Treasured forever

Sad news today from New York. The star of the October 2009 issue, Treasure Blue Chip, was euthanized at the age of 34. She was featured in a beautiful story written by Ellen Harvey with gorgeous photos taken by equine photographer Barbara Livingston.

You can see the story here: http://www.hoofbeatsmagazine.com/pdf/oct09/Treasuring_Treasure_Oct09.pdf

To live to 34 is amazing, and I am so happy that we had a chance to tell her story before she passed on. It was truly a race against time, as we were nervous that she might not make it until the story was published.

The full blow of horse mortality hit me today as I was editing "Greener Pastures," Hoof Beats' annual tribute to those horses who have left us. This year we lost such standouts as Amour Angus, Ralph Hanover, Beach Towel, Baltic Speed, Steinam and Conch. Many of these horses are to be memorialized in the words of those who knew them best in the December issue. I found the most touching to be from Marcia Hamilton on Baltic Speed, who she groomed during his fantastic racing career. Stay tuned for that.

Perhaps the most surprising loss was that of Snow White, the filly trotting phenom who was almost ready to make a glorious comeback from a host of injuries when she was euthanized after a fatal colic attack. Nicole interviewed Curtis Larrimore for the December issue, and it amazed me how close he seemed to be to her.

After reading these stories, it's hard to consider harness racing a "sport" with the horses merely commodities. Even though technological advances such as Trackus have reduced living, breathing animals to dots on a screen, it's refreshing, albeit bittersweet, to read the memories of those who lost the horses with which they were so close every day.

TJB