Heartwarming Moment at Santa Anita Yesterday ...

[The Tin Man]

After leading the first half of a mile route race at Santa Anita(Race 5), 112 to 1 shot Chito Mono, a low level claimer, faded badly as they entered the final turn. Finishing dead last in a 10 horse field ...

Then collapsing in a heap just as he crossed the finish line ... He lay motionless ...

Then up came the green screens, which are almost always a sign he's either dead or going to be euthanized.

The crowd lay silent ... No one knows which horse it was ... Everyone fearing the worst ...

Then, after about 8 minutes, more green screens come up and he's totally surrounded by them ... Surely there is no hope now... Another death at Santa Anita is sure to come ...

The crowd looks on on pins and needles ... Many are transfixed to the scene ... Another tragedy ensuing ...

Then, all of a sudden, an outrider can be seen with a bucket ... Going to the back of a pickup truck and filling it with water ... Then he comes back again and again ... Refilling the bucket ...

A flicker of hope begins to arrive within the onlookers ... It's kind of hot out here, but nothing drastic ... But... He fell in a heap and now they keep getting water ... Could it possibly be that he may be OK after all? Could it possibly be just heat exhaustion???

The green screens were up, which almost certainly means another death ... After all of this sorrow, could this guy actually come out of everything OK???

We stand there, onlooking and hoping beyond all hope with fingers crossed that maybe, just maybe, he may be OK after all ... That maybe there could be a happy ending ... After all ...

I tell my fellow trackgoers that if this horse somehow makes it, he's gonna be on my "A" list from now on and I'll always root for him and follow him for cheating death like that ... For living when it appeared he would not ... For being a miracle horse in my eyes ...

Next thing you know ... A cheer starts to rise within the crowd ... Then louder and louder it gets ... Could it be? It must ...

And out from beyond the green screens bounces Chito Mono ... Happy as a clam and prancing as he heads towards the horse ambulance we thought he'd leave in lifelessly ...

The applause reaches a crescendo as the crowd roars in relief that he's going to be OK ...

Very likely the loudest applause poor Chito will ever receive ... But why not ... ?

It's the greatest victory he has ever had and maybe WILL ever have ... This day he has gained his life back when to all it appeared it was lost ... This day he has cheated death ...

He gleefully bounces into the ambulance and will live to run aother day ...

Incredibly heartwarming moment ... One of my best ever at a track ... As I truly thought he was dead ... And now he lives ...

So adorably cute, after fearing his demise, to see him bounce gleefully into the ambulance with his dirt covered coat to a standing ovation ... It was fantastic!!!

Here are acouple of pics of Chito ... Including one right after he emerged victoriously and gleefully from the green screens ... Much to our relief and approval ...

I'm sure this horse gained many new fans this day, last place finish and all. I know he's gained a new one in me!!

[ricquelle]

Thanks for sharing! He is beautiful even if he did finish dead last.

[mimi6920]

Is it possible to get this guy to a rescue? After reading his story, it sounds like he may not be cut-out to be a racehorse. Maybe retirement is in order. Is this at all possible?

[The Tin Man]

Thanks for sharing! He is beautiful even if he did finish dead last.

Glad you enjoyed it ... It SOOOOOOO made my day ... And even my meet!!

There have been SO damn many casualties at Santa Anita this year an you SO rarely see them survive the dreaded "green screens" ...

I was really choked up seeing him bounce out from behind them ... All full of life ...

I really thought he was dead ... But was praying for a miracle ... And it happened ...

It was fantastic ... What a wonderful feeling.

[firehorse]

The jockey should have pulled him up - that he had him continue on after backing up so badly was just wrong, I felt so badly watching him barely cross the finish line, looked over at my sister and made a comment about him just finishing and she said 'he just collapsed' so I did not see him actually go down.... she seemed to know it was exhaustion - said it looked just like what happened to Always a Princess. We saw the buckets and knew there was hope, were high enough up that we saw his first attempt to get up over the screens (he went back down and more buckets came out) - was so happy when he finally got up! I do have to say that the ovation he got was heartwarming and I definitely think he heard it pretty good cause he seemed to even get a little bounce in him by the time he got to the back of the ambulance when the crowd got it's loudest

[The Tin Man]

Is it possible to get this guy to a rescue? After reading his story, it sounds like he may not be cut-out to be a racehorse. Maybe retirement is in order. Is this at all possible?

Well ... He's only a 4 year old with just 4 races under his belt. Although he's never been competitive, I doubt they'd stop on him this soon ... But if they do, I hope someone who saw him yesterday remembers him and gives him a good home.

I always worry about what happens to these low level claimers ... Especially the non-competitive ones.

What I don't understand is that this guy has NO stamina and even in 5 to 5 1/2 furlong sprints he fades badly and loses by 15 to 20 lengths ... What the heck are they doing putting him in a mile route race!!??

He ran himself into heat exhaustion and a collapse trying to get it ... If nothing, they should never put him in a route race again ...

I'm with you Mimi, in hoping this adorable guy survives the track and gets a good home one day.

But now, for as long as he's on it. I'm a fan

He's going in my virtual stable now ... Right alongside Switch and company.

[firehorse]

Almost forgot the other part of the race that was special - Trueno finally won his first race - on his 22nd attempt!

