The Power of a Great Story

I traffic in stories. I make my living from finding interesting ones and telling them well enough so that others pass them on. I am fascinated not only by the stories we create but by the ones we choose to tell.

Inevitably, in my case, these stories involve animals and our relationships to them. Sometimes the animal stories are short, simple interactions. And sometimes they involve heroic and majestic deeds. Sometimes I am the only one paying attention. And sometimes the world watches.

Frank Vespe, over on bloodhorse.com. recently posted a wonderful piece about the role of stories in perpetuating the sport of horse racing. Specifically he was referring to the legend of Barbaro and how the various pieces of the story did more for the sport than any incentive (read wagering) package the TRA has dreamed up.

"Barbaro, it turns out, is the gift that keeps on giving, and racing ought to be trying to figure out what the Barbaro experience--and the continuing passion of his fans--teaches us about ourselves," he writes.

Barbaro, in a combination of supreme athleticism, courage in the face of tragedy and grace and dignity under pressure, attracted legions of fans to the sport who were drawn in by their love for animals, specifically injured animals, and who might have stayed on to cheer other thoroughbreds who often exhibit many of the same characteristics each time they race, if only someone had pointed out the similarities. Or simply let them in to a world that is used to keeping all but the insiders out.

"People could follow [the Barbaro story], practically in real time, every twist and turn in the tale. Barbaro's fans could feel as if they were in the trenches with the horse's connections, willing him to recover," writes Vespe. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that the roller coaster ride of Barbaro's recovery is no different from that experienced by any family when any family member falls seriously ill. We will our loved ones to recover, even as we try to prepare ourselves in case they don't. One day is good; the next is not. Who hasn't been on that ride? Who can fail to see the human condition in the animal one?

Racing, that's who. By not embracing with open arms, those Fans of Barbaro who brought passion, excitement and a love of animals to a sport that needs all the love it can get. By not telling the stories of other horses, owners and trainers who do the right thing each and every day, caring for their horses and putting them in the best situations possible to help them win. By not re-telling the stories of the greats, equine and human, who overcame great obstacles, ran with the wind at their backs and made our hearts stop.

By not pointing out that Barbaro was one in a trajectory of equine heroes that had the ability to make us tell and re-tell their stories. And that his brothers are writing their own even if they can't be bothered to pay attention.