TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
for the sport. According to Zorn, it is not uncommon for Kerry and him to think alike and “worry” about the same things. “People have no idea how hard it is just to get here. You have the points system and the build-up. Everything you do and everything that happens with the horse is scrutinized. It really helps to have someone to bounce ideas off.” Zorn considers it an honor to be in the Churchill barn area among the iconic trainers and owners he has revered all his life. “I am a fan of great trainers, and it’s an amazing feat to get to the derby year after year. But it is also nice to see a fresh face make it to this level. To see a guy like Whit get here and have a chance to win it is pretty special.” Whit Beckman, Honor Marie’s up-and-coming trainer, enjoys a strong connection with Kerry and Alan and refers to them as the type of people you want in the barn. “They are salt-of-the-earth, dedicated, and loyal. I am excited to have previously experienced the adrenaline rush of winning with them.” Beckman, a Louisville native, says to have the opportunity to be on the biggest stage on the biggest day in horse racing is a dream come true. He is thankful for the outpouring of support and heartfelt connections he has experienced through Honor Marie’s journey to the derby. “When we are manifesting anything in our lives, and we think about the service we can do for others and not just ourselves, that’s what grows and turns our dreams into reality,” he said. Beckman describes Honor Marie as an intelligent horse with the “it factor.” “I don’t have to train around anything. He knows who he is and what he is here to do.” Zorn adds, “He is built like an old-fashioned route horse. He’s not flashy. He has no quirks
and does the same thing day in and day out. He’s a working man’s horse.” Both men agree they love the horse and the journey he has made possible. Zorn says the road to the Kentucky Derby is the most stress and the most fun you will ever experience. “It’s not you, it’s not me, it’s what the horse did.” However, he states, “A good horse will take you on a ride you’ll never forget, but it’s people you share the experiences with that make the memories you will always cherish.” As Conner Ribble, Kerry and Alan’s son, reflects on derby day, he says, “Seeing people live out their dreams right before my eyes was truly special. Moments before the race, my heart was beating so fast. The last time I felt that way was moments before I proposed to my wife. The team, the trainer, and my mom and dad envisioned themselves ending up here. I will never forget seeing the joy on my parents’ faces as they hugged after the race was over.” Kerry agrees. “I am thankful my own kids got to be there and see behind the scenes and understand our love for the horses. The connections and the feeling of putting your feet in the dirt on the track at Churchill, looking up at the Twin Spires, and walking your horse to the paddock for the Kentucky Derby is surreal. I am just an ordinary girl having an extraordinary experience. Our horses are our heroes, but our connections keep us seeking those heroes.” Honor Marie finished eighth on derby day after getting off to a rough start coming out of the gate. Although he didn’t win, he gave us an experience we will never forget. Thank you, Kerry and Alan, for giving us a Texarkana derby connection, and thank you, Honor Marie, for the honor of a lifetime.
32
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs