Chrome Diaries: An Amazing Ride

Saturday was race day, and it started with a small number of close connections to California Chrome gathering to watch the chestnut colt during his morning jog. Friends from San Francisco and Virginia had arrived to enjoy the brisk morning, and prior to Chrome stepping from his stall to head to the track, the team welcomed the warmth of a coffee break, courtesy of the track kitchen, positioned just a short walk from the barn that had been our headquarters for the past week.

Chrome was eager to get on the track, and we all watched intently as he gracefully backtracked around the oval to the point at the end of the chute where groom Raul Rodriquez was waiting to lead him back to the barn.

While Raul and exercise rider Willie Delgado administered Chrome’s bath, assistant trainer Alan Sherman stroked the horse’s neck and jostled him playfully. By the time his bath was over, Chrome had worked his way into the middle of the yard, where he could feel the warmth of the morning sun. Smart horse. He stood stubbornly in front of his stall after Raul had finished cleaning his feet, sun bathing as long as he could manage.

The team disbursed around 9:30 a.m., and when we reconvened at the barn about 2 p.m., everyone was cleaned up and ready for the race.  Notably, Raul was wearing his signature lavender shirt, and a hand-crafted belt that everyone was admiring. He told us that he had had it for 50 years and that it was hand-stitched in Mexico. It was truly a work of art.

While Raul focused on dressing his horse for his race, the rest of us chatted and waited. When the public address system carried the update across Del Mar’s backside that horses for the eighth race - The Hollywood Derby - needed to be in the receiving barn in 20 minutes, Chrome and his supporters were ready for our walk to the front side.

At the receiving barn, Raul, Willie, Alan and Chrome entered after a final vet and identification check.  Once inside, they walked the clockwise circle, warming up, as other entrants began arriving to the barn. Trainer Art Sherman smiled and shook hands with friends as they stopped to convey wishes of good luck in the race.  Art and Daily Racing Form executive columnist, Jay Hovdey, also shared some laughs with trainer Mark Casse, whose 3-year-old, Canadian sensation and Queens’ Plate champion, Lexie Lou was also entered in the Hollywood Derby.

Inside the receiving barn, grooms donned the smocks that designate the post position of their horse while they continued their circular walk. Outside, everyone else waited patiently while an oversized golf cart drove by, carrying a group of starters to the gate for the next race.

The horses finally began emerging from the track to make the short walk through the archway that led to the paddock. I fell in step with Art and Jay, behind Cabral, the 3-year-old bay colt trained by Leonard Powell, the sixth and final horse rounding out the field.

The rails lining the walking path to the paddock were packed with fans, calling to Art and wishing him well. It was a moving experience to walk with this jovial, hard-working and humble man who makes himself so available to reporters, photographers, and fans. It has been quite a year for this man and his team, one they have truly savored after years devoted to this sport, industry, and athletes they love.
The crowds cheered as California Chrome paraded around the paddock, and as far as you could see, every space available was completely filled - even the balconies and terraces of the upper levels. Later I would hear that a good portion of the crowd never left the paddock to watch the seventh race, remaining in place to get a glimpse of Chrome.

Inside the paddock, the lawn was crowded, too. I waited with Art at the spot marked for the number five horse, and before long he was joined by jockey Victor Espinoza. Horses were tacked up and ready, and as they walked to their positions for the call of “riders up”, Alan put his arm around Victor and they walked next to Chrome for a few strides in silence.

Now Victor was in the irons and the horses were out on the track amidst the cheers for California’s favorite home-bred hero. The sea of people who crowded the area around the winners’ circle was larger than any I had yet seen at Del Mar, and as I stepped across the poly track to the rail by the turf track, I got my first look at the crowd assembled on the second-to-last day of the inaugural fall meet at Del Mar.  

Even with the record crowd, I could easily pick from the crowd Steve Coburn, co-owner of California Chrome, and his wife, Carolyn, as they waved to fans and gave them the “thumbs up” sign prior to the race.

Then the horses were at the gate and the race call was handed over to track announcer Trevor Denman as Chrome made his first start on a turf course. From where I had positioned myself, just past the finish line and under the inside rail, it took a full 10-15 seconds before I could actually see the horses after they left the gate, but Trevor’s call told me that the first to be captured by my camera’s viewfinder would be California Chrome.

