The heart and mind process imminent endings before they actually happen. There are reflections, a fondness for the past tense, a sense of distancing the self from the event, because when heart and mind know an ending is upon them, they rehearse.
But eyes and mind are different, as they must be, since the eyes live in an eternal present. On January 29, 2017 California Chrome left his stall on the Gulfstream shed row to begin a new career at Taylor Made in Kentucky. Eyes and hearts watched him go for the final time, saw the empty stall, began to register the absence.
As I watched Chrome leave his home in Los Alamitos, I knew in my heart what Art, Alan, Dhigi and Raul were feeling. They had welcomed me into Chrome’s world, closing the space between the far-away me and themselves, and as the van pulled out of Los Alamitos for the last time I was filled with sadness. “The eyes are the window of the soul” and my soul was right there beside the people who made Chrome’s stall a home.
Chrome’s departure for Gulfstream had almost nothing to do with the Pegasus and everything to do with the closing chapter of a brilliant career for me. And along with the Team Chrome family, I knew I’d miss the presence in my life of this magnificent copper horse and his honest, courageous heart.
TEAM CHROME: IN THE BARN AND ON THE TRACK
Trainers Art & Alan Sherman, exercise riders Willie Delgado (until April 2015 approx.) and Dhigi Gladney (April 2015-January 2017 approx.), groom Raul Rodriquez and jockey Victor Espinoza comprise the “hands on” of Team Chrome, the people who did everything from picking out his feet to teaching him how to win.
And they did it brilliantly, while always making time for the press and their colt’s devoted Chromies by throwing open windows to the tribulations, trials and excitement of campaigning a great horse.
(Videos: from 2014, produced by David Trujillo and Blood-Horse, respectively):
Art Sherman was not entirely a stranger to the media, having been champion Swaps’ exercise rider in 1955, at the age of eighteen. Between 1957-1979, Sherman was a professional jockey, turning to training thoroughbreds after that. And even though California Chrome was Sherman Stables’ first Kentucky Derby contender, Art brought a depth of knowledge about thoroughbreds to the table. His down-to-earth, straight-shooting and always cordial style set the bar on what it means to be a consummate professional. The Shermans are sportsmen and they love the game. Art’s admiration for Shared Belief and Arrogate was palpable following their victories over Chrome, and bespoke a classy gentleman of the track.
In the three/four years that the colt and his trainers were under the microscope they taught us all so much — not only about California Chrome, but about the life of a trainer responsible for a North American racing icon. Expressions like, “He (Chrome) ran his eyeballs out…” and “He’s just a cool horse,” became part of my lexicon, as did the familiarity of Art in cap and jacket, hands in his pockets, answering still another round of questions.
Of all the interviews with Art, this one, after his colt’s win in the 2016 World Cup, is my favourite. I was so thrilled for Art, Alan, Dhigi and Raul that I danced all around the living room, my eyes glazed with tears.
But glamour of Dubai aside, the largest percentage of Chrome’s racing life happened at the Sherman Stables in Los Alamitos (and before that, at Hollywood Park). It’s easy to forget just how much time thoroughbreds spend in their stalls or in training; a trainer’s greatest skill is keeping his horse happy during the (sometimes) long stretch between races. Keeping a horse “well within himself” is based on familiar routines, appropriate exercise and attention from those who are most important to him/her. Centre stage are the exercise rider(s) and the groom(s) and it is the latter who often become a thoroughbred’s best friend. As with dogs and cats, the person who cares for them is, in the horse’s mind, the person to whom they belong.
Enter Raul Rodriguez, who accompanied Chrome from his very first start to his retirement (video produced by the Blood-Horse in 2014):
Raul’s bonuses from Chrome’s wins have allowed him to purchase a home amid an 80-acre ranch in his home, Jalisco (Mexico), where he intends to retire. As I write this, Raul is with his boy at Taylor Made, helping him to settle in. And I’m remembering Eddie Sweat taking Secretariat and Riva Ridge to Claiborne, and that photo of Eddie in tears, leaning against a stone wall….. May your goodbye be a kinder one, Raul.
