Well, hello there. Here we are again. Thanks for checking in with me, dear reader. I kind of like these one-way chats of ours.
I was thinking of talking to you about one of my favorite subjects and am attempting to pick one out. Well, there's dogs, trains, kids, travel, old folks, mountains and deserts. Ah, but then there's horses. Now that's a good subject.
You know how memories from long ago often seem more real to us old timers than our environment here and now.
Well, I just had one of those long forgotten pleasant memories pop back into my mind's view.
I used to love to watch the horses run. I mean those beautiful and noble thoroughbred beasts — race horses.
So, you're at the racetrack. The bugle blows and it's loudly announced over the PA system: "The horses are on the track.
The dozen or so stately steeds, in their bright and vivid colors, parade around as they slowly approach the starting gate.
It's an awkward process getting the stubborn equestrian contenders into and lined up properly in the gate. But finally they are all in but there's a couple of tense minutes of wait until suddenly the bell rings. The horses are away in a flash as the announcer yells out: "And they're off".
Hoofs dig into the turf. Heads lean way forward, as main, tails and dirt flies and jockeys hold on for dear life in their mad scramble down the track.
They're flying at full speed, hugging the rail as they desperately try to gain front position.
Later on, even when you view the video in slow motion, it's a magnificent scene of horse and jockey in smooth harmonious motion. with hooves, like a ballerina's toes, barely touching ground as their bodies speed forward.
The crowd roars and cheers on its favorite while hurling insults at its competition.
After a while the leading horse fads slightly and the next in line moves up to take the lead only to be challenged by all the rest.
At the same time, laggards toward the rear attempt to bring on a sudden burst of speed and they go wide on the turn trying to get ahead.
I'm sure the horses themselves are truly enjoying the intense competition and dramatic action. Jockeys too are trying to maintain their winning streaks and are looking forward to and can't wait to greet the adoring crowd at the winner's circle.
Racehorses are bred and born to run, and run they sure do to delight of their owners and trainers. And here we see them at their finest.
So, the long line of galloping horses winds its way down the backstretch. It rounds the far turn and as the excitement builds, it rushes on up the homestretch toward the finish line.
First, second and third come in with wild cheering and applause. And the others will run another day.
Winners cash their tickets while losers reluctantly tear theirs up.
The results are official, and the race has been run.
So, here and now, I'm starting to see this lifetime journey of mine as a run around the track.
It's been dramatic and exciting to say the least. I've rounded the far turn, heading up the home stretch and closing in on the finish line.
It's sure been fun and I wish I could leave all the other guys in my dust as I coast on home a winner!
Dan is at danhughoconnor@gmail.com