I’ll be honest, the rest of the race was sort of a blur. I sat in the grass with the other photographers, watching the race unfold on the big screen in front of me.  As they entered the back stretch, Victor had Chrome in great position, and the horse seemed to be romping playfully as he cleared the half mile pole. When they entered the final turn, I saw Victor’s stance change, his weight and seat sink low, grazing the thin race saddle, and California Chrome found a new gear and strode to the lead and they entered the home stretch.
I could hear Trevor’s voice, but his words did not register as I watched this talented 3-year-old chestnut colt closing the distance to the wire, clearing it easily ahead of the rest of the field. I squeezed off my final shot as he crossed the finish line, and turned toward the grandstand in time to see the team of security guards keeping Alan and other connections from running out onto the track before the emergency vehicles that follow horses and riders could speed past.

As soon as it was clear, I ran across the polytrack to join my friends in celebration, leaping into the arms of my friend Matt, and then being surrounded by the close connections I am privileged to call my friends. As we waited for Victor and Chrome to make their way around to the winners’ circle, I found Alan and as we hugged, he said something to me that made me tear up.
Art joined us, and I saw the team beaming like I had never seen before. This is a close and happy family, who joke with one another constantly, but this pure, radiant joy for this horse that they love was an incredible thing to witness.  As Chrome came near, I saw a similar look on the face of his jockey, as he stroked the neck of his mount. And as Victor received congratulation and gave his back to the team, Alan hugged Chrome’s head and planted a kiss on his muzzle.

To say there was crowd in the winners’ circle was an understatement. The scene was chaos, and I was less concerned with being in the photo than ensuring family and friends of the Coburns and Shermans could pick themselves out when they bought a copy. I also wanted to be sure that I was positioned to jump onto the track to walk with Raul and Willie as they led Chrome to the test barn.
With the help of my selfless fiancé, I made my exit from the crowd and strode with the horse across the track in front of the clubhouse as fans shouted their gratitude and congratulations to the team, and their favorite horse. Almost on cue, Chrome did a swift quarter turn and faced the crowd for a few seconds, taking a well-earned curtain call before Raul coaxed him back into motion as they continued their walk to the test barn.
Walking in the tire tracks imprinted on the track by the emergency vehicles, I looked down at Chrome’s feet and noticed green around his otherwise cleanly wrapped legs. This morning when I shared this with Alan and said that every 3-year-old should experience grass stains on his socks, Alan informed me that it was likely paint, applied to make the turf look nicer. Grass stains are more fun.

At the test barn, everyone was finally and happily relaxed and smiling. I watched as, for the first time since I have known him, Raul stood back and watched as Del Mar employees gave Chrome his post-race bath before taking him back for the requisite blood and urine samples. As I stood waiting, Jay Hovdey walked up, and with a big smile on his face said, “and then THAT happened.”  Not much to say after that.

We walked back to the barn, stopping to wait for the starting gate to deploy the final race of the day, and then letting the team of outriders guide their ponies back to their barns for dinner and rest after a long day at work. We waited for our champion to be led back by Raul and Willie, and as the light had now disappeared from the evening sky, Alan shone the headlights of his truck on Chrome so that they could be sure his feet were clean and he was ready to be put in his stall.

The colt was happy and playful, but he cooperated when Victor arrived and posed for a few photos before calling out to Raul, demanding his feed bucket. From there, the team went on to a quiet dinner in a lovely, secluded place away from the adoring fans who most surely would have mobbed Art, Alan and team. It was nice to see them joke and chat with each other after such a chaotic day.
This morning we slept until almost 6 a.m., and it felt like a luxury. Later this afternoon I’ll stop by to say hello to Chrome before taking in a couple of races on the final day of this meet.  My friends have shared with me that he is as happy as you would expect - feeling good after his victory on the turf.
The New Year will be here before we know it, and while I look forward to what is in store, and to sharing more stories of California Chrome and his team, I am want to pause a moment to fully reflect on the holiday that we observed this past Thursday. The past few months have been an amazing ride. Thank you.