Horse racing contender Journalism stands as a potent emblem of resilience, four months following the devastating wildfire incidents.
On a chilly January morning, a 53-foot horse transport van rolled up to Barn 59 at Santa Anita Park, nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains. The scene was ordinary, with 15 horses of trainer Michael McCarthy being loaded onto the van, bound for San Luis Rey Downs. But the surroundings were anything but. A nearby fire had erupted,8 hours earlier, and the winds were fierce.
The journey would prove anything but uneventful. Driver Ysidro Cruz, known as Sid, navigated the hulking van through L.A. traffic, passing smoke-filled skies and the eerie glow of flames in the distance. Fortunately, the horses arrived safely at San Luis Rey, but the experience left an indelible mark on everyone involved.
The fire, known as the Eaton Fire, would go on to become the second-most destructive in California history, destroying over 9,000 structures and costing 18 lives. Many track employees stayed overnight on the Santa Anita grounds, their own homes at risk. McCarthy's family had evacuated their Altadena home and moved into a hotel.
Among the horses transported was a three-year-old bay colt named Journalism. He had already made a name for himself, winning the Los Alamos Futurity by a wide margin just 27 days prior. Today, Journalism is the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, a testament to his resilience in the face of disruption.
Journalism's journey mirrors our own. In these trying times, we too are plowing through disruption, seeking a path to recovery like the colt returning to Santa Anita after the fire.
A mid-April visit to Altadena revealed a town still scarred by the Eaton Fire. Many streets were reduced to chimneys and foundations, with green shoots of life poking through the ashes, a testament to the resilience of nature. McCarthy's home survived, though many nearby did not. He is grateful, but the road to recovery will be long.
The life of a horse trainer is one of constant upheaval, and now McCarthy faces the aftermath of the fire. His middle school friends were the sons and daughters of horse trainers, and he worked his way from mucking stalls to being a trusted assistant for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher. His life unfolds in the 24/7/365 rhythm of the racetrack.
Journalism, the son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, came back to Santa Anita on January 12, four days after the fire. He fell right back into his routine, demonstrating an indomitable spirit that has carried him from the starting gate to the front of the Kentucky Derby pack.
The human side of racing is often as familial as the equine. In the world of horses, adversity breeds resilience. And in the face of the Eaton Fire, Journalism's story serves as a powerful reminder of the power of the human spirit to endure and overcome.
- On a chilly January morning, a detour was necessary for a 53-foot horse transport van carrying Californians' prized horses, including the three-year-old bay colt Journalism, as it navigated its way from Santa Anita Park to San Luis Rey Downs due to the nearby Eaton Fire.
- Journalism, known for his remarkable performance at Los Alamos Futurity, was transported in a van, much like a sports vehicle, mirroring the unexpected routes many Californians found themselves taking during the Eaton Fire.
- The hulking van driven by Sid that transported the horses overnight to San Luis Rey, served as a refuge for the horses during the heart of the Eaton Fire, just as people in the area found temporary shelter on the Santa Anita grounds to avoid the fire.
- The Eaton Fire that erupted in California, causing destruction and taking lives, further demonstrated the resilience not only of the horses, like the Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism, but also of the Californians who faced the aftermath together, enduring and overcoming adversity in the world of both horse-racing and life.