It was William Delgado and Dhigi Gladney who put the muscle on America’s 2014 and 2016 Horse of the Year. Working in tandem with Art and Alan, they were the ones who taught the juvenile his job. Through their hands and voices, Chrome learned about gallops, works and cooling out. They taught him how to break from the starting gate and how to change leads on the fly. It was from Willie and Dhigi that he received praise, and began to understand how to work with a rider instead of against him. Too, it was from Willie that the colt first heard “the question” — that moment a thoroughbred is invited to really run. With Dhigi came the fine tuning — sharpening Chrome’s sensitivity to his rider’s commands, helping him move fluidly from one “gear” to another. And both of these fine young men had everything to do with the champion’s “attitude” towards racing.
Delgado worked Chrome as a juvenile and then until April 2015, teaching him many key lessons along the way (video produced by America’s Best Racing in 2015) :
And it was Dhigi’s beautiful smile, cordiality and enthusiasm that lit up the last 18 months of Chrome’s career, as he added his skill to the racing repertoire of the champion (video produced in 2017 by Gulfstream Park):
The accomplished Victor Espinoza was Chrome’s jockey throughout most of his career. Victor is a man known for his generosity with fans. But he is also the man that guided Chrome home, giving him confidence when he needed it and helping him navigate safely through traffic. There is another kind of intimacy between a jockey and a horse he knows well, and it was when Victor took over the irons in the King Glorious Stakes at Hollywood Park in 2013 that California Chrome began to turn into the Chrome we know and love. There was a chemistry between them. An understanding. And it was Victor who took care of Chrome in his final start, making certain that the horse got back to the barn without sustaining what could have been a fatal injury.
Here they are in the August 21, 2016 Pacific Classic, where they took on an absolutely stellar field:
TEAM CHROME: THE OWNERS
Msrs. Steve Cobourn and Perry Martin were the first owners of California Chrome and through the eyes of two new to the sport, we shared the ups and downs of Chrome’s early career. One can only wonder how many newcomers were inspired to get into the game by knowing the enthusiastic duo and their copper-coated colt with his purple silks.
Although Perry Martin had wanted to retire the colt in 2015, partner Steve Cobourn sold his share in the horse to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky and the whole game plan changed. When the Taylors joined Team Chrome, the colts silks turned from purple to chrome, literally. Too, following his loss in the 2015 Dubai World Cup, he was sent to Taylor Made after a stint spent in the UK before returning to the Shermans for the 2016 racing season. It was a joy to see him hanging out in Kentucky and I thought the idea a brilliant one: since Chrome would retire to Taylor Made, I wondered whether or not getting used to the place would ease the transition, when it came.
But in Taylor Made, the Champ found a new home. A family business where he was greeted with deep respect and love.
Chrome playing with Taylor Made Stallion Manager, Gilberto Terrazas (video produced in 2015 by Armando Reyes)
This superb Blood-Horse video features the story of post-UK Chrome (2015) right up to the Dubai World Cup win (2016) and gives viewers a great look at what Taylor Made is all about:
Leading up to California Chrome’s retirement, the new partnership busied themselves setting up a form of “super syndicate,” partners who will make a 4-year commitment to Chrome at stud and assure him great mares.
Through the final campaign in the Champion’s career, Taylor Made were there. And when he arrived at the farm, they found their own way to make it clear that they knew we Chromies were out there.
(Video produced on Jan. 30, 2017 by Taylor Made Sales Agency Inc.)
(Video produced on Jan. 30, 2017 by Taylor Made Stallions)
THANK YOU, TEAM CHROME.
Thank you for your warmth and kind generosity.
Thank you for reaching out and “seeing” me — and understanding what it is to love a horse.
And thank you, Chrome. You made my heart soar. You made me feel wonder.
And I will love you forever.
