Getting Back to Baeza
- Rebecca Drew
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
The Triple Crown may be over, but what about the quest to find the fate of John Randolph's 19th century horses? There is a special interest in finding the ones who paved the way for today's champion Thoroughbreds, including this year's Top Three: Sovereignty, Journalism, and Baeza. Yet, how much should this journal veer off-track (pun intended) by looking at horses instead of the usual flowers, landscapes, and such? I have an excuse by thinking that some of Virginia's landscape has been impacted by its equine history, so it is just as important as studying gardens. And while the journal is often geared toward French topics, I justified the new equine focus by looking at Mr. Randolph's fondness of France due to his visits and ability to speak the language. Today, however, I just want to talk about my favorite horse, Baeza, who descends from some of Randolph's horses.
Baeza will always be my personal favorite. He seems to embody some of John Randolph's personality. While Sovereignty and Journalism are the essence of cool, Baeza has obvious indications of coolness, yet he allows his individuality to show through. He has the looks and potential of a classic champ, yet he seems quick to let others know when he's had enough. At least that's how it seems when he is roaming around the track during non-racing times. A few television commentators have noted his temperament, saying things like they wish he would behave better. All of them seem to agree on his beauty and abilities, but they want him to conform to their expectations: docile and low-key. They chalk it up to his lack of experience compared to others due to his later birth date. His eyes tell me something else.
Perhaps it is a combination of wanting to do his own thing, yet feeling compelled when he sees others moving forward. All I see is grit when he came from so far back in the Kentucky Derby to third, on a wet track, nonetheless. He resides in California, so you would think he prefers good weather all year round. The same thing happened at the Belmont Stakes, and if he had that extra quarter-mile that is customary for that race, then perhaps the outcome would have changed in his favor. Then, when he looks at the camera, there is something in his eyes that I don't see in the others. I cannot put it into words. I could provide other examples of why I think Baeza jostles between treasuring his personal freedom and yet wanting to compete for the prize when there is something worth running toward, but I have already veered too far off-topic for this journal.
While finding Baeza's ancestors raised by John Randolph of Roanoke, I discovered a book by a gentleman named Fairfax Harrison titled The Roanoke Stud published by the Old Dominion Press in 1930. The book describes the strategy behind Randolph's breeding program, but it had no way of knowing the impact on equine racing in the later 20th century and early 21st century. It is thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read. As a biased 21st century reader, I wish more credit could have been given to Randolph, who often had an uncanny ability to see into the future. Perhaps he saw the future Kentucky Derby winners and contenders whose family trees include some of his own horses, such as Baeza's much-lauded ancestor named Roanoke.
Thanks for reading an entire post about Baeza. You can tell I really like this horse, and it is tempting to devote the entire journal to his future career! However, the focus will remain on the links between history and landscapes. It may take a while to unravel some of those links, especially the on-going mysteries, like what happened to the horses named Flora and Topaz? Do their final destinations still reflect some of their equine history like John Randolph's homeplace today? Are they filled with gardens now, or has "progress" forged a path right through it? Just don't be surprised if Baeza makes another appearance in this journal. Did I mention that I love that horse?
