Without a doubt, I did not have the most conventional entry into horseracing. Growing up in Montreal, Canada, I was much more likely to have ventured into the world of harness racing rather than its Thoroughbred counterpart. Courtesy of Blue Bonnets (later re-named Hippodrome de Montreal), Montreal's racing landscape hadn't seen Thoroughbred racing since 1973, an era in which racetrack attendance in the province was at its zenith.
One of three daughters of Greek immigrant parents, I simply did not have the access to horses or racing like many others in the sport. Somewhat tangentially, I was introduced to racing pigeons (yes, as in the feathered variety) very early on, and I look back now and think that may have kindled my interest in racing competition, the propagation of sire lines and the development of female families, etc.
Of course, like many teenage girls, I was attracted to the beauty and majesty of the horse (The Black Stallion series was definitely a gateway drug) and I tried to get my hands on anything Thoroughbred related and watch anything that might appear on network television, which admittedly was slim pickings in those days before the advent of online streaming and satellite TV (we didn't even have TVG yet!).
In retrospect, a few key things triggered my deeper fascination with the sport. First, in the '80s, ABC carried racing, covering many of the sport's most important racing events. In my humble opinion, the network did a truly fantastic job in capturing the pageantry and excitement of the game, not to mention creating a cohesive and compelling storyline for many of the era's most notable racing figures.
Alysheba's Triple Crown run and the 1987 Breeders' Cup at Hollywood Park were among my earliest forays as a fan, and without a doubt, piqued my interest. The following season, a strapping filly by the name of Winning Colors, trained by none other than D. Wayne Lukas, won the Kentucky Derby, which propelled me into what would turn out to be a 30-year (and counting) love affair with the sport.
Speaking of D. Wayne Lukas–where do I begin? I have written about my introduction to the subsequent Hall of Famer in our co-authored book, Sermon on the Mount, but for those that may have missed it, I'll offer a brief flashback.
In 1994, I made my first visit to historic Saratoga Racecourse and by that time, I was a full-fledged racing nut. Already a bonafide Wayne Lukas fan, I had the chance for a brief meet-and-greet with him following a win by Chimes Band in that summer's GII King's Bishop. Since I didn't have the access I enjoy nowadays, it was left to my determined cousin to smooth talk the security guard into letting us into the winner's circle.
What transpired has been forever burned into my brain (there also is a picture of said impromptu autograph encounter in the book). To this day, I maintain that the respectful, eloquent and gracious behavior of someone I so looked up to and revered cemented my long-term involvement in the industry. I think it goes without saying, I was a HUGE Wayne Lukas fan prior to our initial meeting. However, I believe the encounter really helped underscore a stark counterpoint, not every celebrity is as charitable or welcoming as Wayne was that day. The truth is that a response of disregard or disinterest might have been the first drop that could have ultimately precipitated a change in the direction of my life.
Starting off as a young girl with virtually no ties nor reason to embrace horse racing, I now understand how vitally important showcasing and celebrating our sport's stars and champions is in drawing, nurturing and retaining future generations of fans. It certainly got me on my way.
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