(Video by David Truhillo, Nov 2016)
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Remarkable effort in such a short timeframe. He deserves a special place in history. His only losses came from suspect times. Most remarkable was the Dubai World Cup, where his saddle slipped. The trip to the UK was a disaster. The Pegasus was a disaster, coming up lame as he did–but the heart. Not that far from a Triple Crown. Yet, somehow I feel history will underestimate him. Thank you Chrome, you inspired not only a na t ion but the world !
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Jim: I do worry about history selling him short too but, then again, he may bubble back up like Exterminator did, for new generations of fans to enjoy. He certainly captivated a nation & the world. I’m hoping his babies carry some of the brilliance in his pedigree. It well well stand him in good stead that he’s a generation removed from Pulpit, as it often takes at least a generation for greatness to show. His BM sire, Not For Love, produced some solid $200,000+ runners and there’s lots of Danzig blood there. Too, Taylor Made are really setting things up for him at stud so that he doesn’t suffer the same fate as Smarty Jones. Hugs, Abigail
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Thank you for this; it needed to be said. I’m crying buckets as I read because I feel the same way. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Chrome in person; he’s a grand specimen who took my breath away. My heart aches in seeing him go and I will miss him dearly but I know it’s time for him to embrace a new chapter in his life. As you say, thanks so much to Team Chrome for all they’ve done for us the fans and for racing by allowing Chrome one more year to truly shine.
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Kim: I’m so pleased that this article spoke to you! I cried as I wrote it even though, as you say, Chrome is simply embracing a new chapter in his life. But it’s tough when exceptional horses retire. Thank you so much for leaving this lovely comment! Abigail
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I felt after the Pegasus much as I felt after Zenyatta’s last race in her second Breeders’ Cup Classic. With a mixture of sadness as well as pride, sadness for Chrome that the fairy tale did not end on a high note, and pride because Chrome and his Team have given so much to the sport. Fans have been given one of the greatest of gifts any horse or connections can bestow: his presence on the track and some of the most thrilling performances in all of the sport. Thank you, Abigail, for putting your considerable talent to expressing for all Chromies what he has meant to his fans and to the sport. I echo your sentiments, Chrome made my heart soar and I will love him forever. 🙂
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Ann Maree: Thank you for being such a strong supporter of THE VAULT! I am really pleased that the article captured some of your feelings. Chrome started 27 times before his retirement and his stamina, heart and courage is proven, as well as his soundness. Like you, I wanted him to go out a winner but however mild his injury, the horse ran as though he knew that something wasn’t right. So glad that Victor took care of him! As far as I’m concerned, the Pegasus was just icing — there really was nothing left for Chrome to prove. Abigail
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Wow. Abigail, this has to be one of my all-time favorites of your blogging, but of course, it made me cry, in a good way. The videos you have gathered here are the icing on the cake, well..except for more tears. Watching his Dubai World Cup with that saddle past his middle still amazes me! We will miss California Chrome on the race track but won’t it be wonderful to watch his babies in a few years? In the mean time, I have my black cat with lots of white who carries the name Kitty Chrome in honor of the two time Horse of the Year, and I can hug on him. Thank you, Abigail!
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Celeste: You have a Kitty Chrome? I just love it! And I’m so pleased you really liked this one because you’ve been such a strong supporter of THE VAULT right from the start. It took some time to get the videos together because there were tons of them on YouTube to go through! But by the time the article was ready to go, I was convinced that these were a good choice. It will be fun watching his babies. For all the blah-blah-blah about his unfashionable pedigree, Chrome has some sterling blood through his first five generations and I hope some of these ancestors “speak” through his progeny! Abigail
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Beautiful writing. Thank you for poetically mastering what so many people feel about this horse.
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Little Kentucky Farm: Thank you so much for showing your appreciation! I deeply appreciate it. Abigail
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How am I just finding your incredible work, Abigail Anderson?????!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! You beautifully expressed the way I feel. I’ve only been following racing since 2006 but Have been enthralled..OK, obsessed, every since. I’ll be following your writing! You have a new FAN!
