Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

It sounds like you are an avid horse racing ran and my husband was too and the racing was on the TV every Saturday afternoon, I enjoyed your fine poem here, you brought the magic of these horses to life, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 20-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Jan-2023

Hi Dolly! My deep thanks for
the 5 stars. Greatly appreciated. Secretariat was
a once in a millennium horse
I don't think they'll be another
one like him. May you have
a superb evening and a
peaceful weekend. ~

Comment from Terry Broxson

Excellent

This is a well-written story for this contest, good luck. I remember the magnificent Secretariat, and it is impossible not to appreciate what he did at the Belmont. Excellent work. Terry.

 Comment Written 20-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Jan-2023

Thank you, Terry! I had a fab
time penning this prose
imagining I was Secretariat
narrating the story. I really
appreciate the 5 stars. I hope
you have a creative weekend.
Many blessings to you.

Comment from dmt1967

Excellent

This is a very informitive poem and I enjoyed reading and reviewing it. I am not a lover of horse racing although, I did put a fiver on Red Rum and he won. I got a whole ten pounds and the drinks were on me lol. Thank you for sharing and good luck in the contest. Have a great weekend.

 Comment Written 20-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Jan-2023

Thank you so much, dmt.
I really appreciate the 5 stars.
Yes, I'm not a fan of horse
racing either. Besides injuries
to the horses, jockeys have
been injured/killed. It's such
a dangerous sport. Many
blessings to you & yours.

Comment from dellsworthpoet

Excellent

An interesting story from a horse's pov. The pace is good. The images are clear. The narrative stays on point. It feels like "All Dogs Go To Heaven" written in equine terms.

Thanks for sharing. A nice read.

 Comment Written 19-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Jan-2023

Thank you, dellsworthpoet.
I really appreciate the 5 stars.
I had a fab time penning it.
I'm glad you like it. Many
blessings to you.

reply by dellsworthpoet on 20-Jan-2023

You are welcome.

Comment from jmdg1954

Excellent

I've never thought of the rainbow bridge with regards to horses. Always our dogs over the years, four to date, Shelby, Mindy, Chloe & Lola.

I remember watching with my father-in-law, Secretariats triple crown run.

Your poetic prose was well constructed and had a nice tempo read.

Best of luck in the contest.
Cheers. John

 Comment Written 19-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 20-Jan-2023

My condolences to you for
your four dogs who crossed
the Rainbow Bridge. My late
husband and I owned three
dogs. It was a tough time
when each of them passed
within a few years of each
other. May you have a very
creative weekend. All the
best to you.

Comment from Dawn Munro

Excellent

"Hey Snow Princess, sweet girl!" How lovely! In fact, I enjoyed all of this, and I remember Secretariat, of course. I love that you (apparently) believe as I do -- that animals -- all -- have a free pass to heaven.

Your notes, however, disturb me because I am a fan of the "Sport of Kings"... I think there are problems, but I am hopeful that they lie with those who race the horses, and not ALL who race them. If that IS the case, I hope (too) that there are officials who deal with those individuals harshly.

Thank you for sharing this, and best of luck in the contest!

 Comment Written 19-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 19-Jan-2023

Thank you so much, Dawn.
I'm 65 now, and am not
around equines anymore.
Owning a horse was not in
our budget, but I still love
our equine friends. Back in
the 1970's I was a racing
inspector at the harness
racetrack, Roosevelt Raceway, on Long Island,
New York. I don't think the
average person involved in
horseracing means to be
cruel, pushing horses too
hard, etc. But there are some
who are inhumane and care
more about the money. There
are some horses who break
down on the track and have
to be euthanized because of
a catastrophic injury. It's a
tough sport for both horse
and jockey, exercise riders,
grooms, etc. It's a dangerous
situation being around
horses. They're such large
and strong animals. That was another reason why I
quit being an equestrienne.
I didn't myself witness cruelty
at my racing inspector job,
but some of my fellow inspectors did. There was a
trainer observed raising a
racing whip and whacking
it up to a stallion's testicles.
Fortunately the horse wasn't
badly injured. At times some
racehorse owners would come inside the area where
the horses were cooled off
after a race. They would pet
their horses and give them
treats. So, overall, it's a mixed
kind of horseracing world,
some humans that really
love the equine athletes, and
some jerks. I don't pass
judgment on everyone in
the horseracing world, and
that also extends to people
like yourself who like to
watch horses race. Thank
you so much for the 5 stars.
Many blessings to you. ~

