My First Horse

The first Horse I ever owned I claimed on April 15, 2000.  Her name was Hop's Reflection.  The way I felt that day was like no other feeling I've ever experienced.  The only way to decribe it is that I felt more alive than ever I felt before or since.  I guess it was an intense mixture of excitement, anticipation, and nerves.

I was working with Karl Grusmark. He knew I wanted a horse and was looking for me.  I had $8400 in my account so I could get something for up to 8K. (just enough to cover the sales tax).  After looking for about a month or so, Karl came up with two prospects that day.  The other filly was Does It Get Bettor (I think) who ran two races later.

Hop's Reflection was in for $6250 and was up first.  At Suffolk Downs the claim box is right down on the rail, so you can watch the Horses walk right by on the track before they go into the paddock.  We watched the filly go by and Karl said she looked all right, so we dropped the claim slip and went up to the seats to watch the race.

The filly was a speed horse.  I'm talking out of the gate and on top by 4 lengths type speed.  Great fun to have horses like that.  Hop was 1st or 2nd choice, I bet 40 bucks on her.  She busted out on top and never looked back.  What a feeling!  I owned my first Horse and she had won!  The other filly also won two races later.  A great stat would be the % of horses that win on the day Karl Grusmark claims them (not always favorites either).

I ended up owning Hop for 4 races.  She finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and once out of the money.  She was claimed from me for $6250 the night she won for me at Rockingham Park.  Needless to say I made a little money (which I used to claim my next Horse, see below...). 

I kept tabs on Hop.  And when it was time to find her a home I was involved in the process.  She is with some wonderful people who have bred her to sport horses including Champion Budweiser.

All in all a wonderful experience.