Horse racing is a very complex sport with various plots and subplots. It is very much like life in many ways. Horses are like people in many ways. Every horse has its own unique personality. I’ve learned a lot of things from thoroughbred racing that can be applied in real life situations. Let’s take a look at a few.

#1) Horses that break poorly are often eliminated at the start; but not always. A bad start in a horse race and a bad start in life will not prevent those with supreme determination from finding the winners circle. Whether Rags to Riches in the Belmont Stakes or projected first round pick Mardy Gilyard who was homeless at one point in his collegiate career, getting back on track is possible for those with the spirit and grit.

#2) No matter how great the odds, everyone has a shot. Mine That Bird shocked the world when he slipped up the rail to a powerful win in the Kentucky Derby. Giacomo also won the Run for the Roses at impossibly long odds. The same holds true in everyday life. Who would’ve ever thought that a black man named  Barack Obama would be President of the United States of America? Love him or hate him, the odds were a million to one.

#3) Age takes its toll on all of us. There is no avoiding father time. However, just because your old doesn’t mean you can’t do great things! Look at John Henry. The famous gelding won the Arlington Million and was Horse of the Year at the ripe old age of 9. Cloudy’s Knight was a desperately close second in the Breeders Cup Marathon last year at the age of 9. Brett Favre is having the season of his life. He won the Super Bowl when I  was in kindergarten. Who would’ve thought his next Super Bowl triumph might possibly come when I was in college? Certainly not I. While I’m sure most of us would prefer to be in our prime, it is still possible to do very great things in the latter stages of life.

#4) Sometimes making a few changes is all that is need to do your best. Many horses can’t run a lick on dirt but are lights out when you put them on the grass. Others can’t run well over long distances, but are speed demons at sprint distances. Furthermore some horses aren’t using the most optimal running style or equipment. We all remember what happened when Calvin Borel took Mine That Bird off the lead and decided to close in the Kentucky Derby. The next time you encounter trouble try and think objectively about what you can do differently to solve the problem.

#5) The people you surround yourself with are very important. Many horses have done poorly for one trainer or jockey but for some reason respond very well to another jockey or trainer. I hate to keep coming back to the same example, but this is very true for Calvin Borel and Mine That Bird.

Can you think of any lessons that horse racing has taught you which can be applied in everyday situations? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

There isn’t a horse that really jumps off the page when handicapping the Marathon. It looks like the pacesetter is going to be Hawthorne Gold Cup runner up Night Lite. The five-year-old son of Thunder Gulch earned an automatic entry to the race when he won the Turfway Park Fall Championship by 5 3/4 lengths. He earned a BSF of 100 for that effort. Jockey Jon Court will probably retain the mount. I’d love to see Court get a win in the Breeders Cup.

Muhannak will try and defend his title in the Marathon. He enters this race with better form than last year, finishing 5th of 12 in a Group 3 at Ascot last out. He earned a Racing Post Rating of 111 for that try. Depending on the pace situation he should be laying mid pack or towards the rear of the field. His jockey would wise not to strike the lead too early, as he was nearly caught last year.

The nine-year-old gelding Cloudy’s Knight will have a big shot at winning for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. The son of Avie’s Lord has raced just twice this year with wins in the Kentucky Cup Turf, and Sycamore. Both were Grade 3 events.  The old warrior was a Grade 1 winner in 2007, and looks to still have that form. Sheppard is a genius with horses that race at exceptionally long distances and he will have this one ready to run the race of his life.

The three-year-old colts Man of Iron and Mastery both looks tough shipping in from Europe. Man of Iron is a son of Giant’s Causeway and Better Than Honour. Some may recall Better Than Honour as the dam that produced Belmont Stakes winners Rags to Riches and Jazil. She also produced Japanese star Casino Drive. He is certainly bred to win a Breeders Cup race.  Mastery won the Grade 1 St Ledger Stakes last out. He looks to be on the improve and should hold a very strong hand in this race.

Other interesting entries include Black Astor, Father Time, and Sir Dave. Who do you like in the Breeders Cup Marathon?