Page 175 - Speedhorse April 2019

But after the initial investigation, there wasn’t any news. Town was gone. Nobody seemed to know where he was, or if they knew, they certainly weren’t saying.
But there were enough rumors for every- one. It seemed that everyone had a rumor and a motive for the gelding’s disappearance.
But there was no news. The days of no news turned into months of no news. The depression grew among the members of Town’s family. Town was stolen in October, and by February it was to the point of giving up hope. At that point, many people would have traded their souls for Town just being returned alive, even if he never raced again.
If Town would have died during that ordeal, it would have been a relief to know he was dead. That way it would at least have been resolved and Town’s family could start over. The pressure from the daily wondering about Town’s welfare would have been relieved.
But then it ended as quickly as it started. Town was alive and was recovered in Mexico. The rumor mill that cranked out stories of him being match raced in Mexico was now turning out tales about confessions being extracted through means developed during the Spanish Inquisition.
All I can report is what Ivan Ashment told me about when he drove up to where Town Policy was in Mexico.
“It was strange,” Ashment related in the Los Alamitos press box shortly after the gelding’s return.
“I was concerned that it would be the wrong horse, and we had got our hopes up for nothing. But when I saw him, I in- stantly knew that it was him. That we had actually found him. Then I looked at him and he looked as if he was dead.
I was just thankful that he was alive.”
Everybody was wondering if Town would ever race again. But, in a strange sense, nobody cared. Everyone was just glad that a member of the family was returned.
The horror story had turned into a script with a happy ending. Then the happy ending turned into a fairy tale. It was remarkable. It provided one of those moments that is forever etched in some vague corner of my mind.
It was early April and Town was in a program to determine if a comeback was possible. He was gaining weight and his vigor and vitality began to return.
It was miraculous. There was talk that Town would return for the summer season at Los Alamitos. He would race again.
After a masterful rehabilitation program engineered by Schvaneveldt, the horse that “looked dead” to his owner several months before was ready for his first test.
Before Town could race, he would have to qualify in a 350-yard workout. It was a bright May morning at Los Alamitos. A true south- ern California Chamber of Commerce day.
Town walked onto the track like he owned it. But, after all, he did. Kenny Hart jogged the now shining bay gelding past the starting gate and onto the track to warm him up.
The attention of the backstretch was focused on what was about to happen. The first questions concerning Town’s ability were about to be answered.
Town came back to the starting gate. His mind was on business. Kenny Hart looked more apprehensive than he does before a million dollar futurity.
It was time to find out.
Town Policy was quick. Town Policy didn’t make mistakes.
Town looked straight down the track. He was the only horse in the starting gate. I was standing about 25 yards in front of the gate and it seemed that Town went by at the same instant that I heard the gates rattling in their open position.
He scooted down the track. Kenny Hart wasn’t about to push the gelding after he knew that he was rolling fast enough and going well within himself.
I forget what the workout time was. It was fast, but it wasn’t important.
Kenny Hart knew what was important.
As Town and Kenny approached the gates after the workout, Town was still on his toes and Kenny had a smile that comes from knowing that a member of your family is healthy again.
Kenny looked over and said, “I believe he’s back!”
The classic understatement. The truth.
In his first race Town Policy set the fastest qualifying time ever for the Los Alamitos Derby. He then won the Los Alamitos Derby and received the loudest ovation I have ever heard at Los Alamitos for a horse winning a race. The usually thick-skinned racing fans loved Town.
Later that summer, Town Policy battled Medley Glass in the most intense stretch duel I have ever witnessed in a Quarter Horse race during the All American Derby.
Indeed, Town was back.
But the gelding that is a part of Quarter racing lore will not be back this time.
It is fitting that he is buried in the Los Alamitos infield. It is fitting that there will be a stakes race carrying Town Policy’s name this summer at Los Alamitos. It is fitting because Los Alamitos is Town Policy’s home.
I know that one day Blane Schvaneveldt and Kenny Hart will win that stakes.
I also know that one day I will show my little boy where Town Policy is buried. Then I will tell him about the exploits of
the gallant gelding which took place on th h
track that surrounds his grave.
Then, decades from now, I will tell
my grandchildren. And I won’t have
to exaggerate.
– Ty Wyant
e
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E Ev ve e r ry yb b o o d dy y w wa a s s w wo o n n d d e e r r i i n n g g i i f f T To ow wn n w wo o u u l l d d e ev ve e r r race again. But, in a strange sense, nobody cared. Everyone was just glad that a member of the family was returned.
LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM FEBRUARY 1984 ISSUE
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