Chrome Diaries: A Family Affair

It’s Thanksgiving Eve, and with so much to be thankful for, this morning I was praising my ski socks for their warmth and cushiony support as I embraced the morning cold and said “Good morning!  Good morning!” to my friends. (Groom Raul Rodriquez always says it twice, and with gusto!)

I found trainer Art Sherman tucked away in the office to the north of the few stalls his horses were occupying on Del Mar’s backside, reading his Daily Racing Form and sipping a hot cup of coffee. He seemed surprised to see me at 5:30 a.m., while it was dark and cold, but I had something to show him and I was excited to do so.
For the past month or so I have been putting together a California Chrome calendar for 2015.  It contains some of my recent work, from the backside of Los Alamitos, Santa Anita and Parx Racing, with photos for each month that were voted on by Chrome’s fans. Three hundred calendars were delivered to my home last night, and I was eager for Art and the team to see the final product.
I handed a copy to Art and he leafed through the photos, remarking in appreciation and giving it his trademark stamp of approval - “Wow.  This is cool!”  I’m so happy to do what I do, and to share the images and experiences that I am privileged to have with Chrome’s fans, but you can imagine how good it felt for Art to be so enthusiastic about the calendar.

In short order, we were headed to the track for training - first a trainee that is entered in a race tomorrow, and then California Chrome took to the track.  I walked out from the barn with Raul and exercise rider, Willie Delgado.  When Raul suggested that I could ride over to the grandstand with Art, who was driving his car, I said I’d rather walk along with him - to get my blood flowing. I was raised in Michigan, but I’m not too proud to say that I could not feel my feet after standing in the cold for two hours.

California Chrome stood in the gate perfectly (although I was not aware that he would be doing so this morning) and then galloped fluidly and walked back to the barn to cool out without incident. He played with Willie and pushed him around a little, but it looked to me as if it was welcome, or even instigated, by the exercise rider.

Reflecting on yesterday, Chrome had a similarly uneventful day that was laced with play and laughter.  The highlight was a visit from the CBS 8 crew filming a segment that should be aired on Thanksgiving, at 5:40 p.m.  Larry Himmel, a San Diego staple and fabulous human interest reporter, recently lost his battle with cancer on November 5. Yesterday his son Miles, who was named after Larry’s favorite jazz trumpeter, Myles Davis, visited us at the barn to talk with Art and get to know Chrome. It was incredibly touching, underscored by Miles’ presence and poise.  He’s a talented young man whose dad would be exceptionally proud of the legacy that he is continuing.

It made me think of the Sherman legacy - the sons, Alan and Steve - who continue the work their father began over 60 years ago.
As I stood on the track this morning, unable to feel my feet, I became acquainted with another family story - that of Raul Rodriquez and his three sons. Raul asked me if I had ever galloped a horse, as Willie was doing.  I chuckled and said no.  My horse is a paint, and 14 years old - as Raul says - “a pony”.  When Toby runs at full speed, the riders here would laugh.  I cannot imagine galloping a horse at these speeds, or rather, keeping them safe at the speeds at which they should gallop.  

These riders make everything look so easy, but I tell Raul that I know how hard it is to do what they do. He smiles knowingly, and tells me that he was never able to get a license to gallop Thoroughbreds. Only Quarter Horses.  His sons, however, are all licensed to gallop these horses, and even work as apprentice jockeys. One son is in Arizona, another in Washington state, and Raul Jr. (who we call Junior) works at Los Al with his father.  
I hear and see stories every day, of fathers and sons, doing this work together.  I’m encouraged by the ethic that it develops, and the connection it creates between generations.  And I am reminded of one of my favorite lines from Ken Burns’ documentary, “The West” … ”I had no idea what it was to give the gift of a horse.”