By Neil D. Thomson

Two of the coolest aspects of being a sports fan are: (1) routinely, sports produces live, unscripted drama that Hollywood and reality television could never invent and never match; and (2) every so often a moment in sports becomes a constellation of life lessons and values, so much so that the moment itself transcends sports into something even greater and more profound.

This is a story about perseverance and about the old guy winning.

For approximately two and a half minutes at Belmont Park on June 7, 2013 we had one of those transcendent moments.  Enter the Brooklyn Handicap – a Grade II $200,000 thoroughbred race and Friday’s undercard to the following day’s Belmont Stakes.  Like the famous Triple Crown main event, the Brooklyn is a grueling mile-and-a-half race – but unlike the Belmont, it is not limited to only three year-olds.  The Brooklyn is open to three year-olds and up.  Enter Calidoscopio, a ten year-old bay from Argentina.  Yes, 10.  Trained by Mike Pupye and ridden by Aaron Gryder, he went off at middling 7-1 odds.

Calidoscopio was best known for winning the Breeders Cup Marathon last fall at Santa Anita – where he closed late to win after making a late charge.  But earlier this year, Calidoscopio finished fifth at the Tokyo City Handicap back at Santa Anita, and he entered the Brooklyn under the radar.  After all, a ten year old horse had never before won a graded stakes race on dirt.  Never.  Until June 7, 2013.

It wasn’t just that this old-timer won the race though – it is how he won the race.  From 22+ lengths back going into the final half-mile, Calidoscopio is not even on the wide angle lens through much of the race!!!…And then…

What makes it even better is that it was an undercard; it was in the slop; the grandstands were mostly empty – and here comes this unheralded ten-year old Argentine!  To me, Calidoscopio’s hard charge to win this race evokes the essence of sports and competition.  This was not overhyped and fabricated.  This was not the main event.  Rather, this was a deep cut.  A gem.  It occurred at a time, place and circumstance least expected.  This was a horse who persevered and refused to quit; this was a jockey who knew exactly when to press – a jockey who learned of Calidoscopio’s rare ability to wait and lurk – and then charge! – similar to what he did at the Breeders Cup Marathon.  Calidoscopio’s achievement was not for the mass media; not for the hype of it – but he achieved it for the most pure reasons of all in sport: because he loves to compete, even if not many are there to witness it.  It probably won’t win an ESPY, but that is fine and maybe even better.

This was the aging Jimmy Connors at the ’91 Open six-shooting past Krickstein.

This was the aging Billy Chapel reaching back for One More Day of Summer to deliver the perfect game at Yankee Stadium.

This was the perfect race.  Yes, the Argentine in the slop!

I hope you enjoy this clip (courtesy of Daily Racing Form) as much as I do:

http://www.drf.com/news/belmont-calidoscopio-comes-far-back-win-brooklyn

Congrats, Calidoscopio –  Happy Father’s Day !

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