2011 Can't Do It Anymore

I have been to Emerald Downs five times.  The first time was great.  I loved watching the horses in the paddock and following them to the track.  I even placed a few bets and visited the gift shop.  

The second time  I fell in love with a black mare named "She's All Silk".  I had particularly noticed her because she reminded me very much of a horse I loved dearly in my childhood (a black Thoroughbred steeplechaser named Gilda).  As she walked to the track she turned and looked at me, right into my eyes.  A few minutes later she was dead.  It literally made me sick to my stomach and after seeing how insignificant the incident seemed to the public, I left.

She's All Silk

The third time was good, it was a somewhat cloudy day and I did not stay too long.  No one died that day, at least not while I was there.

The fourth time i saw a beautiful gray horse go down after the finish line. He actually fell over from exhaustion.  I thought I was seeing another fatality.  This happened where everyone was watching.  A few people were concerned.  Then, miracle of miracles, he got up and walked into the ambulance.  Apparently he was okay.

Gray horse down and then back up

The fifth time was yesterday (Sunday) when I saw "Shesawalkingbeauty" die.  She was close to the lead and she stumbled and was pulled up.  Apparently she broke her sesamoids and now she is dead too.

ShesAWalkingBeauty

I go to Emerald Downs because I love horses and it breaks my heart to be away from them.  I love watching them before they are saddled, their silly tongues hanging over the bit, their smell, their big eyes, their nostrils flaring, their beautiful silky coats, the never-ending variety of colors.  The nobility and elegance of these beautiful creatures is unlike anything else on earth.  But as much as I love them, I can't bear to see the tragedies.  I just don't think I can do it anymore.