APRIL FOOL BIRTHDAYS

[RUFFIAN]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZENYATTA
AND IN MEMORIAM ~ BLACK TIE AFFAIR

HOW IRONIC THAT MY 2 ALL TIME FAVE HORSES
WERE BORN ON THE SAME DAY
BUT AS WE ALL KNOW ---
NEITHER ONE WAS AN APRIL FOOL!

ZENYATTA DEFEATED THE COLTS IN THE BC CLASSIC
SOMETHING NO FILLY, INCLUDING RACHEL, EVER DID!


THEN LATER ON THE HARD EARNED TITLE
HORSE OF THE YEAR


BLACK TIE AFFAIR DID LITTLE AS A 3/4 YEAR OLD

BUT THEN AS A 5 YEAR OLD HE CHANGED
FROM A HORSE TO A PEGASUS
WINNING 9 RACES TRACK TO TRACK
WHILE TRAVELING IN A VAN 14,000 MILES

THEN CULMINATING IN A GATE TO WIRE
VICTORY GALLOP IN THE BC CLASSIC
SOMETHING NEVER DONE BEFORE


AND THEN THE ULTIMATE GLORY
HORSE OF THE YEAR


WHEN HIS TRAINER, ERNIE POULOS
WAS DYING IN A HOSPITAL
IT WAS BLACK TIE'S PHOTO ON THE NIGHTSTAND
BUT IN THE END, EVEN BTA COULD NOT SAVE HIM

HIS SHOE & PHOTO ARE CENTRE STAGE
ON MY 'WALL OF SPECIALS'

HE MAY NO LONGER LIVE ON EARTH
BUT HE WILL ALWAYS LIVE IN MY HEART