Dear Supporters and Detractors alike,
Much has been made of my little site in the past couple of weeks. I had no idea when I began this that it would grow the way it has. In response to some of the comments I have received, there are a few things I wish to share with you now.
To begin with, I am not a part of the racing industry beyond that of a casual fan. I try to watch the Triple Crown races each year and on a recent visit to Las Vegas, I placed a few wagers. That is the extent of my knowledge and involvement in the sport.
Eight Belles captured my attention prior to the race for two reasons, she was a filly and she was a dark grey. Without knowing anything more about a horse I have an irrational fondness for both attributes. Okay, the filly part may not be so irrational. Throughout my life, I too competed with the boys and have at times either been told I couldn't or been patronized in my failures to succeed. Both infuriate me.
I honestly don't believe I would have made the same effort as I do now had we lost a colt. I'm sorry if this lessens your opinion of me and my motives. This website began as an almost strictly selfish response to my sorrow and anger over "why the filly?" In watching the many video tributes to her which sprang up I heard so many beautiful and appropriate pieces of music but in my mind, only Tim McGraw's "Don't Take the Girl" spoke to my heart.
Wild as I was to find a way to ease my pain and answer my questions of why this happened, I found the forum at the Fox Hill Farm website. There I discovered that I was not alone. This was a tragedy that touched many people for many reasons.
Just as the phrase, "For want of a nail, the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe, the horse was lost..." illustrates, we never know what may transpire from a single event. As I look backwards I find comfort in some of the "coincidences" that have appeared along the way. Whether you garner your beliefs through Christianity, Taoism, Numerology, Astrology, Fatalism or practically any other method of obtaining hope and purpose in life you may find a common thread leading to the life and death of this remarkable filly.
The idea to ring 8 bells came in part from a television program I saw about the ship's bell from "The Edmund Fitzgerald". The original bell was recovered from the wreckage and placed into a museum to discourage divers from the site. A replacement bell was inscribed with the sailors' names and sunk as a permanent grave marker. Prior to sinking, the bell was rung 30 times (29 for each sailor aboard and a final ring for all sailors who lost their lives on the Great Lakes). Although it had been over twenty years since the tragedy, the families left behind felt it none the less. The beauty and simplicity of this memorial left an indelible mark on me. I was unaware of the nautical meaning of "Eight Bells", that it signals the end of a watch and is often used in a sailor's obituary until Claire Novak included this information in her article posted at Bloodhorse.com.
A simple idea grows in its significance.
I take no credit for this site's role in the discussions we now see regarding the future of Thoroughbred Horse Racing. I am flattered by those who think I may hold sway within the sport. At most I am only able to choose the comments I publish and attempt to present an accurate portrayal of the sentiments of an interested public.
Can one filly's legacy be that she brought change to the sport for which she gave her life? For whatever reason by Whomever's design an opportunity exists now where it may not have before. "To every thing there is a season" and perhaps a "Spring" of renewal will follow the "Fall" of Barbaro and the "Winter" of Eight Belles.
They say that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" and that too has found its way into this story. Another website exists requesting the 8 bells be rung prior to this year's Preakness and Belmont Stakes. While I respect their efforts, I disagree with the timing. My feeling is that it is too soon for this type of tribute. As we've already seen prior to The Preakness, television coverage regarding the tragedy would overshadow the quiet respect I had intended.
But then again, my own intentions no longer matter.
As long as her memory rings true in our hearts, the where, when, why and if's of bells ringing at the track are not of the greatest import. They merely serve as a reminder of what one courageous filly gave to her sport and to all who witnessed the remarkable events of her short life.
Your watch is over and ours begun. Long live, Eight Belles.
Sincerely,
Joni Massengale
Founder/Webmaster
