Page 35 - New Mexico Fall 2020

IN MEMORIAM
Galen Hill 8/17/1953-7/24/2020
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
One of my favorite things about my job is the life-long friendships that are formed from the love of the horse. One of those life-long friends and long-standing clients of the farm was Galen Hill and his wife, Kathy. I have been trying to figure
out how to put into words a tribute to Galen, his passion for horses and his love for racing. It’s been a struggle to find the right time and the right words. I haven’t wanted to accept his passing, nor wanted to say good-bye, but sometimes there just isn’t a good time nor the perfect thing to say. So here goes...
What I know for sure is, Galen will be missed. Our annual sideline sale conference on the state of racing and general horse business took place outside the make-up ring at the Ruidoso Select Sale year after year, for as long as I can remember. In fact, at one of those sales Galen bought a colt from me out of Rare Pie, by Stel Corona. This was prior to Too Flash For You winning the All American Derby, so the Stel Corona colt, being my only consignment that year, didn’t have many lookers. Galen liked him and purchased him. I’d like to think that it was solely based on the colt and his prospective racing career, but something told me that he also bought him to support my business. He was like that. He liked to support the little guy and was always an advocate for doing the right thing. I’m certain I ended up on the better end of that deal that time around. That’s the thing about deals though, and friendships, sometimes it benefits you a little more and sometimes it benefits the other person a little more, but if you stick around long enough, it all evens out eventually. The process is what makes lasting friendships , a whole heap of fun and “crazy” stories to remember and share with others.
Galen was involved in many racing partner- ships throughout his life. One, in particular, led to a partnership that owned and raced Bigg Daddy. Bigg Daddy won several Grade 1 New Mexico Bred races and also ran 2nd in the All American Futurity, ultimately winning over $750,000. Sadly, all racing careers must come to end at some point. Retirement from racing is far better for some horses than others. I remember Galen saying, “Now Sarah, you are going to think I’m crazy for doing this,
but I want to buy my partners out of Bigg Daddy and let him have a chance at a second career.” My
response was, “I believe that is admirable and the right thing to do for the horse. CRAZY? Maybe, but we are all a little crazy to be doing any of this in the first place.” Galen thought so much of this horse, that when his racing career was coming to an end, he bought out the other partners and gave Bigg Daddy to his wife, Kathy, as a gift for their 19th Wedding Anniversary. What an amazing gift to both Kathy and the horse. Today, Bigg Daddy is working on a great second career in the barrel racing industry. But if you ask me, I think Galen and Kathy would both be equally pleased if all he did was graze happily in the pasture, resting on his laurels. I admire both of them for doing the “right thing”, the “honorable thing” and giving this horse the retirement he deserves.
Galen and Kathy were among my first clients here in Deming, prior to Born Running Ranch Inc. even existing. They were connec- tions I formed while living in Colorado. I bought paper shavings from their company and when I moved to Deming, Galen figured out a way to get the shavings all the way down here at a price I could still afford to buy them. Over the years they raced many good horses and several “great ones.”
Among those are the following:
Bigg Daddy, *Izyk, *Roskoze, *Sky Seraph, *Dot Dot Dance, Sandy Bar Caro (the mare that introduced Galen and Kathy), Miss Eye In The Sky, *Prayz, Friscos Rebel, Deka Dance, Woman In Redd, Midnite Blu, *Three Zzzs, Courageous Venture, *Running Ronni, EC Rid- er, BF Chasing Foose, *Omega Special, *Special Moses, Stride On Over, Special To Us, Receptor, Folks Folly, Tactical Speed, and Racey Blaze.
The names with an * are horses they raised.
Over the years, Galen and I weighed everything including the ups and downs and ins and outs of small herd horse raising, to racing and politics and if we didn’t get it all covered at our annual meeting, we would discuss these topics and more over the phone throughout the year. All American weekend is upon us and not only will you not be there, nei- ther will I. They moved the sale all together and it has already happened. This year has been different for many reasons and one thing we can be certain of, is that it will not be the same.
If I could have had the chance to say good-bye Galen, I would tell you... We will miss you dearly and your friendship. Thank you for believing in
me and trusting me to take care of your horses
over all the years. I think your lifelong passion for horses and your love of Jesus Christ has left a lasting impression on me and my family. I admire the way you handled Bigg Daddy’s retirement from the racetrack. My heart breaks for Kathy as she walks the rest of her road here on earth without you. We will miss seeing you at the races and the sales and your annual trips to the farm. One day, when we finish the race, we will see you again! What a win picture that will make!
By: Sarah D. Rioux
FALL 2020 33