Seeking Perfection

The six-year-old mare Zenyatta took her shot at horse racing history yesterday. She was attempting to break the American record of 16 wins in a row. A victory would give her 17 wins out of 17 races in her career -- a phenomenal, unrivaled streak.

I could've stayed home and watched the race on TV. It would've been easier than driving an hour each way to Hollywood Park and dealing with the *#$#!! 405 freeway.

I'm so glad I didn't stay home. For those who couldn't see it or be there, I've put together a brief music video of yesterday's experience. I'll tell you a bit about it as well.

Before the race, the paddock was packed with people hoping to get a glimpse of the Queen. In person, Zenyatta is just stunning. She's 17 hands tall, which in horse parlance, is HUGE. But what makes Zenyatta so special is her personality. When she hears people cheering and clapping, she does a little prancy dance in the walking ring and when jockey Mike Smith gets on board, she literally struts.

She also poses for pictures. She'll walk toward the crowd, stop and lift her head, hold it for a second and then turn the other cheek, like a model. It's incredible. You can see her doing it at the end of the video above.

Zenyatta's other trait is that she always, always, always comes from waaay behind to win. This makes her streak even more amazing. Horses with that kind of running style finish 2nd or 3rd a lot, if they even do that well.  They're at the mercy of the pace and are often forced to run wide and much farther than the competition.

This 17th victory would not come easy either. Zenyatta was facing a very sharp St. Trinians, a mare that had won four of her last five races, losing only to the boys at the top level of racing. Zenyatta would have to be on her A+ game.

As usual, she broke last and loped along at the back of the field for the first half of the race. She was 14 lengths behind at one point, but gradually started making progress. Still, at the final turn, she had quite a bit of work to do and was forced a good 8-10 lengths from the rail. That's a lot of ground to make up.

I was on the verge of tears as Zenyatta swept into the stretch. I so badly wanted to see her triumph. I could feel it in my bones. I was as close to the track as you could get -- right next to the finish line. At Hollywood Park, the stands slope down to the racing surface, so I was essentially at eye level with the horses' hooves.

The hooves were coming. Even with thousands of people screaming, I could still hear the hooves. One horse burst into my vision. It was St. Trinians, leading the pack. Zenyatta appeared next. She was chasing the leader, closing with every stride. She was desperately trying to run down her foe as she had every single race in her career. But the finish line was fast approaching, and St. Trinians was not backing down. It looked nearly impossible that Zenyatta would get there first this time. She dug down and cut into the lead again.

St. Trinians fought back. Zenyatta wasn't closing fast enough. In less than 5 seconds, the race would be over. Zenyatta came again, and inched closer. She would need something more now. There was time for only one more lunge before the wire. And in a breathless moment, everything slowed down. It was just the two horses, gutting it out, with nothing left but their will to win. Zenyatta was pouring her heart out. But I didn't... think... she... would... get... there.

Here's the wire... YESSSS!! Zenyatta by a head!

The stands exploded with hugs, high-fives and cries of joy. Zenyatta's people embraced and wiped away tears. She had done it. Zenyatta had come from 14 lengths behind to do what she was born to do. To do what she loves to do. To do what she always does.

Win.

It was the most emotion I'd ever felt watching a horse race. I was witnessing a true champion -- a horse that comes along once in a lifetime; a horse that never gives up and accepts nothing short of victory. I will never forget it.

I'm so far from perfect, I can't even imagine what it must be like. No human being can.

But among horses, the saying "nobody's perfect" is most decidedly still up for debate.