I know people.  Or, rather, I know people who know people.

L. Williams and I were talking ponies.  We often talk ponies.  But we were talking about our racing ponies and the subject of photo finishes came up.  I've often lamented the fact that in the eight years or so that the Kid has been in my life, I haven't been able to master Google to the point of finding the finish from his one win.

L. Williams is Red from Shawshank Redemption.  She can get things.  She contacted Allison, who is a magical person.  Allison was able to point me towards the exact right person to get the crack photo that I was looking for.  Dude.  I've never spoken to this chick and she might be my new best friend.  Expect a Christmas card!

I sent the photographer an email and tried my damnedest not to ooze desperation and twelve-year-old-pony-love.  I kinda sorta figured that he didn't give a shit about my relationship with my horse.  I just said, "Hey, do you have the photo of this winner running this race on this date at this track?  BECAUSE HE'S MY HORSE!!!!"  Yeah.  Something like that.  Except nicer and more professional because occasionally I hide my crazy.

The photog (or photog minion?) was super prompt in his response and stated that he probably did have the photo I was looking for (cue tears of joy.  for reals.), but wouldn't be able to give me a definitive yes or no until the following week.  I waited somewhat patiently and didn't blast him eighteen emails.  As soon as I got that affirmative from him, I called him to throw money at him.  $24.  Worth it.

Look at those legs!

I feel like this is a huge puzzle piece from Archie's history.  The first person to work him.  What he looked like.  What he rode in.  His stance and body language.  So this is what I've surmised:

• Archie ran in a Dexter bit.  Never heard of it?  Yeah.  I only knew of it as the cousin to the Chifney, which is an anti-rear bit.  The Dexter isn't for the same thing, but it is used as an additional means of stopping/controlling a "strong horse".  
• Archie also ran in a blinker hood.  This limited the visibility primarily of those horses behind him, in an effort, as I understand it, to keep him focused on running forward.
• Archie also ran with a shadow roll.  This inhibited the visibility directly in front/below him.  It serves two possible purposes:  to keep him from spooking at shadows by inhibiting him from seeing them, or to get him to lower his head (otherwise he couldn't see anything).
• Archie still had donkey ears as a baby horse.  (He was four.)
• And he looks tense as fuck.
• But he still wore blue!

Dexter.

Chifney.

Maybe he did this stuff? (Not my pony.)

I'm sort of surprised that he went from racing to 4-H, especially considering that his previous owner/trainer thought he needed all that extraneous crap on his face.  I mean, I get that he's an asshole at heart.  I adore that about him.  Maybe people don't appreciate assholes as much as I do.  Um.  Anyways, I'm open to being educated by those who know more about general practices with racehorses/racing paraphernalia.

So, again, many thanks to L and Allison for hooking me up with something I've been dying to find for nearly a decade.

THANK YOU!

On a serious note:  thanks for the condolences about my cousin.  It's hard to articulate, but as much as I want a cure for cancer and wish that he had lived long enough to see one, I'm also grateful that he isn't suffering anymore.