Princeton, NJ Random Scoop

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Let The Race Begin!

August 30, 2010 By Leslie Pell Linnehan

Let The Race Begin!

This past Saturday brought the 141^st Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs NY, one of the biggest horse races of the year. It was a warm, blue skied weekend, with a crowd of 45,764 and ‘Sweet Caroline’ ringing out from restaurant patios (Hamilton grads would have loved it). The race drew the most beautiful, powerful group of 3 year old horses I have ever seen; every one a winner. Fly Down ran at the back of the pack in ninth place for the first mile of the race leaving others to battle out the lead. Then, with an eighth of a mile to go, the Travers took a turn and the excitement surged. Out of nowhere Fly Down kicked into his late race run, swiftly passing the pack and bearing down upon the leader Afleet Express. The two surged towards the wire, the crowd went wild and as they crossed, the announcer’s voice boomed ‘Too close to call’; a photo finish. Upon review, Afleet Express won ‘by a nose’, literally. What a shame. What a shame. A ‘nose’ away from a million dollars, but he’s still a winner.

What does this have to do with Princeton? With Fall on the horizon there are only a few short weeks before our town will get back up to speed. As I think back on the Travers, I wonder what to take away from it all. Fly Down ran like a champion. He ran with grace, strength and dignity, even past the finish post. If only we could all manage ourselves as well in our daily stress-ridden race against the clock, even when we lose.

As our streets fill again with traffic, deadlines, paperwork, school pick up lines, fourth quarter hurdles and other assorted madness, let’s remember that what matters most, is not how fast we go, but how we run the race. After all, this promises to be a spectacular Fall in Princeton, no matter what pace we keep. So let the guy in front grab the last parking spot, don’t honk in the pick up line, and don’t stress if your skates aren’t sharpened. Let’s all take the ease of Summer with us into September.

Carry on with grace Princeton. Carry on.

Scooped in:

Saratoga Springs, NY

For Richard.

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