[The Tin Man]

The jockey should have pulled him up - that he had him continue on after backing up so badly was just wrong, I felt so badly watching him barely cross the finish line, looked over at my sister and made a comment about him just finishing and she said 'he just collapsed' so I did not see him actually go down.... she seemed to know it was exhaustion - said it looked just like what happened to Always a Princess. We saw the buckets and knew there was hope, were high enough up that we saw his first attempt to get up over the screens (he went back down and more buckets came out) - was so happy when he finally got up! I do have to say that the ovation he got was heartwarming and I definitely think he heard it pretty good cause he seemed to even get a little bounce in him by the time he got to the back of the ambulance when the crowd got it's loudest

Yeah ... What an incredible feeling it was to hear him get that applause and respond to it SO well ... It was as if he knew he just did something incredibly special ... He was SO gleeful and happy!!

I was very proud of the crowd for expressing their appreciation SO much!!

And I agree, when he backed off that drastically ... The jockey should have pulled him up ... I believe the jocky was Melvin Perez ... I just have to think the guy is EXTREMELY green to have not done so ...

Being that it ended up being such a feel good story, I'm glad you were there to experience it too.

[mimi6920]

I would rather see him retired as a four year old if he is not racing material. He is still healthy at this point. If he keeps running to no avail, he might not be so healthy and then it will be really hard to find him a home. Too many horses are run into the ground, and then it is difficult to find them homes because they are only sound to be pasture pets. This guy sounds like a prime candidate to be retrained. I know I sound like Debbie Downer, but even though the story ended happily yesterday, I can see it ending unhappily if his career doesn't turn around soon.

[The Tin Man]

Almost forgot the other part of the race that was special - Trueno finally won his first race - on his 22nd attempt!

Yeah ... I know ... Since he likes 2nd SOOOOOO much ... I played him there ...

But being that Kessabtsi came in 2nd at 60 to 1 ... I was able to be happy for Trueno(Once I knew Chito Mono was OK) ... As I certainly hadn't played Kessabtsi in my trifecta ...

Much congrats to Trueno ...

He was a long time maiden, but a great looking and competitve pony.

[Karen]

I love the way you told the story. It made me feel like I was there too. I hope they find him something else to do. He is a very good looking guy, and very lucky to have survived.

[The Tin Man]

I would rather see him retired as a four year old if he is not racing material. He is still healthy at this point. If he keeps running to no avail, he might not be so healthy and then it will be really hard to find him a home. Too many horses are run into the ground, and then it is difficult to find them homes because they are only sound to be pasture pets. This guy sounds like a prime candidate to be retrained. I know I sound like Debbie Downer, but even though the story ended happily yesterday, I can see it ending unhappily if his career doesn't turn around soon.

I can too ... And I pray it doesn't, as he's already cheated death once IMHO ...

You're not a downer, you care and put the horse's welfare first(As I'm sure most all of us do) ... If you and I had the ability, we'd retire him now if we could find him a happy home ...

But being as we don't ... Let's just cross our fingers and hope he gets throgh his career in tact and has a long, happy life in the end ...

[The Tin Man]

I love the way you told the story. It made me feel like I was there too. I hope they find him something else to do. He is a very good looking guy, and very lucky to have survived.

Awwww ... Thanks Karen ... I was hoping it would have that effect ...

I was hoping to capture the essence and feeling of that point in time, because to me, it was incredibly special ... And I wanted to do the moment justice and hopefully bring others there emotionally too ...

I'm glad it came across that way and you were able to experience the heartwarming feelings too ...

God! ... Just seeing him bounce around on his toes as if he were dancing in a field of daisie with a seemingly sly grin on his face ... After fearing his demise ...

Wow!!

[serenassong]

Fantastic story, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Going into my list of watched horses.

For you pedigree hounds:http://www.pedigreequery.com/chito+mono

[PerfectSoul]

A great story and well told! Here's hoping Chito lives a long and happy life.
Thanks for posting.

[Karen]

I felt pretty emotional just reading about it, I know I'd been crying and cheering for him too to see it all firsthand. You are great at telling a vivid story.

[The Tin Man]

Fantastic story, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Going into my list of watched horses.

For you pedigree hounds:http://www.pedigreequery.com/chito+mono

Wonderful!!

These low level guys are the meat and potatoes of this sport ...

I've got tons of them I love, as much or more than the big guys ...

Glad to see him make your list now ... At least we know he'll have 2 fans now!!

[The Tin Man]

Fantastic story, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Going into my list of watched horses.

For you pedigree hounds:http://www.pedigreequery.com/chito+mono

I'm gonna also put a pic of him in his Pedigree Query within the next day or two ...

I've been binging there the last few weeks, updating the stats and putting pics of all of the SoCal horses I've got in there the last few weeks.

These guys risk their lives for us, so I think the least I can do is make sure they have a face put to them for their efforts ... They deserve that.

[The Tin Man]

I felt pretty emotional just reading about it, I know I'd been crying and cheering for him too to see it all firsthand. You are great at telling a vivid story.

I'm right there with you Karen ... I teared up big time an damn near cried when he bounced out from behind the green screen ...

Gave me goosebumps.

I'd been having a bad day until then ... Chito turned that around when he emerged SO alive and vibrant!!

Made my frickin' day for sure!! And today as well ... Obviously ...

[klsyr1]

Thanks for this story Tin Man. I was watching the race and I believe Trevor Denman even made a comment about how fast Chito was backing up. I thought for sure I'd see the jockey pull him up. Then when I heard he had collapsed I was so angry that he hadn't been. I came on here last night and (under the waiting for news thread) saw that he had walked into the ambulance on his own accord, but I am so thankful to read your account and know that he really is ok. Fingers crossed that he stays safe. Thanks again for good news!!