For Military Vets, Roller Coaster Ride to Derby Winner’s Circle

[Wandering Eyes]

A group of six severely injured military veterans who participated in a charitable Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) event at last Saturday’s GI Kentucky Derby got more than they bargained for in terms of roller coaster emotions when an equine meet-and-greet with two of the race’s contenders turned into a two-day plot-twister of a thrill ride that culminated with some of the vets getting into the Derby winner’s circle clutching donated win tickets on the 65-1 winner.

The pre-Derby backstretch visits for the veterans were coordinated by Sentient Jet, a longtime Thoroughbred racing corporate sponsor, as part of a multi-year awareness campaign in support of the nonprofit HFOT, which builds and donates specially adapted custom homes nationwide for disabled post-9/11 veterans.

“Many of these veterans are single or double amputees,” said Andrew Collins, the president and chief executive of Sentient, of the six guests his firm hosted on Derby day. “In certain cases, some of these vets are missing a leg or both legs. And I believe the bulk of them, if I’m not mistaken, have received Purple Hearts.”

They were Army Specialist Brett Bondurant, Marine Corporal Travis Echols, Marine Staff Sergeant Matthew Wheeler, Army Sergeant Josh Wetzel, Marine Sergeant Dustin Johns, and Army Sergeant Richard Doyle.

The highlight of the pre-race festivities was scheduled to be a Thursday morning barn visit with Derby favorite Omaha Beach (War Front). The name Omaha Beach is significant in United States military history because it the beach on which the majority of allied casualties were suffered on D-day 75 years ago this year.

But Omaha Beach had to withdraw from the Derby with an entrapped epiglottis the night before the veterans’ visit.

“We knew about it the day before,” Collins said. “In fact, he heard about it directly from the jockey, Mike [Smith]. Everybody was stunned, but I think everybody felt worse for Mr. [Rick] Porter, the owner, than what it meant for us.”

The connections of Omaha Beach still graciously allowed the meet-and-greet to take place. Luckily, the agenda also included a barn visit with a lesser-known Derby contender who would actually be running–Country House (Lookin At Lucky).

Just like with Omaha Beach, the veterans met the horse and the entire behind-the-scenes training team of Country House, and were invited to make “the walk” on Saturday from the stable area to the Derby paddock with the horse. They were also told to head down to the winner’s circle in the longshot event that Country House won the race.

Not all of the HFOT veterans were able to walk with Country House to the paddock because of the mud and adverse weather conditions on Saturday, but several did, Collins said.

Collins said the veterans were invited to spend Derby day in the Sentient suite, where he described them as some of the “most respectful” members of the entourage. He said the veterans just seemed honored and awed to have met the injured favorite and the longshot contender.

As part of the invitation, Sentient also gave each of the veterans a $150 betting voucher.

“Some of them actually did bet that directly on Country House,” Collins said. “One put the full $150 on the nose to win.”

When Country House rallied to cross the wire second, Collins said the HFOT veterans “were going crazy thinking that’s amazing that he even placed.”

Then came the foul claim from Flavien Prat, and the entire 22-minute disqualification process unfolded in agonizing fashion as the veterans realized what was at stake.

When Country House got elevated to the victory, the entire Sentient group charged down to the winner’s circle–including two of the veterans who fought through the throng despite their injuries.

“They were caught up in the excitement, and the feedback that I got from them was that it was just like getting caught up in battle,” Collin said. “They got to not only experience history, but to feel like they were a part of it, and that was a big deal.”

 

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