It’s 8 o’clock at night and I’m in a banquet hall in downtown Toronto. This is a non-horse event, and after a long day, my attention is waning.
I begin some small talk with the gentleman seated beside me, when he asks what I do. “I’m in the horse racing business,” I say.
As is almost always the case, he excitedly says, “REALLY???”
You have likely experienced this type of reaction before. Unlike the millions of people who have occupations like dentistry, accounting, or construction, those in horse racing have a cool factor that they often underestimate.
In this case, the gentleman sitting next to me says, “I believe everything in life happens for a reason. I’ve always loved horses but never known anything about them. And you sit next to me and you tell me you are involved with horses. This must be a sign.”
Fast forward a month. I’ve taken him to the track, where he’s met a couple of drivers and trainers. I’ve explained to him how purse money works, detailed the investment required and the options for involvement. And I’ve taken him out to a farm to see a new baby, with the mare.
Last month, my new friend became a partner in breeding his first standardbred - something he is extremely excited about.
Just three days ago, I attended a local heritage reception in my community. Once again, small talked turned to horse talk.
A woman describes to me that 50 years ago she was given a two week old foal - a thoroughbred racehorse. Her parents sadly made her give the horse away and she has spent the past five decades wishing things had gone differently.
Today, from our chance meeting, she is asking about taking trips to the racetrack and a farm to see foals. She also wants to buy a horse.
I find it hard to believe that my chance meetings with these two individuals is anything remarkable. More likely, people like them are all around us. They are in restaurants, office buildings and conferences at this very moment, waiting for the opportunity to meet you and find out what you do.
To them, the fact that you work with horses for a living is amazing. To them, the $30,000 in purses available on one card at the local racetrack is astounding. To them, the chance to buy in on the dream of owning a racehorse, or a foal, is intoxicating.
Horsepeople spend a lot of time with their horses, and with other horsepeople. Your lives are very busy and sometimes insulated from the outside world. It becomes easy to forget how remarkable of an industry this one is.
But then you meet grown men and women - complete strangers - who light up when they learn what you do. To them, your mundane is anything but. To them, you are the tight rope walker, the marine biologist or the astronaut. To them, your world is fascinating.
Let’s share with the world what we have, and never forget to appreciate all the good that can come from it.
Darryl Kaplan
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