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Mary: Welcome! I hope that you enjoy THE VAULT. Steve Haskin encouraged me to start it up in 2011 and here we are, six years later, with a readership of 400,000+ worldwide! I hope you find another stopover for your new “obsession” here. Abigail
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That! Was! Outstanding! Wow, I just read every word and watched all the videos (even if I’d seen them before) and this made my day! Thank you, Taylor Made, for taking care of The Chrome. I feel good he’s in your hands. I think (besides Art and Alan Sherman), your coming into his life was the best thing that ever happened to this gorgeous hunk o’ man! Happy breeding season, Chromeo. 😉
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Gloria: Thank you so much for your enthusiastic response. It means so much to me when I hear back from people who enjoyed something I wrote. I agree: Taylor Made is a perfect new home for Chrome! Abigail
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Omg choked up on that last video!
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Muchelle: Yes. That last video (by a fan) made me bawl like a baby! Abigail
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You are a writer that fully gets into the heart of one. It is so well written and it stirred up emotions, strong emotions of a horse with heart. Chrome is so full of life and spirit it makes one’s heart sing. His muscles ripple under every step he takes, he is as handsome as they come. Proud, alert, aggressive, loyal to his trade, and his leaving is making everyone sad yet….look at the pastures, the room to kick, roll, run….wow Chrome you did it with such style. Thank you for the photos, the memories and the great videos.
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Dee: Thank you so much for this beautiful response to my work. I do this for the love of the thoroughbred and it makes me so happy to know that readers like yourself enjoyed it. Abigail
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Golden Words for Beautiful Chrome !!! Thank you !! so many beautiful memories from our Champion Chrome he will always be in my heart ❤️ love you You big beautiful horse . Please take care of him Barbara Mac Dougall hugs for Chrome !
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Barbara: Thank you so much for leaving this great comment. Taylor Made will take great care of Chrome, I’m sure. They love him too. Abigail
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We LOVE you Chrome! And we LOVE Abigail Anderson of the VAULT for this beautiful heartfelt last hurrah. No doubt about it, she touched our hearts as our champion rides off into the sunset. Thank you for putting pen to paper and expressing how we all feel about our champion and his team through four amazing years. With love ..
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Karen: THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love you right back and it’s wonderful to open THE VAULt and find a comment from you sitting here. Abigail
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Thank you Abigail – Thank you for your beautiful send-off for our California Chrome. We do love him so. He seems to be settling in well at Taylor Made, but my heart will miss seeing him in California . A home grown gorgeous chestnut born and raised in California. Thank you so much! Love your articles.
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Delrene! Do pardon the slow response but February was a really tough month for me. I bet that you’ll miss him terribly but my! California has sure been winning the East-West debate over the last several years. And now here come Arrogate & Unique Bella. But when you love a horse, losing them to the breeding shed is so very hard. I’ll miss him, Art & Alan too. Abigail
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Taylor made farm made a commitment to Chrome a home for Chrome forever. That was a lie.greed and money took over and Chrome and his shareholders sold Chrome to Japan for a large sum of money.its not about the love of a horse. It’s about the love of money.i hope TAYLOR made farm and perry martin get to eat their words and regret every single day of their life how sorry they are that they sold Chrome to Japan. Since all his babies are winning all the time.japan will never sell Chrome back to the U.S. and TAYLOR made farm. He will probably retire in Japan like 49niner did.japan knows they have a diamond in the rough.they are treating Chrome like the champion he should be treated. Not like the TAYLOR brothers and Perry martin treated him. At least Perry martin has a share still in Chrome. PERRY Martin you will never find another Chrome in your lifetime. This is straight from the horses mouth.we CHROMIES love Chrome and he will always be remembered and never FORGOTTEN. Let this sink in.by the way Chrome is on the first ballot for the racing s hall of fame in New York after 5 yrs. A chromie that loves Chrome for the champion horse that he is indeed.
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