Only the Good Die Young

[Silver Charm]

Have been so busy lately that I have hardly had time to respond to anything much less stir anything up. When I heard the news last week about Free House moving on to that \"Great Shedrow in the Sky\" far sooner than he ever should have it was tough to take.

He was a gamer, a battler who didn\'t know that with his pedigree he wasn\'t supposed to be that damn good. That\'s what is so great about some of the good ones, they don\'t look at their Tomlinson, Dosage they just have a bad habit of running real fast.

1997 was some kind of year, one I will never forget. That crop as a whole would blow this years bunch right off the Freakin Track. Smarty could hang but the rest of them \"Forget About It\". John, Trudy and Paco were a tough bunch to bet against. They along with the horse deserved a better fate. Clearly the horse.

Excellent piece by Lenny Shulman on the Bloodhorse site.

http://opinions.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=23572

There a good horses who run fast and there good horses who run fast and fight back.

Free House clearly fell into the later category.

[tucker]

Thanks for the article.  1997, specifically the triple crown races, was the year that got me \"committed\" to following this great sport.  I had always been a fan but not a \"committed\" fan. Free House had a lot to do with it.  The Preakness race, which I was not at, gave me the chills and goosebumps that makes horse racing what it is.  We made the trek up to Belmont for the Belmont Stakes that year, my first Triple Crown Race.  I haven\'t missed a Belmont or Preakness since. Over my desk, in my home office, is a large framed picture of the Preakness finish with Free House \"eyeing\" Silver Charm, nostrils flared, ears pricked, game as can be.  It really captures what great racing and special horses are all about.  Thanks for everything Free House.  

Sam

[P-Dub]

Like many others, I was distressed to hear about Free House. My favorite Free House memory is the day he won the Big Cap in 1999. I\'ll admit, I didn\'t have my money on him that day, but witnessing the stirring ovation he received as he returned to the winners circle more than made up for a losing ticket. Thank you Free House for some great memories, it was a privilege to watch you run.