Rachel Alexandra vs. Mine that Bird

How to write a great plot, using real life.

Having written a suspense novel about horse racing in New Mexico (Dark Horse), and having spent time following a racehorse trainer around Rillito Park, the one-time home of Mine That Bird's exercise rider, groom, and assistant trainer, Charlie Figueroa, I was enthralled by the little gelding's Derby run. What a story! You have a $9500 dollar yearling purchase (who became Canada's two-year-old champion and sold later for $400,000) towed by horse trailer from Sunland Park in New Mexico to Kentucky, dismissed as a 50-1 shot, and who makes such a scintillating run that the last quarter was the second-fastest since Secretariat's record-smashing win. Wow.

Then you have this big, strapping filly who beats every filly in sight. She wins the Kentucky Oaks the day before Mine that Bird wins the Derby. She wins the Oaks by over 20 lengths! Everyone wants her to run in the Preakness, but her owner doesn't want to run her against the boys. "Fillies race fillies, and colts race colts."

What do these two horses have in common? The same jockey, Calvin Borel. Calvin Borel, who grew up on the bush tracks in Louisiana, who never got past ninth grade. Calvin Borel who won two years ago with Street Sense, and got to meet the Queen of England.

Calvin Borel rode Mine that Bird brilliantly. He took the rail, squeezed through tiny tiny holes on a tiny horse. There were times when Calvin's feet actually skimmed that rail. Calvin Borel is kind of crazy. He loves the rail, was taught early on it was the fastest way home. In fact, his nickname is "Bo-Rail."

So, the Preakness is coming up. Calvin is set to ride Mine that Bird, and bid for the Triple Crown. But then, in steps Jess Jackson, owner of Kendall-Jackson wines (damn good, too), and he buys the filly. He's going to run her in the Preakness and he wants to ride Calvin on her.

Calvin's got to make a choice. And he chooses the horse he believes is the best horse he ever rode---the filly. The owners of Mine that Bird will have to find another rider for the gelding.

Enter the bad guy. You know there's going to be a bad guy, right? One of the owners (tied to shady dealings in the Alaskan bribery scandal with Ted Stevens) decides that he and another owner can exclude Rachel from the gate. Long story, but she wasn't nominated, and they give precedence to the horses who were. They can only run fourteen horses. So the boys want to squeeze the girl out.

The cavalry comes to the rescue. The people at my favorite racing forum, thoroughbredchampions, and others, write letters and pressure pressure pressure those two owners into quitting their scheme. Within the hour, they back down. This is the power of "The Internets."

So Rachel runs, and she wins. But Mine that Bird is a fantastic little horse, and he almost gets to her. He's still a strong rival. And the next race is the Belmont.

Rachel is the first filly to win the Preakness in 85 years. Only four fillies (now) have won the Preakness. Mine that Bird turned out to be a diamond in the rough, despite his humble beginnings.

Remember what the previous owner of Rachel Alexandra said. "Fillies should run against fillies, and colts against colts. The Triple Crown races are to showcase our stallions."

Rachel's a filly, not a stallion, and she won the Preakness.
Mine that Bird is a gelding, not a stallion, and he won the Derby.

stallions - 0
others - 2