Chewin The Cud - June 9, 2021

June 2, 2021

Essential Quality Horseracing Shadows Linger While Essential Quality Wins Belmont Stakes

Horseracing Shadows Linger While Essential Quality Wins Belmont Stakes By Frank J. Buchman

Essential Quality edged out Hot Rod Charlie to win the 153rd Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 5, 2021. “The sun was shining, and the track was fast,” exclaimed Melissa Hoppert, race analyst. “After a year away because of the coronavirus pandemic, the crowd at Elmont, New York, was more joyful than inebriated.”

Essential Quality, ridden by jockey Luis Saez, won the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes

Favored to win the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky, Essential Quality could not over- come a bad start there. Thus, his owner and trainer decided not to race their horse at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, Maryland. That decision automatically eliminated possibility of there being a Triple Crown winner this year. The Triple Crown title goes to a three-year-old Thoroughbred winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. “Essential Quality’s connections still believed that the two-year-old champion belonged at the top of his three-year-old class,” Hoppert said. Their plan paid off when Essential Quality beat Hot Rod Charlie down the stretch in what be - came a two-horse race. Leading by one-and-a-quarter lengths, Essential Quality completed the mile-and-a-half in 2:27.11. Sent off as the 6-5 favorite, Essential Quality paid $4.60 on a $2 bet to win. Rombauer, winner of the Preakness Stakes, finished third, 11 ¼ lengths behind Hot Rod Charlie.

It was the first Belmont victory for trainer Brad Cox, 41, winner of last year’s Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer. In 2020, Cox saddled four Breeders’ Cup winners and won 30 graded stakes races. Essential Quality is owned by the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, controversial ruler of Dubai. A city in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai is known for luxury shopping, ultra- modern architecture and a lively nightlife scene. Sheikh Mohammed is founder of the Maktoum family-owned Godolphin Stable and owns Darley, a Thoroughbred breeding operation in six countries. A keen equestrian, Sheikh Mohammed rode the horse Madji Du Pont to win the 2012 World Endurance Championship. He is also a poet in his native Arabic. Luis Saez rode Essential Quality to the 2021 Belmont Stakes title. “He broke clean, and the rest of the way I knew he was going to do it,” Saez said. Saez’s first thought after the race was of his brother, Juan, who died in 2014. Just 17-years- old, Juan Saez was killed when the horse he was riding stumbled during a race at Indiana Grand. “I was giving thanks to the Lord and my brother Juan; he’s always with me,” Luis Saez said. “I dedicated this to him.” “Joyous atmosphere at Belmont Saturday made it seem all was right with horseracing, but that’s not the case,” Hoppert evaluated. “It has been a tumultuous spring for the sport.” Medina Spirit’s win in the Kentucky Derby was stained for the horse and trainer Bob Baffert with a failed drug test. However, the horse was allowed to run in the Preakness, where he placed third, while another Derby sample was tested. Then, the New York Racing Association barred Baffert from running horses at any New York tracks until further notice. “Bob Baffert is a two-time Triple Crown winner and the most fa- mous person in the sport,” Hoppert contended. Last week, the positive test was confirmed. Runner-up Mandaloun will likely be declared the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner. Medina Spirit is only the second winner in the 147-year Ken- tucky Derby history disqualified by a failed drug test. “Churchill Downs has suspended Baffert from entering horses there for two years,” Hoppert said. “Reckless practices jeopardizing horses and compromising integrity of our sport are not acceptable,” said Bill Carstanjen, Churchill Downs chief executive. “As a company we must take measures to demonstrate that they will not be tolerated.” However, Baffert has said he will fight the suspension rulings, calling the incident “a com- plete injustice.” The scandal came as horseracing prepares to implement the Horseracing Integrity and Safe- ty Act passed last year in Congress. “It will take effect July 1, 2022, and calls for a board overseen by the Federal Trade Commis- sion,” Hoppert said. “Uniform rules are to be written with penalties to be enforced by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.” Even without the renewed drug problems, horseracing had been through a tumultuous time of late after the coronavirus pandemic. “None of the Triple Crown races admitted spectators last year, while the Derby and the Preak- ness were delayed,” Hoppert said. “The Belmont was run last June as the Derby followed in September and the Preakness came in October.” “Only 11,238 fans were at the Belmont racetrack on Saturday,” Hoppert said. “Belmont’s attendance record of 120,139 was set in 2004, when Birdstone denied Smarty Jones a Triple Crown sweep.”

