Long Live The Queen!

By Jude T. Feld

“It really is a revolution.”

Hillary Clinton in a legitimate bid for President of the United States.

Gloria Steinem, the woman who said those immortal words, on my Delta flight to the Louisiana Derby (G2).

And now, Kathy Walsh with a bonafide Kentucky Derby (G1) contender in her shedrow.

“I can feel it coming in the air tonight. Oh Lord!”

“The Queen,” as Ms. Walsh is oft referred to around the track, earned that title in a positive way by winning races in bunches at racetracks across the nation and in the negative by her stoic demeanor, which occasionally would make either of the Queen Elizabeths resemble court jesters.

A lifelong horsewoman, Walsh has won training titles almost everywhere she’s put up her “Fighting Irishman” webbings, bringing an entirely new meaning to the words Notre Dame – “Our Lady”. She is tremendously talented and is also well-respected and highly regarded by her fellow trainers – no easy feat in a dog-eat-dog business long dominated by men.

Speaking of ladies, I once wrote that Walsh is “The First Lady of American racing.”

“I didn’t like that,” she told me the next morning. “It makes me sound old.”

Her star pupil, Georgie Boy, had questions going into the San Rafael (G2) Saturday – Was he just a late running sprinter and could he handle the two-turns? Walsh had eschewed those questions all week, saying her colt finished well in his gallops and galloped out strongly in his works.

The fans must have believed her as they bet ol’ Georgie down to 7-5 favoritism and he did not disappoint them or his trainer mowing down Gayego and Bob Black Jack to take home the winner’s share of $120,000 and the Tiffany trophy.

Like all women, Kathy Walsh is best when she smiles. It was grand to see her laughing and joking in the Santa Anita winners’ circle, enjoying Georgie Boy’s victory and no doubt the prospect of the Kentucky Derby, seven weeks away.

In the meantime, Kathy and Georgie will contest a precursor Derby at Santa Anita or in Arkansas. No matter where they go, I hope they heed the words of Hillary Clinton and “give those heathens a little taste of hell.”

“I been waitin’ for this moment all my life. Oh Lord! Oh Lord!”

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 8:23 am and is filed under Featured Articles. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.