reply by Dawn Munro on 19-Jan-2023

Wow, yes, thank you. I know there are jerks in every walk of life... *sigh* And yes, I have heard some pretty awful stories, and actually witnessed some terrible accidents -- thank heavens, they're pretty rare (I pray)!
Many blessings to you too!!!

Comment from JT traveller

Excellent

I adored your writing. The last verse was incredibly well composed. I am Australian but have heard of Secretariat, a giant of the racing world. Very well written and a joy to read.

 Comment Written 18-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2023

Thank you, Jacqueline! He
was a one of a kind horse.
I have been against horse and dog racing, dog fighting.
Secretariat was fortunate to
have retired. The legendary
racing mare, Ruffian, broke
down on a racetrack during
a race, and had to be euthanized. That happened
in the 1970's. I've never been
to Australia but have seen so
many beauteous photos of
various places in your country. Back in the 1960's in
elementary school us kids
loved the, "Waltzing Matilda,"
song. It's such a lovely song.
Many blessings to you. ~

reply by JT traveller on 18-Jan-2023

Come to Australia and see our beautiful wild Brumbies!

Comment from Douglas Goff

Excellent

This is a really great angle, writing from the perspective is the horses. They are incredibly intelligent animals so I wonder what they actually do think about.

Good stuff. Thank you for sharing. I think I have read ost of them for this contest and this is one of the better ones. Good luck!

 Comment Written 18-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2023

Thank you so much, Douglas.
Hearing from a fellow writer
that they like your work(s) is
the best award of all. I really
appreciate the 5 stars. I try
to wrote from my heart and
soul. I hope your week is
going well. Many blessings!

Comment from Carol Hillebrenner

Excellent

This is a nice, dreamy story about horses. Secretariat was incredible. I was jumping up and down in my living room as he won by many lengths. Snow Princess is very sweet, special because she was a miniature comfort horse. I do hope, as you do, that there is a rainbow bridge for our beloved pets and other animals to cross.

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2023

Hi Carol! Secretariat was one
of a kind, such a phenomenal
horse. Thank you so much
for the 5 star review. I do
believe our pets and other
animals cross the Rainbow
Bridge. My daughter and
son-in-law had a precious
black pug named Riley. His
brother, Willis, was owned by
my son-in-law's parents.
They lived to be 16 years old.
The cutest little snugglebunnies. They passed away within a few
weeks of each other and we
miss them. They were so
sweet. I believe they did
cross the Rainbow Bridge
and we're greeted by other
animals. My deep appreciation for you taking
the time to read my prose.
Many blessings to you. ~

Comment from prettybluebirds

Excellent

I recall Secretariat and the races he won. Race horses are lovely to watch, but I feel sorry for them in a way. They are seldom regarded as pets like simple riding horses, and most are burned out at a young age. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 17-Jan-2023

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reply by the author on 18-Jan-2023

Hi prettybluebirds, I became
opposed to horse and dog
racing, show jumping,
endurance racing, dressage
if it makes the horse(s) sore
and Tennessee Walking Horse culture. I'm also against steeplechase racing.
Before I became enlightened
by the sad situations a lot
of horses wind up in, I would
follow Secretariat and
Ruffian's racing careers. When Ruffian broke down
on the track during a race,
it broke my heart. Of course
I'm very much against the
brutality of dog fighting. I
think Michael Vick should
still be in prison for having
a dog fighting ring. Thank
you so much for the 5 stars.
Many blessings to you. ~