In the hallway of my house, there is a mirror and on it are the words "If things seem dark, focus on the brightest stars." For me, illumination generally takes the form of memories, recalled as sunlit spells on the grasses of Europe, prepared for the sake of racing horses. Everyone has their tonic and mine involves conjuring up moments of personal joy and celebration of this particular sport. It just seems that, looking back, the final year of the last century holds more of those than others. When I...