LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Whit Beckman's first contender in the Run for the Roses, Honor Marie, is running with 17 to 1 odds.
And while it may have looked like business as usual outside his barn, the St. Xavier grad was missing in action and sick earlier this week.
"It wasn't how I would have drawn everything up," Beckman's said. "But you know, life you know highs, lows...keep on moving through the, you know, peaks and valleys and I'm just glad to be here."
It definitely is not ideal for the Louisville native who will saddle his first Derby starter on Saturday.
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"To be in the Kentucky Derby as a Louisville guy who, you know, getting into this, you know, business and you know, this line of work, obviously, that was kind of the one goal you always have in the back of your mind and just to be here like, as a reality, it's surreal," Beckman said. "It's amazing. And just you know, appreciating every minute."
And for Beckman, the backside the past few days has been more like a reunion.
He grew up with a love of horses, and his parents have always worked in the equine industry. However, he didn't think this would be his path too.
"Kind of going to college and finding not much you know, in the academic world," Beckman said. "And then that connection really just kind of started to bloom and blossom and just turned into what it is today."
He's spent time in his young career working for trainers like Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown.
"Just lucky to have you know, witnessed the processes they put forth and how they bring these type horses around," Beckman said. "So just to have this type horse in the barn and being able to, you know, bring them to this point is, on the one hand, very fortunate and happy but at the same time, you know, it's what's going to happen if I get these type horses."
And Honor Marie did just that after three years of being on his own. Beckman doesn't believe the mile and a quarter will be a problem for the 3-year-old, and his demeanor is perfect for the Derby.
"I think when those gates open, he's not going to panic," he said. "He's going to, you know, stay composed and hopefully just get a good trip in the first turn, you know, in person position on the backside and come flying on the front end."
But if Honor Marie beat the other 19 horses to the finish line?
"I could call it a career," Beckman said. "I don't want to and I won't, but I'm just saying I could."
And it would be a career that's really just getting started.
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