Kevin Krigger...It Was Only A Year Ago

It was only a year ago when Kevin Krigger took his confident personality and displayed masterful riding aboard Goldencents. Krigger a native of the US Virgin Islands came into the Santa Anita Derby confident that his charge would dismantle his rivals. The horse and Krigger did just that, and at the wire a confident but relieved Krigger  placed his head in the horses' mane as he pumped him past the wire. Back at the winners' circle, years of thinking that he belonged came rushing to the surface. He raised his hand in victory like a climber who just conquered the tallest mountain. Swarm of crowds descended in the winners' circle. Kevin hugged everyone in arms length. He was the conversation. He was sitting on the best horse in Southern California. Kevin dreamt of winning the Kentucky Derby when he was a child back home in the Virgin islands, He would sit on the armrest of his parents sofa and pretended he was riding in the derby. The moment was no longer a dream. He had his derby ride and possibly a ticket to being realized as a top jockey. He arrived  in Kentucky and the confidence soared even higher. The horse was doing great and training lovely over the Churchill surface. Doug O'Neil the trainer of the horse had won the previous derby with I''ll Have Another, so experience  in the big dance wouldn't be an issue. Krigger had the victory suit made. His family all came to his side. The sweet melody of his Caribbean accent embraced the microphone, giving the sometimes stuffy derby experience a new face. Social media fell in love with the jockey. Could he be the first black jockey in decades to win this prestigious race. People who had never watched a horse race before came to the sport. They all knew who Goldencents was and the history that awaited him and his jockey.

A downpour washed over the Churchill downs surface and everyone wondered how would Goldencents and others take to the sloppy surface. The plan for Goldencents was just like in the other races. Go to the lead, slow it down, and then let them come get you if they can. I sat and watched the parade of horses. Goldencents looked spectacular. Krigger's was still flashing that smile that had endeared him to so many. My Kentucky home, the final touch before the horses made history, sang beautifully throughout the grandstand. The  crowd was ready. they loaded in the gate. Mark Johnson and his British accent gave the moment a sense of beauty. The starter unleashed the horses and they were off running. Goldencents popped out of the gate with the quickness that all had become accustomed to. He was quickly joined on the front end by Palace Malice who was geared to go on with it. Krigger took back and quickly found himself in fourth and eating dirt. Palace Malice chewed up the front end. I knew it was done. Krigger knew he was done. Palace Malice wouldn't last either but he clearly took Goldencents out of his game. The horse and Krigger crossed the finish line a muddy seventeenth. History had to wait another year. The racing gods were not ready to change this just yet. After the race, both Krigger and trainer Doug O'Neil said the horse didn't care for the surface.  Onto the Preakness, the second jewel in the triple crown glory.

Kevin Krigger decided to travel with the horse to Pimlico. He wanted to be involve in the daily routines of the horse. Was it a bad decision? Well after the running of the Preakness where Goldencents did not fire and finished up the field, Krigger returned home to California to find out that business wasn't as usual. He had just won the Santa Anita Derby two months ago. He rode one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby, and then to show his dedication to horse and sport, he traveled with the horse to Pimlico. Surely someone had to notice his seriousness for the game. Surely someone will remember how he was a talented rider. They didn't remember. Kevin Krigger wasn't getting booked. He was riding long shots that are usually tucked way for journeymen jockeys whose talents are yet to be recognized or bug boys trying to make a name for themselves. Kevin Krigger hadn't done drugs. He wasn't arrested for domestic abuse, he hadn't done anything detrimental to the game or himself, but the reception was cold. Then the kicker in the mouth was when he was removed from the horse and the ride was given to Rafael Bejarano, who won the Breeders' Cup mile on the horse. Kevin stood around the Southern California circuit until it was time to pack bags and move down to Golden Gate where he had made a name for himself. The commentary on Krigger was that he shouldn't have gone with the horse to Pimlico because he lost his business. I laughed. Everyone with common sense laughed. The horse racing game is a weird but enjoyable business.  The fact that a jockey who made a decision to be with his horse, a horse that he believed would take him to great heights would be shun by many is confounding. I have seen jockeys do some ridiculous things in the game and it was back to business the moment they climbed back in the saddle. The fact that some jockeys can be arrested and go missing for days yet are still rewarded for this behavior is mind blowing. The question every trainer and owner ask themselves is whether or not a jockey can get the job done. Can they make money if this jockey is riding their horse. If that is the fundamental question then Krigger shouldn't have lost his business, but he did, and the remaking of Kevin Krigger is underway.

Last weekend Kevin Krigger's name surfaced at Gulfstream Park. He won. Just like he has done in other places. He is trying to find the dream once again. Chasing the big horse that will propel him into star quality. Kevin Krigger star never dimmed in the Caribbean where jockeys toiled in the hot sun doing what other jockeys everywhere are doing. The first Saturday of May is only a couple of weeks away and the horses will once again shine on the track. Celebrities will pack the Churchill Downs stands. Parties will flow with champagne and dreams will sing happy endings in jockeys' minds. Krigger probably won't be there this year. He will probably be sitting in a jock's room on a equicizer horse  watching the race, and when the voice of Larry Colmus brings them home, Krigger will be on the winner pumping away past the wire like he did on Goldencents a year ago, like he did on his parents' sofa. The Kentucky Dream will never die in Kevin's heart, and when that train is once again ready to take him on the ride he will be better prepared for the journey.