This past Tuesday evening, I watched the ESPN special about Charismatic, his jockey; Chris Antley and their story. It's been over 12 years since the D.Wayne Lukas trained colt had the "fairytale" story during the 1999 Triple Crown season. A horse who ran for a claiming tag early in his three year old season and then winning two-thirds of the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby & Preakness). The whole story was two-fold though, about this horse who many thought wasn't good enough to win a grade I race and his jockey; Chris Antley, a talented jockey with "personal" demons that haunted him.
A week after Chris died nearly 11 years ago, I wrote a column about the tragedy. It chronicled his rise to stardom, billed as the "next" Steve Cauthen and his success racing in New York which all came in his early 20's. Talent, success and exposure made it very rough on this young man in this sport. Unfortunately like many others who achieve this stature, sometimes all of it can be trying on an individual. Turning to drug use in 1988 became his downfall, but he battled back and soon regain that top form as a jockey by winning the 1991 Kentucky Derby aboard; Strike the Gold. His career as jockey had it's "ups and downs" during this time period, but Antley stayed "clean". It would be weight issues that plagued him in the late 90's. But once again, he conquered them and was blessed with getting the mount on Charismatic in the spring of 1999.
The ESPN depiction of the story was done quite well. Interviews with the trainers around Charismatic, horse racing people who followed the story and Chris Antley's friends who could give insight on how Chris handled this fame once again in his life. I found the discussions with former jockey; Gary Stevens quite interesting. He brought out the "zest" that Chris had for being so fortunate on riding Charismatic in the Triple Crown races. It was truly a "fairytale" story in every sense. A Hall of Fame trainer, who had his share of winning championship races. A colt who didn't show the caliber of Lukas' previous thoroughbreds, but out ran that form. A jockey, who his was a champion and with a world of talent. But, had his own problems personally which unfortunately overshadowed his great talent. That spring of 1999, they were both on top of the world. But soon like a thoroughbred race it's self, it ended with the results no one wanted to see.
Watching the presentation was very bitter sweet for myself. Of course knowing the outcome is what made it very tough. Tying into the story, the "highs and lows" of our sport unfortunately go hand in hand. The older I get, these sad stories of real life affect me. I never thought at the time, that Charismatic had ANY shot of winning the Kentucky Derby, let alone being a Triple Crown contender. I was a huge fan of Chris Antley as a jockey, right at the time I began showing interest in the sport. The Chris Antley going in that Triple Crown season of 1999 wasn't the same Chris I remembered in the late 80's. But, seeing the story again this past Tuesday night put it all into perspective once again.
We all go though tough times in our life and sometimes we even hit "rock bottom". The key is to always try and pick up yourself and do your best to overcome these things. For some it's easy and others, not so. But for a brief moment in time, a horse with "little" talent and a jockey with a "world" of talent got together and were successful. We were very lucky to see this happened and on the flip side, unfortunately see what real life brings. Life is never easy and this story
showed us both sides, the good and the bad.
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