1 Corinthians 9:24-25 “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline... They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”

Prolog of the Rule of St Benedict: Run the way of God’s commandments with the unspeakable sweetness of love.

In first week of May 1971, exactly 50 years ago, a remarkable story unfolded at the 97th running of the . Here is the tale. Three years prior a colt foaled by Dixieland II and sired by was born in North Carolina with a noticeably crooked foreleg. Given an uncertain future in racing, the colt was sold as a yearling for $1,200 at the Keeneland Sales to breeders from Venezuela. The new owner, Pedro Baptista named the horse Canonero II. The two year old had a uneven racing career at the La Rinconada Hippodrome in Caracas. However, the owner decided to nominate his crooked-legged horse to the Kentucky Derby, because his mother had told him in a dream that Canonero II was going to win the big race. Trained by Juan Arias and ridden by Gustavo Avila, the horse was shipped in the spring of 1971 to Louisville, Kentucky to compete in the Run for the Roses. The trip from Caracas was a nightmare. The plane’s first attempt to take off for Miami was aborted because of a mechanical failure. The second time, the plane was forced to return to the airport just after takeoff, because one of the engines caught fire. Ultimately, Canonero II had to be transported in a cargo plane carrying chickens, because it was the only available flight to Miami, where he finally arrived clearly fatigued. Officials at Miami International Airport found no papers for Canonero II, so the horse was detained another 14 hours in the cargo plane. Then the dehydrated horse had to be quarantined for four more days until blood tests arrived. Once all the paperwork was cleared, Canonero II was transported by van from Miami to Louisville, a grueling 24-hour, 1,080-mile trip that further diminished the colt.

An ugly mess of a horse finally arrived at Churchill Downs. Neither trainer Juan Arias nor groom Juan Quintero spoke English, so it took additional two or three hours before Canonero II could even make it into the stable area. And that moment came just a week before the big race. However, Canonero II recovered smartly during Derby week. His native Kentucky surroundings seemed to agree with him. Still, the horse and his connections were the subject of mockery from the press and track people. No one took them seriously — even less so after Canonero II breezed four furlongs in an extremely slow :53-4/5 on Wednesday — a mere three days before the big race. Railbirds at the track compared Canonero II to a turtle after the sluggish workout. They called Arias and Quintero “clowns” and “nuts”. But Arias, who always said that he could listen to his horse, contained himself, convinced that he was going to be in the winner’s circle on Derby Day. Gustavo Avila, his Venezuelan jockey knew that the bay colt was a versatile sort, capable of setting the pace or coming from behind if necessary, so the anxious Arias gave his jockey no instructions prior to the race.

On the day of the race because there were 20 horses in the field, Canonero II was tossed in with a six-horse pari-mutual field that went off at odds of 8.70-1. As a single entry, he went off at 500/1. At the bell, the 20 horses scrambled for position in the first quarter mile, with and Able and entry leading the field into the first turn. Meanwhile, Avila let Canonero II go as he pleased, not asking much from his ride during the first half-mile running in 17th position, some 20 lengths behind the leaders.

A compact field headed into the backstretch, with only seven lengths separating the first ten horses. Approaching the far turn, horses Eastern Fleet, Bold and Able and Unconscious all seemed to be in striking position to win. Suddenly, Canonero II surged forward very fast on the outside. The speed of the leaders collapsed as Canonero II continued his long drive and, in a matter of seconds, took control of the race, crossing the wire 3½ lengths in front of the nearest competitor. The jockey Avila, jubilant, stood in the irons as he galloped past the wire. The trainer Juan Arias couldn’t get to the winner’s circle because security officials didn’t know who he was. The owner Baptista couldn’t afford the trip to Louisville, so he stayed home in Caracas. When a friend called to tell him his horse had won the race, he thought it was a joke. It was no joke. Two weeks later Canonero II won the Preakness leading from wire to wire, finishing in the fastest time ever recorded. The horse would likely have won the Triple Crown except for a foot infection. Why tell a story about a horse race? Lots of lessons, I think. Canonero II was born with a crooked foreleg. He was sold for a pittance. Didn’t stop him from winning the most prestigious race in the United States. None of us are born perfect. We might not have a crooked foreleg, but we were all born with some shortcoming or handicap, whether obvious or not. Avoid the temptation to claim a supposed deficiency for poor performance. Never an excuse to keep you from becoming a champion. Though born in this country, Canonero II came to the Derby as a foreigner and an outsider. Terrible trip. A riding with chickens. Wouldn’t let him out of the plane for 14 hours. Didn’t have the proper papers when he arrived. None of it kept him out of the winner’s circle. Don’t let red tape or bureaucracy get in the way of your goals. Perseverance is a virtue in the face of obstruction. Determination overcomes obstacles. People called the horse a turtle. His trainer and jockey they called clowns. Classify it whatever you want – bullying, name calling, trolling. Don’t be discouraged or disheartened when others disparage or degrade you. Never let someone else define your self-. Remember that every human being is of inestimable value, made in the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the cross of Christ. Don’t let narrow minded perceptions of outsiders dissuade you or persuade you that you cannot do anything to which you set your mind. Don’t suppose that you have to be important or recognized. The trainer for Canonero II couldn’t even get into the winner’s circle. No one knew who he was. It doesn’t matter if others consider you unimportant. What counts is what you make of yourself. Out of 20 horses, Canonero II was in 17th place more than halfway through the race. At that point in the race, his odds of winning were probably worse than 500:1. You don’t need to be in front to win. Know your own strengths and weaknesses. The jockey for Canonero II knew that his horse was versatile. He won two difficult races using completely different tactics, once running from the front; once running from the back. Only because he was hurt was the colt unable to win the Triple Crown. And by the way you might get sick, or injured, or hurt, or face some other unexpected hardship. Should not become an excuse. Think of the boundaries imposed on us all by the coronavirus. It would have been easy to yield to mediocrity. Did not I believe stop any of you from making this a truly remarkable school year. I have to thank and praise all you young men. In a year when many settled for making do, you did not just “make do”. Thank you for maintaining the tradition of making Mount Michael a unique educational enterprise. Finally, the owner’s mother had a dream. Dreams are important. Have a dream. You can only become as great as your dreams are and you can never dream too big. Don’t limit yourself. Listen to your mother. Listen to your mother. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. You will never have a bigger fan, a more intuitive supporter, and truer believer than your own mother. It is always wise to turn to your mother for advice. A horse race really is not that important, but remember that we are in a different race. None of us would have a chance for an imperishable crown were it not for the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that God has loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Train, use all your talents and abilities to pursue that imperishable crown. Run for the roses. Remember there is help. Jesus tells us in the gospel, you are my friends. While here, you have all become friends not only of God, but of one another. Rely on that support. And finally, don’t forget about gratitude. Many people made today’s wonderful achievement possible. The teachers and the staff here at school. But especially your parents and your families. Thank them. Thank you for all you have given this year to us. We are truly grateful. Never be afraid. Go out and run your race with pride, dignity and the assurance that God is always just off your shoulder.