Jamie Osborne stood in the middle of the dirt track at Santa Anita. Toast Of New York circled in front of him. Bayern circled to his right. An agonizing final furlong turned into an agonizing stewards’ inquiry in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, as the light faded in the California evening, nine Breeders’ Cup races in the books. Well, eight were in the books and one was squarely on the books. Osborne stood and watched – in his own world, but in front of the world. Announcer Trevor Denman’s voice brought Osborne back to this world.
No change.
The Bayern camp erupted. Osborne stood and stared into the distance. Into nothing.
Reporters pushed microphones and voice recorders under Osborne’s chin, the former jump jockey tried to speak honestly, but graciously. Diplomatically, but truthful. Heartfelt, but professional.
I leaned in and listened, “…look second is a sh** place to finish.” Now, that’s honest. Proud of his horse, his team, the quest, Osborne didn’t temper his immediate reaction to being beaten by a nose in the $5 million stakes. Second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is amazing, second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is agony.
Osborne had flown his greatest horse to California for the second time this year, the 3-year-old colt ran hard, fast, honestly but could not wear down California-based Bayern. In a roughly run race, Bayern wiped out Shared Belief and Moreno at the break, Toast Of New York shaved off Shared Belief within a furlong. Allowed and allowed, the transgressions added intrigue to an intriguing race.
Jockey Jamie Spencer rode aggressively, placing Toast Of New York close to Bayern. Sure, if you were rooting for horses behind them, you wanted Spencer to pull the trigger early, soften up the leader. If you were Spencer, Osborne or any of the Toast Of New York team, you wanted him to wait, make one run, one thrust of the knife.
He cut, he didn’t sever.
– Watch the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
In two days of epic performances, Toast Of New York ranked at the top for me; first time on the dirt, halfway across the world, off since August, his seventh track in his eighth career start and he just missed. A sporting gesture nearly became a sporting triumph.
As a journalist and a horseman, there are times the lines blur. I froze as Osborne tried to explain his emotions, my right hand clutched my HRRN microphone and my left hand clutched Osborne’s shoulder. A job to do, but a sentiment to share. I kept the microphone down, un-cocked and listened to Osborne try to explain what it’s like to finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. So elated, so deflated. Eventually, it won’t be as raw but at the moment Bayern was walking into the winner’s circle and Toast Of New York was walking home…Osborne’s voice quavered and his eyes stared into oblivion. A successful trainer but certainly not a juggernaut, Osborne might not ever be back on a stage like this and Toast Of New York, well, this might have been his greatest day. In this game, when it comes together, it’s hard not to wonder if it can ever come together again. It’s a fleeting game.
Osborne stood and tried to explain this sentiment. Second, indeed, can be a sh** place to finish.
I should have raised my microphone and had Osborne tell the world. I wish I did and I’m glad I didn’t.
