March 13 - Flashy Bull  

Quick Trivia question: Can you name the first Grade 1 winner for West Point Thoroughbreds? Ok, here's a clue - he's also their first Kentucky Derby runner. Still guessing? Ok, he's by Holy Bull and he's gray and his first name is Flashy.

I have so many stories about Flashy Bull. I've told them over the years on Facebook, but I'll just pick one that cracks me up.

It's the 2006 Kentucky Derby, Barbaro has just won the Kentucky Derby and before starting the migration out of Churchill Downs, I make one last stop at the little boy’s room. As I'm standing at the urinal, I notice the guy standing next to me is wearing a West Point Thoroughbreds hat and he's crying. I knew Flashy Bull didn't do well, in fact he finished last. I assumed this guy was crying because of the race result. Then, he looked over at me (candidly, a no no in public bathrooms) and as if he had to give an explanation to a total stranger, he says, "I just had a horse in the Kentucky Derby. I still can't believe it."

Horse racing, the Kentucky Derby, these are the things that turn otherwise stoic figures into puddles of goo. Of all my derby experiences, having a grown man explain why he was crying pretty puts the significance of the race and the emotional connection to these horses in perspective.

No Kentucky Derby winner has carried the West Point silks to the winner’s circle (yet), but West Point did own a piece of Always Dreaming and a piece of Horse of the Year Flightline. I sure hope my bathroom buddy owned a piece of either of those horses!