George Washington (bay colt, Danehill x Bordighera, by Alysheba)
1 March 2003 - 27 October 2007
I get quite annoyed when I hear people say that George Washington should not have been in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Even more annoyed when they tell me that he had not been performing at top class level this year and thus had no business being in the race. Where do they get their information from I wonder?
Let's look at his starts this year, shall we? After returning to training from stud duties due to fertility problems, his first competitive outing was at Ascot, in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over 1m. Hef finished 4th in a blanket finish, only half a length behind the winner Ramonti, who would prove this year's top miler, and he was gaining in the final furlong. He followed up with 2 third place finishes. In the 1m2f Eclipse he finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Notnowcato and Authorized and Notnowcato, racing so far from the rest of the field, took everybody by surprise, but was only beaten by star 3yo Authorized by a head. In Paris at Longchamp, he was beaten 3 lengths by Dajina and Ramonti and was finishing fast. Both his mile races suggested he wanted further.
He ran 6th in the Breeders' Cup Classic last year and no doubt would have been closer up had he not been bumped. If he can be competitive against America's top dirt horses, surely that means he handles the dirt right? I don’t get it, I just don’t get it.
I did worry about the ground though, not just for George, but for all the horses’ safety. It looked like a swimming pool out there at Monmouth Park (NJ). It was beyond ‘sloppy’! On the Breeders’ Cup broadcast they mentioned that had it been any other meeting during the summer, the card would have been cancelled. As it was, it was the Breeders’ Cup and how can one cancel the Breeders’ Cup?
Curlin confirmed for me that he is the best horse the United States has got to offer at the moment, but his convincing win was overshadowed by the news that Gorgeous George, as he was lovingly known by us all, had suffered fatal injuries while being eased through the stretch and had to be put down. Several eye witness accounts report that they knew it was the end as soon as they saw the leg. There was no hope and the kindest thing to do was to put him to sleep before the adrenaline would wear off and the pain would kick in. The thought of George Washington, a majestic beautiful horse, lying in the Monmouth mud while his heart stops beating, seems so undignified. That it all ended there, in front of a foreign crowd and yet for the world to see, it does not seem right somehow.
Even though in most of his races I had cheered for different horses, just having him in the races added extra excitement. Wherever George went, he caused a stir. He had a mind of his own, was quirky and full of fire. He knew he was that good and I think that was what people loved about him.
Most of the times I love this sport, but sometimes it kills me inside. I know fatal injuries are unfortunately not uncommon in horse racing, but I will never get used to them. Every time I see a horse pulling up or falling during a race, my heart shrinks a little. Most get up again or sustain only minor injuries, but sometimes they never get up again.
The thoroughbred is a strange creature. Such a powerful body, such fragrile legs, such beauty and grace, such speed and determination, such is their nature that they will fall to the ground with their eyes still firmly fixed on the finish line.
Let me propose a toast to all those gallant horses that have given their lives running for our pleasure and to George Washington, who will always be our Gorgeous George:
Cheers!
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