Living the American Dream in 2009

These days, when Americans are finding out that other people are living "The American Dream" from embezzling funds, questionable business practices, and out-and-out thievery from hard working Americans, the idea of "The American Dream" has become like a butterfly flying into the wind.

People were encouraged to believe that, in the United States, they could be anything they wanted to be and with diligent work and determination, they could achieve their goals. Now, people are losing all of the their investments, their houses, and belongings. Many people are feeling so helpless and defeated that they think there is no way out of this bedlam.

At this time in our tumultuous lifes, comes a reminder that The American Dream is still alive and this is NOT the time to give up. It took just a little over two minutes (the greatest two minutes in sports) to provide courage, determination, and hope to all that watched.

The 135th running of the Kentucky Derby was a reminder to U.S. citizens that a good work ethic, believing in dreams, and endeavoring to persevere are tantamount to realizing ambitions.

The 135th "Running of the Roses" could not have been more emotional, uplifting, and surreal.

The field of 19 horses were owned by trainers or owners of the well known in the equine racing world. Trainers: Nick Zito (Nowhere to hide), Bob Baffert (Pioneer of the Nile), and D. Wayne Lucas (Flying Private), are familiar faces at the Derby.

"Chocolate Candy" was in the field, owned by Sid and Jenny Craig (the weight-loss expert).

Also in the field were two horses (Regal Ransom and Desert Party)owned by Dubai millionaire, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Martoum, the ruler of Dubai and the Vice President of the United Arab Emirates.

Unnoticed was the 50-1 longshot "Mine That Bird", owned by long time friends, Mark Allen and Dr. Leonard Blach, (a retired 74 year old veterinarian) who purchased the 2 year old gelding for $400,000 from a Canadian stable, which had originally purchased the yearling for $9,500.

They decided to take the gelding to Kentucky after they determined that the amount that "Mine That Bird" had earned, and found that it was enough to bankroll the Derby costs, and decided that the two old guys would never have that chance again.

The trainer, 45 year old Bennie (Chip) Woolley, is a retired bare-back rider, turned trainer. He was sporting a black cowboy hat and jeans, and making his way around Churchill Downs on crutches due to his broken leg that he received in a motorcycle accident two months prior. He drove to Kentucky from New Mexico for 21 hours with the horse in tow. (He is taking the horse to Pimlico for the Preakness the same way, however the horse will be met and have a police escort to the track.)

They enlisted the talents of jockey Calvin Borel, a 40 year old from Southern Louisiana, who dropped out of school at age 13 because he thought school was interfering with his fate of being involved with horses. He worked from dawn to night at the track cleaning stables, walking horses, anything that was needed.

He was involved in a racing accident which left him with broken ribs, a punctured lung, spleen removal, and comatose. Upon his recovery, his first mount was on that very same horse that he had sustained his life-threatening injuries.

He won the Kentucky Derby 2007 on board "Street Sense". The queen of England, an avid race fan was in attendance, and he was contacted by the White House to attend a white-tie affair in honor of the queen. He asked "what queen?"

He rode "Mine That Bird" from last place, overwhelming the entire field by staying on the inside on the sloppy track. When he made his move, it was as if the horse had made it clear that he had had enough dirt thrown into his face, and he was not going to take it anymore. He passed all 18 horses as if they were in suspended animation, and won the race by over 6 lengths.

The stunned crowd of over 153,000 cheered with a sense of the "American Dream" come true.

As Borel laughed, cried, high-fived, and in general, filled hearts with joy, admiration, and exhilaration, no one witnessing this incredulous journey could help but being overcome with elation.

The last time that the hearts of Americans were warmed like this was the 1990 Kentucky Derby when Carl Nafzger was telling 92 year old Frances Genter that Unbridled had won.

The "American Dream" could not have been as defined distinctly and thoroughly as what was witnessed in this particular race.Knowingly or not, everyone who saw this race should have been reminded that with hard work, determination, and a dream, anything is possible.

It should be a reminder to everyone to always look at a difficult or seemingly impossible challenge as something that can be overcome, not something to which, succumb.