The Fascination (Written by Brian Peeples)
It all began sometime in May 2002. Everyone in the horse racing industry was focused on the big race, the Kentucky Derby. It is arguably the most prestigious and most important race run each year, with only the Breeders Cup championship races on a comparable level. Everyone’s attention was focused on this year’s crop of 3 year olds, and who would come away as the winner in the “run for the roses”. My attention however was not entirely focused on this race. I had become intrigued by another member of the horse racing world, an un-raced 2 year old horse that went by the name Vindication. Why in the world would I care about a horse that hadn’t even set foot on a race track when the biggest race of the year was about to be run? I cannot answer that question, but I just had a feeling. A feeling that I knew I needed to pay attention to, but didn’t yet know why.
Vindication was a dark brown colored colt with absolutely no distinguishing markings. He looked as plain as day. His father was the great Seattle Slew, horse racing’s Triple Crown winner in 1977. He was purchased by the Padua Racing Stables for the hefty price of $2.15 million. None of these characteristics made Vindication stand out in my mind. There had been numerous horses sired by Seattle Slew that had the same coloring as Vindication and many others that had been sold for $2 million or more. Those horses never caught my eye like this one did. Vindication had “it.” He had “the look.” I already had huge expectations from this young colt and he had yet to race.
A few months passed, May turned to June, June turned to July, and that signaled the opening of horse racing at Del Mar, California. I had been going to Del Mar every summer far as long I could remember. Two or three times each year my grandmother, my sister, and I would make the thirty minute drive to the Del Mar racetrack to watch the horses race “where the turf meets the surf.” It was July 27, 2002, and it was our first journey to Del Mar of the summer. As luck would have it, this horse that I began following and watching out for two months earlier, was scheduled to make his debut in the 7th race. I would finally be able to see Vindication in person and see if he could live up to the expectations I had already placed on him. In order to get a get look at Vindication, I decided to not watch the 6th race but instead to go to the paddock. By going to the paddock early, I secured the best possible location to get an up close view of this colt. I staked out my spot in front of area number one in the paddock. Vindication was going to be the number one horse in the day’s 7th race, and hopefully was going to be the number one horse after the race had been completed. The 6th race was run, a winner was determined by a photo finish, and my excitement began to build. The horses for the 7th race were going to make their way to the paddock soon, and I was ready to see my new favorite horse for the first time.
With little fanfare, the horses for the seventh race came to the paddock. The crowd was small, mostly because it was a Wednesday, but also because this was just a maiden race for two year old horses. It wasn’t a Grade 1 race with a million dollars on the line; it was just another race at old Del Mar. With my digital camera ready to snap as many photos as I could, I intently began searching for Vindication.
The young colt appeared and I focused intently on him. He entered the saddling area accompanied by his groom, looking the part of a champion. His demeanor was rare for a two year old making his debut. While other horses clearly showed their immaturity by jumping around and washing out (a horse term for breaking out into a nervous sweat), Vindication stood calm, collected, and stoic. He acted as if he owned this place, and behaved like a battle tested veteran. This was his stage and he was finally going to be able to show what he was made of. The jockeys mounted the horses and made their way to the track. There were only twelve minutes left until post time. The horses left the paddock and began their pre-race warm ups on the main track, and I too left the paddock in search of another advantageous spot to watch Vindication. I decided that the best spot to be was next to the winner’s circle because surely Vindication was going to be making an appearance there. The final ten minutes before the race seemed like an eternity. I was anticipating this moment like children do Christmas morning. All I asked Santa for was a win by Vindication.
The horses were all loaded into the starting gate and then the track announcer proclaimed, in his patented style, “and away they go.” The first race of Vindication’s career was underway.
Race #1 The Debut
Vindication came away from the gate alertly and quickly took the lead. He had already overcome his first obstacle in the race: starting from the number one post position. This post position, commonly called “the rail” can be troublesome for some horses, especially young and immature racers. Some horses do not have the will or the confidence to run full speed no more than a few feet away from a menacing metal rail, but Vindication did not display any hesitations or doubts.
The young colt built a one length lead after running the first quarter mile in twenty two and one fifth seconds. It was a solid pace for a race measuring six furlongs, or three quarters of a mile for the non-racing fans, so there was a chance that Vindication might begin to tire in the last part of the race. I tried to not think about that and instead focused on the fact that with a third of the race completed, Vindication was on his way to his first victory.
