Magnum Moon. Image via Oaklawn Jockey Club.By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 17, 2018 | It was an eerie feeling.
Here we were at a sporting event along with 64,500 others, and all day, there was hubbub all around us, a loud buzz of voices continually yakking, no matter where you were. People were excited and moving about.
We were in Hot Springs, Ark., at Oaklawn Park, where the ponies run. It was late in the day.
Part of all the moving around was, of course, going to and from the betting windows. Most of the long row of windows were stacked with five-seven-nine people, some putting down a new bet, a few cashing in their winning tickets.
Meanwhile, the day was partially cloudy with the sun breaking out from time to time. But it was chilly outside, about 65 degrees, with a strong breeze making it seem much colder. The infield was crowded while we were inside the grandstand, out of the weather.
The eerie feeling came among the noise, when the public address announcer said: “Ladies and gentlemen, please give me your attention for an important announcement.”
The crowd grew a little quieter.
But the hubbub only thinned a little. Then the PA system blared again: “Ladies and gentlemen, may I ask that you please give me your attention for a very important announcement.”
That’s when it got real, real quiet, with this strange feeling.
What would this announcement be? It made me to think that perhaps there was some major national situation that would cause Oaklawn to feel that it must warn us about something. It raised our concern, and apparently also raised the concern of others, for out of all that noise and clamor, suddenly it got most quiet. People were in anticipation of whatever this announcement might be.
Then they told us: “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s now time for the 82nd running of the Arkansas Derby!”
What? As Ralphie said after solving the Ovaltine mystery, it was a “lousy commercial!”
But the Arkansas Derby is always exciting. This is what many people came for, the running of the Derby, which showcases some of the top 3-year old horses of the year. You may remember that a few years back, American Pharaoh won the Arkansas Derby on his route to the Triple Crown.
A few minutes later, undefeated Magnum Moon had won the Derby going away by four lengths, and was headed for the Kentucky Derby. He ran a beautiful race, always near the lead, and simply left the others far behind in the stretch. He’ll get a lot of attention at the Louisville race the first Saturday in May.
SATURDAY WE SAW SOMETHING at a horse race we had never seen before.
In the 10th race, one horse simply did not want to run. Blueridge Traveler went through all the paces of preparing to start the race, being shown to his gate along with the other horses. All was ready for the gates to swing open to start the race.
Then the gates opened and all the horses were off … except Blueridge Traveler, a 15-1 entry. He simply kept still when his gate was opened, perhaps thinking to himself, “Hmmmm. Why should I exert myself? I don’t think I want to run today.”
Later it was determined that there was no gate malfunction. It was just this horse showing his willpower not to compete this day!
No doubt this has happened somewhere before. But we had never seen a horse remain at the gate. Later the track announced that anyone who had bet on this horse would have their money refunded.
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