Two Minute Lick: Remembering Azeri and her 2004 Spinster

Azeri

Remembering Azeri and her 2004 Spinster

Murray D. West

March 24, 2012

On March 17, 2012, the $150,000 Azeri Stakes was contested at Oaklawn Race Course, won in very fine style by Tiz Miz Sue. It is altogether appropriate that Oaklawn should honor Azeri at their facility, for it was here that this great mare proved unbeatable while winning 3 renewals of the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Stakes. The running of this race honoring Azeri triggered fond memories of the Hall of Fame mare when she visited Keeneland to compete in the 2004 G1 Spinster.

I remember it well, some aspects almost like it was just yesterday. Indeed, how could one forget such an occasion? It was a magnificent autumn day, basked in sunshine and warmth, the atmosphere electric from great expectation, one of those unforgettable Keeneland moments when time stands still and shimmers in the glow of perfection, when all in attendance, for just this brief interlude, feel sheltered from the turmoil and burden that is the reality of the outside world, secure within the confines of this aged stone enclave, a moment when Willie Koester famously turns with his great smile and softly and sincerely says to all who share his passion, “It just doesn’t get any better than this!” And, as always, he would be correct with that assertion.

It was most definitely special for on this day, October 10, 2004, Keeneland was once again host to royalty. Oh yes, Queen Elizabeth II had been the guest some years earlier but this was, for the Thoroughbred enthusiast, even more special, more historic. And while dignitaries and movie stars too numerous to recall had frequented the historic oval, they paled in comparison to this star. This was a different type of royalty, one with whom we could readily relate, one who had earned her honors on the field of battle…for this was incredible Azeri! This marvelous superstar mare, ultimately winner of 17 of 24 outings including a near unfathomable 11 grade one races, 3 Eclipse awards as Champion Handicap Mare, and 2002 Horse of the Year accolades, was on this day making her first and only visit to Keeneland Racecourse to contest the G1 Spinster Stakes, the final prep for her ill-timed attempt to become the first distaffer to win the Breeder’s Cup Classic, that race to be run some twenty days later at Lone Star Park. I say ill-timed for, as great as she still was on this October day, she was without question no longer the race mare of her 2002 season nor likely even of her 2003 campaign, seasons in which a year end challenge to the colts might have proved more successful…but that is not for today’s discussion. She was still Azeri, already at that time acknowledged as one of the all-time great race mares in the lore of the American Turf, still dominant as she raced in her 6^th year…and she was this day to bestow her grace upon us.

I well recall walking to her barn prior to the race, sacrificing witnessing the preceding race so that I could document her walk from her barn to the paddock. I had anticipated that the barn area would be replete with photographers, videographers, and turf journalists, all as eager as I was to witness this historic moment. I even remember equating this moment to Secretariat and the Belmont, recalling Tony Leonard’s famous photograph of Secretariat as he walked from his barn to the Belmont paddock prior to his historic Belmont Stakes victory. As such, I had already decided that I would be certain to keep my distance from these professionals, recognizing that this was their work, their livelihood, and that as a mere fan and an amateur photographer I wished to be certain I did not interfere in their accomplishing their important tasks. It was thus with some great surprise, and no small amount of confusion, that I arrived at her barn and found no one…no one…awaiting her. My immediate reaction was disbelief, that I had been given incorrect information and was at the wrong barn, and even now relive that brief instant of despair felt back then when I thought I had missed this opportunity to witness and document a special moment in racing, and particularly Keeneland, history. Quickly, however, that feeling passed, for within an instant or two I saw her being led from her stall, walked down the shedrow and out into the sun. Looking again, and still seeing no other cameras, I was amazed, and remain so today, that I alone was there to witness and document her walk to the paddock. And what a moment it was.

leaving the barn

getting on the muscle

transformation ongoing!

Leaving her stall, resplendent with her white bridle set against her deep chestnut coat, she walked calmly between the barns to the road leading to the track. Moving backwards as nimbly as possible, I fired off salvos of photos, fully congnizant of the fact that at the time I was shooting film and thus had a finite number of shots available to me before I would have to reload. What I witnessed was a near magical transformation, from Azeri leaving her stall as a very quiet, very tractable and seasoned mare, seemingly not the least interested in nor concerned about the fact that she was once again being led to compete, to Azeri the warrior, fully prepared for conflict, prancing and straining against restraint, head high and at attention, ears held rigid, at one moment erect as she stared to some distant place, in the next pinned to her head, eyes glaring in near anger, and her nostrils…oh those nostrils…flaring now in anticipation, devouring air as she snorted and danced and lunged in anticipation of what she now fully comprehended was forthcoming…Battle!

game face

ready!

entering Keeneland paddock

paddock filled with admirers

She stopped momentarily as she reached the entrance to the paddock and stared directly ahead at the stone arch leading into its confines, head high, ears upright with eyes staring intently…then she suddenly relaxed, became visibly calmer, lowered her head and moved forward into the vaunted enclosure that is the Keeneland paddock, ready now to greet her adoring fans, the entrance within filled with those professional photographers that I had anticipated seeing at the barn. I preceded her through the gate and photographed her as she entered, then stepped aside as she passed by, taking the opportunity to fire off several shots of the “Queen” walking amongst the peons. I took a deep breath as the sound of cameras firing away served as background music to her walk, and couldn’t help but chuckle as all the photographers scrambled for the best shots. “Fire away, my friends,” I recall thinking, “but you’re too late. The real show, the really special moment, has passed.”

D. Wayne Lukas and Azeri holding court in Keeneland saddling enclosure

The "Queen" and her court!

to the walking ring

Post Parade, with Pat Day aboard

dominant victory

Azeri of course was victorious in this race, it proving in fact to be her final victory, her final Grade One. Following her race I hurried down to the gap and photographed her leaving the track, then followed her to the Test Barn, where she was bathed and cooled out. Again I was amazed that there were no professionals there to document this historic moment. My final photos of this wondrous mare show her leaving and being led back to her own barn, her day’s work completed, a job exceptionally well done…but what else would ever be expected from this mare, without doubt one of the greatest fillies or mares to ever grace the American Turf?

Azeri and Day as one

leaving the track after Spinster win

Spinster victory, leaving track

More recently we have continued to witness the incredible run of exceptional female horses, too numerous to mention, culminating in three consecutive female winners of the coveted Horse of the Year award, these including Rachel Alexandra in 2009, Zenyatta in 2010, and most recently Havre de Grace in 2011. Ever more distaff greatness appears before us, for at the moment of this writing a literal plethora of very outstanding ladies are preparing to do battle, not only with each other but with their male adversaries as well. This is an exciting time in racing, with the promise of brilliance in abundance, but should she somehow magically reappear upon today's racing scene, surely none would overshadow the greatness of Azeri. How special she was! How rarely we will see her like!