May

8

My path to the 2010 Kentucky Derby Winner’s Circle

by Barry Roos
Published: May 8, 2010 Leave a Comment
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In life you have certain dreams and expectations. Things happen along the way, and things don’t always go 100% the way you planned. I fully expected to be standing in the winner’s circle at the Derby at some point. My guess would have been as a trainer, or perhaps as a partner in a group I managed.

Not quite the way it happened…..

It was 1981, I was starting my freshman year at the University of Kentucky. I was a Bostonian in unfamiliar territory. I was walking down the hallway of Holmes Hall reading a Throughbred Record (now the Thoroughbred Times). I ran into a guy who asked me if I was involved with horse racing. We introduced ourselves, and struck up a conversation. I explained my involvement, that my family owned horses and had just bought a small farm in Lexington. He said his family was also involved, his dad a blacksmith, his mom a trainer in Northern Kentucky and his brother a jockey. That was the day I met Doug Cauthen.

I soon met Doug’s roommate, Jim McMullen who was involved in racing through his uncle, the legendary trainer P.G. Johnson. Jim would go on to train, and is currently plying his trade at Arlington. My neighbor at the time, Dwight Back wasn’t involved in racing, but loved it as much, or more than the 3 of us. He is currently involved as an owner, and nearly made it to the 2009 Breeders’ Cup with Yankee Injunuity which is trained by Jim. The four of us became good friends and lived together over the next couple of years.

I went into training and did so for the next 16 years. I had a few invites to take in the Derby but vowed never to go unless I was participating. Well, training in New England you don’t quite get the opportunities to run in Triple Crown Events, so I never went. Then when New England racing became a 6th month a year proposition, I gave up training as I refused to be away from home while my children were growing up. I stayed involved in racing doing consulting, going to an occasional sale, and now a days working with partnerships.

Doug went to law school and worked for a short while as an attorney. But the horse industry was in his blood and he returned. He worked in various positions, for consigners, and did some consulting work managing racing stables, as well as working with Prestonwood Farm, which would later be sold and become what is today Winstar Farm. When Kenny Troutt and Bill Casner bought Winstar, they shrewedly kept Doug on and named him President/CEO. You can find a lot of talented horse people, but few with Doug’s integrity. The results at Winstar speak for themselves. Wins in the Dubai World Cup, the Travers, The Haskell, and now the Derby. It doesn’t get better. The successes of Tiznow, and Distorted Humor in the breeding shed have propelled Winstar to a lofty position amongst the industry giants.

Our friendship has lasted almost 30 years. As we have gotten a bit longer in the tooth, we have realized the importance of being there for each other, for the good times, as well as the sad. The four of us were all together in Boston a couple of years ago to celebrate my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah, and then to celebrate Doug’s marriage to his wife Katie in Lexington. We also attended a couple of Derbys to support Doug. Sadly, We were then together again at a Memorial service for Doug’s dad Ronald “Tex” Cauthen in 2009, one of the best people you could ever meet, and a huge influence on Doug.

Fast Forward to this year’s Derby, Dwight and I again made the treck to Churchill to support Doug. Jim had just had a baby and couldn’t make this one. In his place were Brian Howard, David White, and Jeff Bittel, 3 other friends from our UK days.

Strangly, Doug stopped by our box to say hi, and said, if one of our horses wins, make sure you make your way to the winner’s circle. We had been there twice before for Derbys and he never said that. And these were horses with real shots, like Colonel John. Did Doug have a premonition? Perhaps. While Super Saver liked the mud, and had a win at Churchill, this was one of the most wide open Derbys ever. Still I remember thinking of Doug’s comment as they loaded the last horse in the gate.

When Super Saver came by us in front, we were screaming as hit the wire. We high fived in the box, then made our way to the infield for the festivies. Doug and I made eye contact and it was one of those truly special times, pure hapiness. The mountain had been climbed, the mission accomplished.

I also realized something while standing in that sacred ground which is the Churchill Downs winners circle. My definition of friendship had been altered as well. I always thought a friend was someone who was there in good times and bad. While that is still true, now I realize that when you can be as happy for someone else’s success, as you would be for yourself, that truly is a friend. The jubilance I felt last Saturday was far and above my expectation. I expected to be happy, sure. But the feeling was unreal, I found myself so deeply moved and thrilled for Doug.

Here is to your continued success my friend, thanks for letting me finally get to the Derby winner’s circle!


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