Dear Gina,

Read about your whip ban. As one of my mentors told me when I asked him why I lose my rhythm in close finishes, “Greed overcomes style every time.”

Would you trade 13 days in the saddle for a Cheltenham winner? I would.

Enjoy the vacation.

All the best,

– Whipped

Dear Lisa,

I’ll admit, I had never heard of you. I spent most of the morning asking my friends, ‘Have you ever heard of Lisa O’Neill? Nobody had ever heard of you, sorry.

Figuring you were Irish, figuring Gordon Elliott wouldn’t put you on a horse if you didn’t deserve to be there and figuring Tiger Roll was 16/1, I took a shot, betting you each/way and combining you with Tully East for the late double, a bet we love in America, but later I learned, a bet nobody knew existed in England. I hit the bet and paid for the trip.

I digress…

I just wanted to tell you – and you know how I am about sharing my emotions – that I feel a connection with you. The last time I shared that kind of pressured time with a woman, my son popped out after 23 hours. And, yes, the National Hunt Chase felt like labour to me (sorry, ladies). I rode every jump with you. When Tiger Roll was pulling early, I was doing breath-in-breath-out with you. When he made that mistake down the backside, my fingers clutched the rail of the Chez Roux box like it was a neck strap over Bechers. When he scraped his belly on every fence, I felt the birch through my overcoat.

Horses and jockeys make mistakes, all day, every day. It’s not about the mistakes, they’re inevitable. It’s about how you react to the mistakes. You didn’t react, Tiger Roll never thought he made a mistake, never thought there was an anxious moment. Brilliance.

It was the ride of the meet.

Love,

– Free Trip to Cheltenham

Dear Un De Sceaux,

Your jump at the last in the Ryanair was as good as I’ve ever seen. And, don’t worry, my voice will come back eventually.

Still shaking,

– Jump for Fun

Dear Ruby and Willie,

I never doubted you.

As always,

– Still on the Bandwagon

Dear Nichols Canyon,

Hope you enjoyed Nashville last year and we look forward to seeing you there again for the Iroquois Steeplechase in May. Last time, you ran down your fences a bit, of course, you were chasing Rawnaq. There is no Rawnaq this year. Maybe skip a festival this year, jump a little straighter and you’ll be $500,000 richer.

Welcome back,

– American Steeplechasing

Dear Altior,

What do you have to do for respect? I guess that’s the standard you’ve set, you win the Arkle and get slagged for not winning it by far enough.

Tough crowd.

Don’t let it get to you. See you in the Queen Mother.

Until next year,

– Impressed

Dear Might Bite,

You left your pint at the Arkle Bar. I picked up the tab.

You owe me one,

– Barmate

Dear Paul,

Congratulations on your Cheltenham double. As always, you delivered patient, delicate, understated rides – like umbrellas in a rainstorm. In a time when turnover and turmoil are rampant, I appreciate your loyalty while riding second-call behind Ruby. Well deserved.

Like always,

– A Loyalist

Dear Jessica,

Congratulations on your triple at Cheltenham. I’ve watched your exploits ever since my first Cheltenham – Moscow Flyer – and have admired your style over the years. Wow, what a life in horses, the Olympics for three-day eventing and now a Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Loved the parade through Moone, wish we had that kind of appreciation for the horse, for the sport here. If we tried to parade a horse through the streets, we’d be locked up for disturbing the peace.

Respectfully,

– Keep it Rolling

Dear JP,

Congratulations on another incredible Cheltenham. Cause of Causes, Buveur D’Air and Defi Du Seuil were strong in victory, My Tent or Yours and Pendra were stoic in defeat. Just wanted to say, your consistent dispersion of horses is noted and appreciated. I don’t care why you do it, just keep doing it. In America, if every big owner would divvy a few horses to deserving trainers, the sport would be healthier and stronger. Sure, keep a core group with your most trusted trainer (s), but send horses – and a message – to the rest. It doesn’t take much to swing the tide.

Duly noted,

– Spread the Wealth

Dear Davy,

Thank you for 12 years of Festival winners. You ride a race like most of us make toast – pop it in, push a button, wait a bit, butter it up, enjoy.

While I’m at it, Jamie Codd and Denis O’Regan, you make pretty good toast, too.

Fondly,

– Patience is a Virtue

Dear Noel,

Good to see you have a winner with Road to Respect. You still got it.

Tell Sean Flanagan we said hello. We taught him everything he knows!

Much appreciated,

– Fans of Noel Meade

Dear Henry,

I know it’s been a trying season, what with losing some nice horses but you stayed the course, as did, Special Tiara. This game will test your mettle, it will also reward your mettle. Well done.

Stay the course,

– Chin Up and Carry On

Dear Gordon,

Congratulations on a breakout Cheltenham. The best trainers are able to achieve with every type of horse. Nobody did that better at Cheltenham – a dwelting French-bred to win the Supreme, an American-bred veteran to win the Cross Country, a Triumph Hurdle winner to a National Hunt Chase winner…you did it all.

Congratulations again,

– Impressed

Dear Simon Claisse and everyone at Cheltenham,

Somehow you make it look easy, hosting 250,000 of your closest friends over four days of racing and revelry.

The enormity never dawned on me until the day JT fell and never rose after the Kim Muir, we walked out of the track that day, laughing, guffawing after another lark at Cheltenham. As we walked – staggered – I saw you, Simon, skitter past. Suit still buttoned, you were stone-faced, moving with alacrity and purpose. We yelled to you, you gave us a curt wave. Only on the car ride home, with the air ambulance fluttering above us, did we learn of the tragedy that had occurred. Only then, did your eyes, your actions as we went home and you went to work, make sense.

It dawned on me that day, the responsibility of putting on the show. No, nothing like the pressure of being in the show (rest in peace, JT) but still it’s an enormous burden, an awesome responsibility.

An anthill just looks like a hill of sand until you think about the ants.

Yours truly,

– A Fan for Life