of the last decade as well, albeit from a fan perspective. There was just something about Blackie that many found instantly lovable.
Lastly, let’s not forget that he gave his fans reason to cheer their guts out one last time in his effort in the Sword Dancer back in mid-August. He rallied from 10 lengths back with 3 furlongs to go and “gave it his all” to run 2nd to upset winner Telling. I remember thinking he’d have a big shot in that race - and wanting desperately for him to run well. At times, I’d swear he looked more like a happy kid in that race than a 10-year-old veteran. In the end, it was rewarding to know that he was still a threat at the Grade 1 level no matter how “long-in-the-tooth” he might have been.
As we adjust to the realization that we won’t get to see him battling on through the deep stretch in future races, closing like a freight train into the early pace setters, we may at least take solace in knowing that he will be under the care of a group of people who love him dearly and will see to it that he receives only the finest care imaginable. There’s no place on earth where I could envision him being happier.
In closing, here’s how we’ll always remember Blackie – making that powerful move in the stretch and running past all of ‘em to become a Breeders’ Cup champion. Watching him run was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life – and no doubt went a long way towards making me the fan of the sport I am today.
We’ll miss ya, fella, and we’ll always love ya. Thanks for all the memories you’ve given us along the way. Such a card. Such a character – but an immensely and instantly lovable one. Enjoy your retirement – you’ve earned the rest, ole buddy.
Very well said, Kevin!
I’ll miss his exciting way of running – once he got going, nothing was going to stop him! He’d come roaring out of nowhere – you couldn’t help the ever increasing cresendo building in your cheering. You knew he was going to give his all each and every time!
I’ll also miss his pre-race antics, which always gave me a good laugh!
Definitely One-in-a-Million!
Thanks Julie – We will always be indebted to you for giving us the opportunity to meet him. Easily one of the greatest moments we’ve had over the years as racing fans. I wish everyone could see them (Herringswell Stables) in action, or likewise get that close to their favorites.
The good news is, next time you come up, he should still be up to his old self – pre-race antics and all (or as we saw, pre/post bath antics).
The image of him burned into my mind is one that I didn’t get a great photo of. It was when they led him out to eat some grass after his bath. He ripped out a giant weed – looked like golden rod or something, and as we were talking about him, he turned his head as if to inquire what we were saying (knowing it HAD to be about HIM), and had this hysterical look on his face with a gigantic weed sticking out of his mouth like Humphrey Bogart with a cigar.
Well, that and the hind leg crossing thing.
Great stuff – memories I’ll never forget.
We sometimes differ in opinions but my big friend, we share the fellow love of the horses above all. He was one of my favorites. Doesn’t it seem weird to have a Breeders Cup upcoming without Better Talk Now running.
here is to a great retirement !
I’m so glad you wrote a tribute about him. I remember we talked about him at Belmont for the Man ‘O’ War last year when he finished third behind Red Rocks and Curlin. That’s an incredibly distinguished career portfolio he’s created, who hasn’t he faced, where hasn’t he raced?
Just wanted to share this story with you, it’s a little long so bear with me: At the 2008 Man ‘O’ War Stakes I had just secured my spot next to the winners circle, (hoping to be close to Curlin if he won) when this lady came running full speed through the crowd and grabbed the only available slot at the rail next to me. She asked me if they had started yet, and was relieved to hear that the horses had only just steped onto the track. Come to find out she and her husband had driven four hours through NYcity traffic just so she could see her boy run. Her husband was with her two little children at the gate still and had told her to “Go, it’s ok, I got this” so she had bolted. I asked her if she meant Curlin, thinking everyone must be here to see the champ. But it was for the old veteran, Better Talk Now. A few minutes later when the horses loaded into the gate, my eardrum burst with a deafening cheer to my right. “THAT’S MY BOY! YOU CAN DO IT BLAKIE!” It was thrilling, the sheer joy that you could read on that ladys face as she watched “her boy” prepare to face the giants yet again. Anyone that goes to the races, or watches the races on TV with me will tell you that I scream like an elephant with a bee up it’s trunk when my horses are heading for home. (ask my Mom, we had a mighty volume war during the 2007 Belmont Stakes rooting for Curlin and Rags!). This lady was my toughest challenge yet, she screamed like there was no tommorrow when “blackie” made his move from the back of the pack. I was sorely pressed to keep “Curlin cries” heard above her symphony of cheering, and she kept it up till well after they had crossed the line. After it was done, and I got over my initial shock that Curlin had lost, I heard her cheering again. “He did it! Third place, way to go!” She didn’t care if he won or lost, she just wanted to support him in his daring endevors for the bliss of the moment, for the love of the horse.
I’d forgotten all about that lady untill I saw on the Blood Horse that Better Talk Now would be retired. She is the ultimate fan, and it takes a very special horse to make a fan like that.
I’m really going to miss the old guy, athletes like him are few and far between. Great tribute Kevin!
@Tony – indeed. Got used to penciling in Blackie for the Turf each and every year. Going to be shame he isn’t there this year – although I think they were planning on passing the BC this year anyhow. I just wish he would’ve won the Sword Dancer. That would’ve been the perfect final hurrah.
@Brian – Wow. I remember what a magical day that was – even though our boy lost. To have Breeders’ Cup champs finish 1, 2, 3 speaks volumes for how intriguing that race was.
About that Better Talk Now fan – I’ve noticed that he attracted a lot of the more deeply passionate fans who tend to really connect with their favorite horses. Folks who “love horse” tended to see much about Blackie that plucked at their heart strings.
[...] in the Sword Dancer, and I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive him. That race wound up being the final in the career of Better Talk Now, and but for Telling, my beloved Blackie would’ve gone out a winner as he deserved. I try [...]