Early in 2002 it was my privilege to visit several thoroughbred farms in search of a nice Ohio bred racing prospect for Ohio residents Eric and Laurie Hickman. At Win Row Farm in Lebanon, Ohio, Eric and I viewed several candidates. The one we were most taken with was a big, good looking, 3 year old chestnut colt by Flight Forty Nine out of the Czaravich mare Susans Baby. A price was agreed upon and the colt was purchased and renamed from Jeeps Flight to Wirebender. Eric is an orthodontist specializing in braces and in the dental health community those guys are referred to as “wirebenders”. Wirebender was a handful from the day in February when he loaded on the van to ship to the track. He took that occasion to rearrange the interior of the trailer, bending a few of the metal bars. Once he arrived at the track he was game to take on all challengers, equine and human. After the ultimate equipment change, castration, he became more manageable. In mid May he was nearing his first start as a race horse, having just been awarded his “gate card”. That was on a Thursday. The following Sunday he couldn’t put any weight on his left hind leg. To this day we are not sure what the culprit was, but the result was a badly infected hock and a trip to Rood and Riddle Equine Clinic. For the next few weeks the battle was to save his life. When he arrived back at the track he was still far from out of the woods. For the next two months his groom, Pat Goeing, and hotwalker, Joy Goeing, walked Wirebender for 30 minutes both morning and evening and then hosed the infected hock with cold water for 25 minutes after each walking session. By late June it was obvious that with the care these two determined horse people had provided, Wirebender was going to survive. The next question? Would he still be serviceable as a race horse? On July 5th, I nervously legged Kendall Condie, his exercise rider, onto Wirebender’s back and asked him to tack walk Wirebender around the River Down’s backside. About a week later we eased Wirebender back out to the track for a brief jog. From mid July until late August, first with faltering baby steps then with giant confident leaps, Wirebender regained his long sweeping stride. On August 31st Wirebender started in his first race. To see him load into the gate knowing what he had fought through was wondrous to me. To see him gobbling up ground in the stretch, closing with every stride on the leader was pure joy. He finished 2nd beaten 1 length. In his next start on September 22nd at Thistledown he broke alertly and set right off the early pace. At the head of the lane when the jockey called on him, he responded and drew off to win going away while full of run. Since then he has won at Beulah Park and compiled an overall record of 2 wins, 3 seconds, 1 third, and 1 fourth in just 7 starts. I couldn’t be more proud of “The Bender”, or the team surrounding him. His owners Laurie and Eric never pushed his recovery, giving us all the time necessary to do the right thing. They were also diligent to visit him, always bearing carrots and peppermints. Doc John Piehowicz provided the veterinarian guidance. I’ll never be able to express to Pat, Joy, and Kendall my appreciation for their dedication and competence. |
Wirebender, November 2002, a winner BY MANY! |
|
|
|
|