Under the Texas November sun, the bay gelding that stood
before me was certainly a long way from Dubai. But, gazing at his kind eye, I
could see the dynamic, odds-denying champion within, the one that had galloped
to an awe-inspiring win in the richest race in the world. I raised my hand to
his face, gently touching the Thoroughbred I so greatly admired and adored.
Looking back at me was Well Armed.
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With Well Armed
Photo by Terri Cage |
This elite Thoroughbred is of course best known for his record-breaking victory
in the 2009 Dubai World Cup (GI), a race in which Well Armed annihilated his
rivals by an astounding 14 lengths. But there’s more to Well Armed’s story than
his brilliant victories. This horse had overcome unbelievable adversity before
he achieved his greatest victories, with the help of his loving owner, Bill
Casner.
Casner had dealt with his own hardship as well, particularly when his daughter,
Karri, was tragically killed in a bombing of Bali, Indonesia in 2002. Just
months later, a horse was born on what would have been Karri’s 24th
birthday. That horse was Well Armed.
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Well Armed
Photo by Terri Cage |
Like Karri, Well Armed was born pigeon-toed. The Thoroughbred was sent to
England, where he made his initial eight career starts for Clive Brittain prior
to a three-race expedition in Dubai that was cut short by a knee chip. This
injury saw Well Armed return to the United States, where the son of Tiznow had
successful surgery to remove the chip. But days later, Well Armed broke his hip
– an injury that caused the horse so much pain that euthanizing the horse
became a serious option.
But Casner wasn’t going to give up on this horse and after recovery, Well Armed
did not give up on him. Well Armed returned to racing to capture four graded
stakes races, two of which were grade ones – including, of course, the Dubai
World Cup. Despite the great adversity they’d faced, Well Armed and Casner had
dealt with their troubles together, and together they stood on top of the
world.
Bill Casner is one of the kindest persons I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.
On November 19, 2012, I made a visit to his ranch in North Texas, where I was
able to meet the charming Well Armed. The goodness of Mr. Casner’s heart shone
through during the time I spent there, as he showed my mother and me around the
ranch, allowing us to see the horses that reside there and to watch several
yearlings – including a full sibling to the grade one-winning Colonel John and
a half-brother to Well Armed – swim.
But the highlight of my visit certainly was found in the time I spent with Well
Armed. After I fed the deserving Thoroughbred a few peppermints (which he ate eagerly),
Mr. Casner allowed me to lead the gelding out of his stall before I briefly
groomed the tall Thoroughbred. As I led Well Armed outside the barn for my
mother to take several photographs, Mr. Casner asked me how much riding
experience I had.
“I’ve ridden all my life.” I replied.
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Riding Well Armed
Photo by Terri Cage |
Minutes later, I sat aboard Well Armed’s back, his thick black mane flowing
over his neck as my hands held the reins. Around the expansive arena we rode,
Well Armed’s large frame moving beneath me as I sat in the saddle upon his
back, my eyes overlooking the view I had from aboard him. His brown neck,
covered by his thick black mane – streaked with a few white and gray strands –
stretched before me, his ears pricked as he gazed about.
As the earner of $5,179,803 strode along, I was brought back to a memory.
Gazing at his mane, I pictured jockey Aaron Gryder stroking the gelding’s mane
and neck as the two soared to victory in Dubai, a scene I watched from the
comfort of my living room, beaming with sheer joy as Well Armed – this world
conqueror, this underdog, this hero beneath me – galloped across my television
screen to a breathtaking triumph.
How could I have imagined that day that I would someday sit aboard that
majestic champion? I couldn’t have. Maybe in my wildest dreams I could have
pictured myself riding Well Armed, but never would those dreams have come true
if it weren’t for the astounding goodness of Bill Casner’s heart.
And that’s exactly the quintessence of the story of Bill Casner and Well Armed:
heart. As my own soaring, joyous heart rode along with Well Armed, I overhead
Mr. Casner speaking to my mother, telling her Well Armed’s story. Two words
that left his mouth as he described his beloved horse will never leave me: all
heart. Mr. Casner was speaking of the kind, valiant Thoroughbred I rode, but if
it weren’t for Mr. Casner’s heart, I never would have experienced one of the
best days of my life and Well Armed never would have been able to show the
world just how much heart he has. Together, these two showed me perhaps the
greatest amount of true heart I have ever seen.
Mr. Casner, with heartfelt gratitude, thank you, thank you, thank you. I will never be able to thank you enough.
