Monday, Aug. 04, 2008

Steve Cameron: Little guy gave my morale a big boost

Sometimes you look at pro athletes and just want to throw up your hands. Or throw up your lunch.

I met a kid last week, a college student from San Jose who's enrolled at USC.

He's been working as a summer intern in a newspaper sports department simply because he loves the games.

"I know I'll never get rich writing about sports," he said, "but it's all I've ever wanted to do."

I'm glad he understands the financial implications.

Not only that, he also grasps journalistic heartbreak -- the theory it's never a good idea to meet your idol.

"I'm past that," he said. "I grew up as a big Giants fan, and especially Barry Bonds. When I was eight years old, my dad took me to a game and I tried to get Barry's autograph.

"He wanted $20 for it."

Ever since that conversation, I've been wondering what Barry Bonds would do with an 8-year-old's $20 bill -- light a cigar, maybe?

After so many years in this business, I worry about getting numb and skeptical.

Hearing things like that Bonds autograph fiasco don't make it any easier.

But then, every once in awhile, you realize there are still some really fantastic people in sports -- even among the superstars.

There's an event taking place today, and I'll bet you don't know about it.

A 41-year-old Peruvian-born jockey named Edgar Prado is being inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame -- a fair honor, since Prado has ridden more than 6,000 winners.

Consider: Only 16 jockeys based in the United States have won 6,000 times.

You actually may have seen quite a bit of Prado without being all that aware of it.

Edgar was the jock who rode Barbaro to victory in the 2006 Kentucky Derby and then -- when the colt took that horrible, ill-fated step at the start of the Preakness Stakes -- Prado risked his own safety to give Barbaro a chance at life.

He leaped off the horse at full gallop to remove his weight, and then held on to get the suffering colt calmed down.

Ultimately, surgeons couldn't save Barbaro despite a year of trying. But it's worth remembering that Edgar Prado's instant reaction was the only reason they had a chance.

Prado is 4-foot-11 and weighs 114 pounds, but he's as strong as a bull and half that weight must be heart.

He's not just respected but loved by his peers -- the guys trying to beat him every day.

Edgar's already won the Mike Venezia Memorial Award, which is given out for "sportsmanship and citizenship" -- and decided by fellow jockeys, turf writers and even fans voting online.

Oh, and Prado is one of the driving forces behind "Anna House," a child-care center for the offspring of backstretch workers at New York's Belmont Park.

Are you getting the idea that Edgar Prado is a pretty good guy?

OK, check this...

Last Wednesday at Saratoga in upstate New York, in a race called the Fleet Indian Stake, Prado was sitting on a favorite named Ice Cool Kitty.

Edgar's main problem entering the gate was he'd drawn the rail, which meant that he'd have to hustle the speedy Ice Cool Kitty out to an early lead.

When the gates opened, though, Prado was startled to see that a notoriously slow starter, Precise Lady, had shot to the front alongside him.

In a few heartbeats, he understood why.

The right rein on Precise Lady's bridle had broken and was flapping loose, meaning that jockey Javier Castellano had virtually no control of his flying horse.

Castellano tried frantically to reach the short piece of rein still attached to the ring on the right side of Precise Lady's bit -- but he couldn't reach it.

The horse was out of control, with a pack of animals and jocks just behind, the sort of situation that can lead to terrible tragedy.

Prado, meanwhile, looked over and saw Castellano's distress. Edgar was not planning to rush his horse any further at that point -- since it would compromise his chances to hold on at the finish.

But...

"It was more important to see nobody hurt than winning a race," Prado said.

So Edgar urged Ice Cool Kitty forward, right up next to the wild-running Precise Lady.

Then Edgar switched his own whip to his right hand, reached out and stuck it under Precise Lady's neck -- and flipped the rein up so Castellano could grab it.

"I saw it tangled there, so I moved my hose a little bit closer and put my stick under (the rein)," Prado said of a maneuver executed on a couple of 1,200-pound thoroughbreds running at 40 miles per hour.

Veteran rider Gary Stevens, who is now a TV analyst, has watched the video of Prado's "rescue" several times and still can't believe what he's seeing.

"I raced for 31 years," Stevens said. "I think I've got plenty of riding experience. And I don't believe I could flick another horse's rein up like that -- going full speed -- more than one try in 10.

"Edgar did it in the only chance he was going to get. And with no warning."

Stevens pointed out that jockeys sometimes don't get enough credit as athletes -- despite the obvious strength and endurance they must possess to steer giant animals through tight spaces at top speeds.

"Edgar also proved a little something about hand-eye coordination, too," Stevens said. "But if I had to pick a guy to save me like that, he'd be the one."

Congratulations on the Hall of Fame, Edgar. Enjoy the day.

Oh, and thanks for getting the Barry Bonds thing out of my mind.

Steve Cameron is sports editor of the Sun-Star. He can be reached at scameron@mercedsunstar.com.