Vindication maintained his one length lead after the second quarter mile, which he ran in twenty three seconds flat. As the pace setter, the juvenile colt ran the first half mile in forty five and one fifth seconds. I would now see if there were going to be any ill effects from setting such a quick pace. Vindication led the field into the stretch still moving with a graceful and smooth stride. His ears were pricked and he looked intent on winning this race. The horses who were closely tracking Vindication during the first half mile of the race started to show some fatigue and began drifting farther back from the leader. As expected, the horses positioned at the back began to make their run and began passing these tiring horses. The only question left in my mind was whether or not they could catch my Vindication. Although the closers seemed to be catching up, Vindication was actually expanding his lead, and doing it without jockey Mike Smith using his whip. Smith urged Vindication on for home, a horse racing term for the finish line, and had a three length lead with one furlong remaining. I watched with pride as my new favorite horse crossed the wire in first place, winning by five lengths in a time of a minute ten and four fifths seconds. Vindication had now confirmed that he was deserving of all that attention I had given to him. I was excited, but I also knew that this was just the beginning. It was after all just a maiden race and he still had a lot more work to do to become a true champion.
Vindication jogged back to the winner’s circle where he would have his picture taken and his connections would celebrate the victory. I too took part in the celebration by taking several photos of the winner and figuring out how much money I had just won on my ten dollar win bet. After all the photos had been taken, and hugs exchanged by the owners and trainer, Vindication was led off the track and back to his barn. At the same time, I returned to my seat and began thinking about Vindication’s next race. It would be a tougher task than his first race though. He would be facing other horses who had also won at least one race, but I was looking forward to it none the less. If I got lucky, maybe I would happen to be at the racetrack that day too.
Race #2 The Allowance Race
The second trip to Del Mar with my grandmother and sister was on August 22, 2002. A couple days before the second trip of the summer, I checked the list of horses that were entered to run on the 22nd. I was thoroughly pleased when I saw that Vindication was scheduled to run in his second career race. I don’t know if this was fate, but it sure was a pleasant coincidence being present on the days of Vindication¹s first two races.
Just like I had done for Vindication’s maiden race, I went to the paddock early to secure a great spot to watch him. I took even more pictures than I had taken the first time. He again had the demeanor of a champion, standing calmly, waiting patiently to be led on to the track. I went to the same spot near the winner’s circle as I had for Vindication’s first race. If there was any kind of fate at work, I sure wasn’t going to mess it up. My sequence of events worked the first time so why change my routine now? The main difference between this race and the one that happened just three weeks earlier was that this was an allowance race. Allowance races are filled with horses that have previously won a race. These races are much more difficult to win than maiden races. This would be Vindication’s second test.
The horses were loaded into the gate and then sent on their way in the six furlong contest. Vindication broke from the gate in average fashion and dueled for the lead with another horse for the first quarter mile. He slowly inched away from that rival during the second quarter mile and held a one length advantage going into the final two furlongs. I kept thinking he’s going to do it. He’s going to win again and send me home a happy man. Vindication started pulling away from his foes to build a two and a half length lead with an eighth of a mile to go, but this wasn’t going to be easy. In an instant, other horses from the back of the pack were gaining on Vindication, and to make matters worse, Vindication began to lug out. When a horse lugs out, it means that he is drifting out towards the middle of the race course and not running in a straight line. As soon as Vindication began lugging out, the jockey started working to correct the problem and tried to get him back to running more efficiently. Luckily, there wasn’t enough time for the other horses to catch Vindication and he won the race by one and a half lengths.
Vindication was now two for two and had defeated a higher class of horses. The Breeders Cup Championships were about two months away and at the rate things were going, Vindication had a chance to make it to that race, if he could win or even perform well in one more race.
Race #3 Graded Stakes Race
Vindication’s trainer entered his undefeated two year old colt in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes to be run on September 14, 2003.
Unfortunately for me, the Del Mar racing season had ended and this race was going to be run at Keeneland Park in Kentucky. I was not going to be able to see Vindication run in person this time. Hopefully, Vindication could win without me. Even though I wasn¹t going to be there live for the race, I was going to watch the race via my horse race wagering account on the internet. Race time quickly approached and I settled in to watch in hopes of another Vindication victory. This race was a mile and a sixteenth in distance (8 1/2 furlongs) so it would be a test to see if Vindication could perform as well while stretching out. I was anticipating Vindication leading all the way around the track and then being tested by other foes toward the end of the race. I thought that Vindication would have a good chance of holding on because the track was playing toward speed. Horses that had been able to build an early lead had also been crossing the finish line first. This track bias would make it even harder for horses coming from behind to chase down Vindication.
The gates rushed open and the race began. I could not believe what I witnessed next. The horse that was lined up next to Vindication, a horse named Crowned King, had horrible start which caused the jockey to fall off the horse. Not only did Crowned King lose his jockey, but he also broke directly into Vindication and caused Vindication to be steadied. This was disastrous. Vindication was now six to eight lengths behind the leaders and the horses hadn’t even run a hundred yards yet. He was running from behind horses for the first time as well, and he was now running against the bias the track had for horses getting early leads. It would take a miracle for Vindication to win this race. Even veteran, battled tested, champion horses would have a hard time overcoming a start like that, but to get that kind of effort out of a two year old seemed quite unlikely.
