Colonial Downs Report #3

INTERNS WAVE 'GOODBYE' TO COLONIAL DOWNS

As all good things do, no matter how much we try to avoid them, the Colonial Downs meet ended on July 23.

From before the sun rose on certain days, until the moon came out on others, the five of us lived for the horse. Mucking, hot-walking, washing tired, sweaty horses, pulling manes, and rolling bandages was part of daily life. It wasn't enjoyable when your foot ended up under a hard hoof, but lessons were taught and learned with each wheelbarrow dumped, every turn around the shedrow.

The office work was tedious, but required. Virginia bred statistics, trainer and owner standings, and horsemen surveys were entered into the computer by a tired, dirty girl each day and completed (though sometimes to much groaning).

It was hard fitting in, but it was harder saying good-bye. Heartfelt thanks go out to the trainers who helped us learn, corrected our mistakes with criticism, and overall let us pamper their horses with love. We also thank the "backside society" for keeping our chins up, keeping us laughing, and keeping our feet on the ground by letting us know that horses are expensive, and we were no D. Wayne Lukas.

The biggest thanks go out to Diana McClure for sticking by us, straightening us out, and sending us back for more when the going got tough. She was our biggest fan.

During Colonial, we all learned something special. It gave us a better view of ourselves as horsemen, or just as people in general...

"There is always someone smarter, someone who knows more than you. I started to stop taking offense to the criticism, and began to learn from it." - Ashley Gibson

Life at the racetrack is 365 days a year. It is just that, a life. We all saw that, even if only for a moment. Life there captivates you; it captures you. I know that we were all letting ourselves get caught." - Amy Schuver

"Each horse can teach you something new, something wonderful...the problem is, we're not always listening. I started closing my mouth and opening my ears, and learned that the horse never lies." - Jackie Mitchell

The most important lesson of all, though, was that we all entered the meet as individuals, and by leaning on each other, came out of it together.

Jackie Mitchell
Amy Schuver
Nikki Sherman
Katie Merritt
Ashley Gibson