Page 27 - New Mexico Fall 2020

2019 NEW MEXICO Racing Champions
by Diane M. Ciarloni
These are the 2019 New Mexico-Bred Champions, being recognized and celebrated in 2020. Thank goodness for that familiar time delay because, without it, we may have had nothing to shout about during this period of natural disasters, COVID-19 pandemic, polar- izing politics and bitter social unrest.
Think about the millions of people who sat up all night on December 31, 2019, wear- ing dumb-looking hats and blowing those silly paper whistles that uncurl from the force of your breath; shouting “Happy New Year!” at the stroke of midnight to welcome one of the most deceptive and destructive Trojan horses in all of history. Thus far, 2020 has been a crushing disappointment. Thankfully, it will pass.
Being crowned a champion, whether it’s at the local, national or international level,
is permanent. It will not, like those fleeting 12-months, ever pass. Everlasting. It’s not washed away by the floods and storm surges of a hurricane or scorched and incinerated by wildfires. Being a champion is voted in but is seldom voted out.
Look at Bruce Jenner, if you need proof. Jenner delivered a world record-breaking, decathlon performance in the 1976 Olympic Games. Ten grueling events. He was a true red, white and blue hero with the medals to verify his champion status. He was hailed as America’s greatest athlete.
In 2020, 44-years after those record- breaking games, Bruce Jenner is a transgen-
der woman. He is 70 years old and, to my knowledge, no one has suggested he return his medals and relinquish his champion title. This is simply the way of the world when it comes to champions.
There are several important characteristics to note about the champions in this article, but one of the most critical of those is the numbers in their earnings column. Remem- ber, these are New Mexico-breds competing almost exclusively in New Mexico for
New Mexico purses. The dollar amounts connected to these champions are light-years beyond chump change. That’s cold, hard
cash talking and it’s saying, “Owning a
New Mexico-bred is definitely worth
the investment.”
“Being crowned
a champion, whether it’s at the local, national or international level,
is permanent. It
will not ever pass.”