Vindication was dead last as the horses ran down the back stretch of the track. As they went into the final turn, there were still seven horses running ahead of Vindy and he was still in last place. With three sixteenths of a mile left in the race, things looked rather bleak for my superstar. Then it happened. Vindication was making a move, and he was doing it all by himself. His jockey hadn’t urged him on or hit him with the whip; he just started running like he knew what he was supposed to do. While running the final turn, Vindy moved to the center of the track and passed all of the horses to his inside. Vindication had miraculously shaken off the disastrous start and rallied against the strong track bias to actually take the lead with a quarter of a mile to go. Vindication was on a mission and he proved that he was something special. He went on to win the race by six lengths and in the process, ran the most impressive race that I had ever seen. This was the performance of a champion.
Vindication had earned a spot in the Breeders Cup Juvenile championship race that would be run on October 26, 2002. He would face all of the other highly regarded two year olds in this $1 million showdown. I knew who I was going to bet on already. Vindication. Vindication. Vindication.
Race #4 The 2 Year Old Championship
Breeders Cup day had arrived. I got up early that morning and drove over to the off track betting facility in Del Mar. There were eight championship races that day, with the first beginning at 10 AM. Although I had handicapped all of the races and was excited to watch them all, I eagerly anticipated the 2 year old Juvenile race. It was the sixth of the eight championship races so I waited patiently to see if Vindication would be crowned the champion two year old of 2002.
In Vindication’s first three races I had not bet a lot of money on him simply because his odds were too low. I wouldn’t have made a lot of money even if I had bet on him. I figured that I wouldn¹t make a big bet on Vindy again in the Juvenile race for the same reason. Based on his previous race, I was convinced that Vindy would be the favorite in the championship race and probably have odds low odds again. I was still going to bet on him, but I wouldn¹t bet a whole lot if his odds were that low.
There were twelve others horses taking on Vindication, each of which had impressive credentials. When the odds were put up for the first time, I was not surprised to see Vindication as the favorite at 3-1. I kept a close eye on the tote board to track Vindy¹s odds so that I could decide exactly how I would bet. I was supremely confident that Vindication would win this race but I didn’t know how much money to stick where my mouth was. I usually would bet $20 on a horse to win that I liked and expected to make that same bet on Vindication. I took one final look at the odds and couldn’t believe what I saw. Vindication’s odds had drifted up to 9-2. This got me even more excited. I went to the window to make my wagers. I bet $50 on Vindication to win and I also made two $10 exacta bets with Vindication on top of two other horses. To win my exacta bet, I would need Vindication to win the race and have one of the two other horses, Bull Market or Kafwain finish second. I bet $70 on one race!
The gates opened and the field in the 2002 Breeders Cup Juvenile was sent on its way. Vindication shot out of the gate and quickly grabbed a half length lead. He and Bull Market dueled, only heads apart, down the backstretch while they built a 2 1/2 length lead on the rest of the field. The leaders did not change position as they went through the final turn and entered the home stretch. If Vindication could beat out Bull Market I would win both of my bets and make a nice profit, and Vindication would have proven to be the champion I always thought he was. With a quarter of a mile left to run, Bull Market began to fade and Vindication kicked on strongly for home. I stood up, yelled at the large TV screen, and rooted for Vindication to bring home the championship. Two other horses passed Bull Market, one of which was Kafwain. I hoped that Kafwain would finish second, behind Vindication, and then everything would be perfect. As the finish line approached, it was clear that Vindication was going to win again. My Vindy crossed the finish line 2 3/4 lengths ahead the of second place finisher, who ended up being Kafwain, and the party started. The payoffs on my winning bets returned over $1,100. This was by far the biggest score I had ever made at the track. Things could not have been any better for me. Not only did I make a nice chunk of change, but the horse that I had followed since before his debut race had gone on to become the champion 2 year old. I felt so proud and happy.
Unfortunately, that would be the last time Vindication would show off his abilities on the race track. While preparing for the 2003 Kentucky Derby, Vindication suffered an injury to one of his front legs that required surgery. He was ruled out of the Triple Crown races, and his owner and trainer hoped that he would be able to return in the summer of 2003. After a successful return to training in August of 2003, Vindication’s connections (trainer/owner) decided that they did not have enough time to get Vindication ready for the 2003 Breeders Cup and retired him to stud duty. It was a sad day when it was announced that Vindication would be retired and never race again. He had so much talent, and he had the potential to go on and become one of the greatest racehorses of all time. It was a shame that his racing career was cut short, but that is often the case in horse racing. He is my favorite horse of all time and I will always remember that magical summer of 2002. Thank you Vindy.
Article Written by Brian Peeples.