Tips Hamil - A few weeks back, Irish Jack remembered Barbaro and the thrill he gave me covering the 2006 Derby. But the horse I want to center on today is Hard Spun, who came out of Delaware Park in 2007 and became one of the most famous 3-year-old colts to never win a Triple Crown race. He came close, running second in the Kentucky Derby.
Buku Panduan Lengkap Cara Cepat Hamil Maria Michalak wrote recently of the horse on Esther Marr's "Beyond the Blinkers" blog on Bloodhorse.com.
"Sammy Meets Hard Spun" is the story of 16-year-old Samantha Petitte, her battle against anorexia and how her love for Hard Spun has helped in her recovery.
Hard Spun's owner Rick Porter of Wilmington passed along a copy of the blog to me.
Hard Spun was sold by Porter to Darley Farm in Kentucky in November 2007, where the 6-year-old colt now stands in stud.
The story of 16-year-old Sammy Petitte of West Bend, Wis., was too inspiring not to share.
Michalak relates how Petitte became a racing fan seven years ago when she saw the trailer for the movie "Seabiscuit." Sammy became immediately hooked on Hard Spun when the bay colt emerged on the Triple Crown scene in 2007.
"I first fell in love with him because there was just this look about him that made me think, 'he's a rock star,' " Petitte told Michalak.
Petitte went on the Fox Hill Farm forum late last fall and talked about her struggles and the goals she had to win her battle against anorexia.
Sammy learned she could go to Darley Farm for an open house last January and possibly meet Hard Spun.
"I've been in a downhill slide for the past year," Petitte told her forum friends. "Finally, I'm going to start climbing back up. I'm just trying to say, 'Do it for your family, your friends, yourself and Hard Spun.' "
She began keeping a journal on the Fox Hill forum and within a few weeks had 200 responses of support and photos of Hard Spun. Sammy labeled these forum friends as "my horse racing family."
Sammy, Michalak writes, had to gain a certain amount of weight before her doctor and dietician would allow her to make the trip to Kentucky.
The people at Darley received a heads up she was coming and treated Petitte and her parents like royalty.
"He's such a gentle giant," Sammy said in the blog. "His whole demeanor is just so sweet."
It's an amazing story and a terrific job of writing by Michalak. A tough little horse has inspired a young woman to fight for her own life and make the best out of it.
The bumps are there for me every day as well. What Hard Spun taught me when I covered his 3-year-old charge is that quitting is not an option.
I remember walking back to the jockey's room with Mario Pino after his second-place finish to Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Pino had a good lead to the stretch, but not enough kick to hold off the winner.
"I thought I had it, and then all of a sudden I peaked back and saw Curlin was flying. I said 'no, not again,' " Pino said then. "I just know my horse never, never gives up. He's always trying. He really deserved to win one of these races. I know one thing: He's a winner."
Buku Panduan Lengkap Cara Cepat Hamil Maria Michalak wrote recently of the horse on Esther Marr's "Beyond the Blinkers" blog on Bloodhorse.com.
"Sammy Meets Hard Spun" is the story of 16-year-old Samantha Petitte, her battle against anorexia and how her love for Hard Spun has helped in her recovery.
Hard Spun's owner Rick Porter of Wilmington passed along a copy of the blog to me.
Hard Spun was sold by Porter to Darley Farm in Kentucky in November 2007, where the 6-year-old colt now stands in stud.
The story of 16-year-old Sammy Petitte of West Bend, Wis., was too inspiring not to share.
Michalak relates how Petitte became a racing fan seven years ago when she saw the trailer for the movie "Seabiscuit." Sammy became immediately hooked on Hard Spun when the bay colt emerged on the Triple Crown scene in 2007.
"I first fell in love with him because there was just this look about him that made me think, 'he's a rock star,' " Petitte told Michalak.
Petitte went on the Fox Hill Farm forum late last fall and talked about her struggles and the goals she had to win her battle against anorexia.
Sammy learned she could go to Darley Farm for an open house last January and possibly meet Hard Spun.
"I've been in a downhill slide for the past year," Petitte told her forum friends. "Finally, I'm going to start climbing back up. I'm just trying to say, 'Do it for your family, your friends, yourself and Hard Spun.' "
She began keeping a journal on the Fox Hill forum and within a few weeks had 200 responses of support and photos of Hard Spun. Sammy labeled these forum friends as "my horse racing family."
Sammy, Michalak writes, had to gain a certain amount of weight before her doctor and dietician would allow her to make the trip to Kentucky.
The people at Darley received a heads up she was coming and treated Petitte and her parents like royalty.
"He's such a gentle giant," Sammy said in the blog. "His whole demeanor is just so sweet."
It's an amazing story and a terrific job of writing by Michalak. A tough little horse has inspired a young woman to fight for her own life and make the best out of it.
The bumps are there for me every day as well. What Hard Spun taught me when I covered his 3-year-old charge is that quitting is not an option.
I remember walking back to the jockey's room with Mario Pino after his second-place finish to Curlin in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Pino had a good lead to the stretch, but not enough kick to hold off the winner.
"I thought I had it, and then all of a sudden I peaked back and saw Curlin was flying. I said 'no, not again,' " Pino said then. "I just know my horse never, never gives up. He's always trying. He really deserved to win one of these races. I know one thing: He's a winner."
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