Farewell,
Silver Charm
by Emily Hufford
Just as every trainer, owner, and bloodstock agent
in the business has to keep their eyes open daily for a perspective bargain,
a lot of young fans are on the lookout every day for a new horse to follow.
In a modern world where we are lucky to see horses run for more than six
months of the year, it is difficult to become a fan of such fleeting stars.
With all of the resources available to the public via the internet, it
is easy to track the offspring of one's favorite horse, but no foal will
ever take the place of the sire or dam. As they say, no love will ever
replace your first true love.
He was my Tom Cruise, my Justin Timberlake. He was far more reliable to "show up" than any boyfriend, and he accepted my love without blinking an eye. I will certainly never forget the first time I got to see Silver Charm in person; it was far better than meeting any human celebrity.
Bob and Beverly Lewis, who owned and campaigned Silver Charm throughout his racing career, have made the decision to send Silver Charm to Japan for the rest of his career as a stallion. After the Ferdinand incident, many racing fans are horrifically outraged, but I know that Silver Charm will be treated like a king. He even has the chance to be a supersire, because the rampant Sunday Silence blood in Japan should cross well with Silver Charm's bloodlines. He is everything the Japanese are looking for. I wish them all the luck.
When the announcement was made, however, I felt as if someone had punched me hard in the stomach, and then I felt sick. Not because I thought this was unfair or even unexpected, but simply because I could not say goodbye, and I know it is likely I will never see him again. No one warns you that your visit may be your last. I thought about Silver Charm all day long, and remembered everything.
I first noticed the gray son of Silver Buck in the summer of 1996 when he won the Del Mar Futurity. I was only 1 1/2 years into my racing adventure at the time and I actually cared little for Silver Charm at that moment. I only liked him because my "other" favorite, Cavonnier, shared his trainer, Bob Baffert. I lost track of Silver Charm until the spring, when he ran second in the Santa Anita Derby to Free House. That gameness, that drive, even in a loss, captured me, and I fell hard in an instant.
Silver Charm took me on many adventures. He won the Kentucky Derby, he won the Preakness Stakes. I cried for hours when he lost the Belmont. He was the only male I cared enough to cry over at the time. I, at the ripe age of twelve, finally had the chance to see my equine hero when he was entered in the Santa Anita Handicap against Gentlemen. Santa Anita hyped it to be the race of the year, and the excitement was almost intolerable. The night before the race he was scratched due to injury, and I cried bitterly with disappointment.
From the deserts of Dubai to the dirt at Turfway Park, Silver Charm gave me countless memories. I finally did see him in person when he won the Goodwood at Santa Anita, and then again in next year's Santa Anita Handicap. He really was a horse you could follow, because he ran from ages 2 - 5, almost unheard of less than a decade later. I remember my tears when he was retired, too. Racing just didn't seem the same without the prospect of a gritty Silver Charm battle on the horizon.
It wasn't until last spring that I saw Silver Charm again, and the bright white of his coat was a shock compared to his steel gray racing days. I was honored to be able to spend a morning at Three Chimneys with him and watch him breed a mare, then spend time at his stall afterwards. A friend took my picture with him, and my mom, who endured the Silver Charm phase when I was growing up, has it hanging on her wall at work.
So while Silver Charm leaves this country with the best intentions, I can't help but feel he is taking a piece of my childhood, and my heart with him. It really does hurt, in a way that only a first breakup can hurt. It is only now, a week after the announcement, that I can even talk about it without getting misty-eyed and staring off into space, remembering.
Thank you for the memories, Silver Charm, and good luck in Japan.
11/4/2004
He was my Tom Cruise, my Justin Timberlake. He was far more reliable to "show up" than any boyfriend, and he accepted my love without blinking an eye. I will certainly never forget the first time I got to see Silver Charm in person; it was far better than meeting any human celebrity.
Bob and Beverly Lewis, who owned and campaigned Silver Charm throughout his racing career, have made the decision to send Silver Charm to Japan for the rest of his career as a stallion. After the Ferdinand incident, many racing fans are horrifically outraged, but I know that Silver Charm will be treated like a king. He even has the chance to be a supersire, because the rampant Sunday Silence blood in Japan should cross well with Silver Charm's bloodlines. He is everything the Japanese are looking for. I wish them all the luck.
When the announcement was made, however, I felt as if someone had punched me hard in the stomach, and then I felt sick. Not because I thought this was unfair or even unexpected, but simply because I could not say goodbye, and I know it is likely I will never see him again. No one warns you that your visit may be your last. I thought about Silver Charm all day long, and remembered everything.
I first noticed the gray son of Silver Buck in the summer of 1996 when he won the Del Mar Futurity. I was only 1 1/2 years into my racing adventure at the time and I actually cared little for Silver Charm at that moment. I only liked him because my "other" favorite, Cavonnier, shared his trainer, Bob Baffert. I lost track of Silver Charm until the spring, when he ran second in the Santa Anita Derby to Free House. That gameness, that drive, even in a loss, captured me, and I fell hard in an instant.
Silver Charm took me on many adventures. He won the Kentucky Derby, he won the Preakness Stakes. I cried for hours when he lost the Belmont. He was the only male I cared enough to cry over at the time. I, at the ripe age of twelve, finally had the chance to see my equine hero when he was entered in the Santa Anita Handicap against Gentlemen. Santa Anita hyped it to be the race of the year, and the excitement was almost intolerable. The night before the race he was scratched due to injury, and I cried bitterly with disappointment.
From the deserts of Dubai to the dirt at Turfway Park, Silver Charm gave me countless memories. I finally did see him in person when he won the Goodwood at Santa Anita, and then again in next year's Santa Anita Handicap. He really was a horse you could follow, because he ran from ages 2 - 5, almost unheard of less than a decade later. I remember my tears when he was retired, too. Racing just didn't seem the same without the prospect of a gritty Silver Charm battle on the horizon.
It wasn't until last spring that I saw Silver Charm again, and the bright white of his coat was a shock compared to his steel gray racing days. I was honored to be able to spend a morning at Three Chimneys with him and watch him breed a mare, then spend time at his stall afterwards. A friend took my picture with him, and my mom, who endured the Silver Charm phase when I was growing up, has it hanging on her wall at work.
So while Silver Charm leaves this country with the best intentions, I can't help but feel he is taking a piece of my childhood, and my heart with him. It really does hurt, in a way that only a first breakup can hurt. It is only now, a week after the announcement, that I can even talk about it without getting misty-eyed and staring off into space, remembering.
Thank you for the memories, Silver Charm, and good luck in Japan.
11/4/2004
