Yes, this post is a not-so-humble #mombrag of epic proportions. I am fortunate enough to call my mom so much more than a mother; she is my inspiration, the strongest woman I have ever met, she keeps me grounded, and most importantly- she is my best friend.
Why is this important?
Without her, I don’t know that I would have been introduced to the world of thoroughbreds, to racing, to breeding; to any of what makes me whole. She is the original Untamed Filly (in my world).
At a young age, she was attending races with my grandfather, climbing trees to watch Kelso from above at Saratoga. She learned to call races from Fred Capossela, and for a moment in time dreamed of becoming the first female race caller. Unfortunately, the 1960s – 80s were not the time for history to be made in that area of our industry. Rather, she began to hot-walk in the 1970s for Hall of Fame Trainer John Nerud, if his name sounds familiar, he was the trainer of Dr. Fager, known as one of the greatest thoroughbreds of all time. Following her newfound mentor in Mr. Nerud, my mom studied the breeding theories and methodology of Fredrico Tesio and set out on a mission to be involved in this incredible sport.
The first realization of her dream came when I was a child, owning a small part of a racehorse with friends followed by a few others along the way. The second milestone moment came close to the time I was 10 years old, what seemed like the greatest of successes, as we moved to a farm. Our horses in the backyard, my grandfather still with us, his first racehorse taking her time off literally outside his window. It’s where I delivered my first foal (of many), where my mom planned to retire and pass, and where I planned to have a life – until it wasn’t.
In an instant, our world shattered, a death without a funeral; unfolding, piece after piece for a span of almost ten years, we never knew what was coming next. We lost everything… everything but each other and our love of thoroughbreds.
I watched this woman have her entire life thrown to the fire. I watched her work, work harder than she already was working, stripped away of anything and everything that gave her joy. I watched her live in survival mode; navigating her emotions, her healing, a search to emerge from the trauma she suffered Somehow, through it all she was by my side navigating all the same for me, making sure I was okay; if that isn’t the embodiment of strength, I don’t know what is.
Most significantly, I watched her take her life back, returning to the places and activities that made her whole. Back to the races, to our friends, to our “family”; they never left us, they were there the whole time, waiting for the moment we returned. Something that seems like just yesterday and a lifetime ago all at once.
Without her bravery and determination, I wouldn’t be managing our stable, we wouldn’t have our broodmares and foals, our racing partnership, and my OTTB, all of which I couldn’t imagine our lives without. We are here to encourage others to love their horses, to love racing, and to keep it going for generations. We find peace in the nuzzle of a muzzle and ride the thrill of each milestone from planning conception, to foaling, to the finish line and beyond.
My mother may never acknowledge or fully understand the strength she has (or that she has instilled in me), but it is the heart of this Untamed Filly, and for that, I am grateful beyond words.
留言