Healing Is Coming To Living Life Ranch in Gardner, Kansas Elijah’s Path To Healing Foundation Inspired by James 1:27, the mission of Elijah’s Path To Healing Foundation is to provide a faith-based path to healing for adults and children that will help them through the grief and trauma of losing someone they love. In 2012, Tracy Boone and her young son, Elijah, thought they lost their hap- pily ever after when Reid, Tracy’s husband, and Elijah’s dad, died. Tracy was left a widow and Elijah was left fatherless, without his hero. Although fighting the brain disease Reid had been difficult, Tracy realized that the healing pro - cess might be even more difficult – especially for her young son of six years. Sadly, she was right. Tracy found what most new widows find – that support and resources are difficult to find and hard to navigate. But Tracy found a way through it and met a new love – horses. She and Elijah both found that faith-based equine-assisted learning therapy healed them in a way they never thought possible. In 2016, Tracy and Elijah decided that they needed to help others and start- ed the foundation. Today, the foundation focuses on helping strengthen your relationship with God because the burden is heavy without God; giving comfort and care so you do not feel alone; providing education so you can understand what you are feeling; engaging in fellowship and fun because the journey can be stressful; and connecting you to the resources that can help you through your grief and trauma. Tracy and Elijah even host a TV program called The Path To Healing Show which airs on X networks around the world.

3-DAY HEALING REVIVAL: The foundation is holding a revival in Gardner, Kansas from June 24, 2021 to June 26, 2021 that will showcase a broad range of resources from the foundation and local community to help residents on their journey to healing. The revival, held at Living Life Rancy, will feature equine-assisted learning demonstrations that show why horses are considered angels in the ring. Local and national speakers and facilitators will share in- sights, experiences, and inspiration to help adults and children get onto their path to healing. Get tickets by texting LIVE to 303-646-6558 and check the box: “I want to join a live event.” Adults and their children welcomed. ANGELS IN THE RING: During the dates of June 14-22, families and individ- uals can experience an equine-assisted learning facilitation session at Living Life Ranch. Facilitators are donating their time so there is no charge for the session. Text LIVE to 303-646-6558 and check the box: “You or a Loved one are suffering a loss.” Adults and their children welcomed. RESOURCES ROUNDUP: On June 23, 2021, at 7:00pm, the foundation will host a meet and greet for all the local resources to unite them in this mission and educate them on how they can partner with the foundation to help their cli- entele. Organizations and agencies can text LIVE to 303-646-6558 and check the box: “Other” and enter your resource. Organizational leadership and rep- resentatives welcomed. THE PATH TO HEALING SHOW: Residences can attend a live taping of The Path To Healing Show during the week of TBD. Get tickets by texting LIVE to 303-646-6558 and check the box: “I’d like to be part of a LIVE audience taping of our TV show.” Go to ZondraTV.com to watch the show and catch up on previous episodes. Adults and their children welcomed. For more information, email; info@elijahspath.com

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Parades are a Fun Time

“Everyone loves a parade.” It’s fact whether participating on horseback, in the band, riding a float or watch - ing from the sideline. Missing a parade when there’s one in town or even on television leaves a certain feeling of disappointment. While impossible to be everywhere at the same time, a horseshow conflicted with this year’s rodeo parade. However fond memories from decades of pa- rades gone by kept returning throughout the day. Marching with the grade school band in the centennial parade six decades ago came to mind as a frustration. Waiting in Durland Park for when to move into the Main Street lineup gave time to watch the horses. Oh, to just be riding a horse instead of with the “dumb band” was the little boy’s aspiration. Dream came true a year later when wannabe cowboy finally had his own horse and got that chance. An old local cowboy could sense the other’s desire to ride in the big rodeo parade. He was taking his horse and asked the kid to bring his horse and come along. Rain was pouring down almost impossible to see loading the flatbed pickup with stock racks at the old railroad stockyards. Parade lineup at Swope Park started not long after dinner as downpour continued. No letup in cloudburst yet when the Fort Riley Band marched out the fairgrounds gate followed by several hundred horses. From Cottonwood Falls to Strong City and into the rodeo grounds, everybody was drenched through and through. Grin still proudly beamed as big raindrops dripped from what had been a new cowboy hat. Besides that all parade riders got a free ticket to the rodeo where it continued raining during the entire performance. Riding in that famous parade is anticipated but it hasn’t always been impossi- ble due to other activities. Still a number of years are fondly remembered. The particular horse often a customer’s colt that was ridden, riding partners, some conversation, and waving at parade watchers. One time stands out: E.C. Roberts, Flint Hills Rodeo originator, had the al- ways-a-wannabe start a colt. “You can ride him in the parade,” Mr. Roberts of- fered. Opportunity accepted, and at parade’s end, Mr. Roberts grinned, “At least you weren’t bucked off.” Reminded of First Kings 10:25: “The parade with many horses and colorful en- tries attracts visitors year after year.”

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“Be Well and Be Happy” - Pamela

KANSAS PIONEER

Berry Salad

1 c. 1 c. 1 c. 1 c. 2 c. ½ c.

Pitted sweet cherries

Blueberries Raspberries Blackberries

Strawberries if berries are large cut in ½ or 1/4

Sugar or sweetener substitute of choice Place all ingredients in gallon zip bag. Squeeze out air when sealing. Refrigerate up to 24 hours. This fruit salad can be thrown in the freezer at this point. Thaw in refrigerator to serve. Berry Fruit Salad has a low glycemic index. When prepared with Monk Fruit Sweetener and served with whipped cream it makes a festive dessert for those on low sugar diet.

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