There’s nothing quite like winning a horse race, that’s for certain. The long road. The accomplishment. The pride. Winning a horse race is special, and as a recent post-race interview clearly shows, finishing second is sometimes reason for an over-the-top celebration as well.
The connections of Heartbreak City had every reason to be crushed after their charge just missed capturing the $6-million Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, November 1 at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria.
Heartbreak City kicked away from the large pack in the homestretch with a spirited run, although, he was then quickly engaged by the eventual winner, Almandin. The two traded blows down the lane and both looked like champions, but it was Almandin that nailed the wire. The margin of victory was only a head.
It would be understandable if the connections of Heartbreak City would be a bit downtrodden, given the outcome and the emotions surrounding the situation.
Enter Aidan Shiels, one of Heartbreak City’s connections, that took the gutsy performance for what is was. Understanding that there was no reason to hang his head after the big performance, Shiels reacted the way any proud owner should: with joy.
And talk about joy.
Passionately hugging his fellow owners, Shiels kept repeating, “We’ll take that! We’ll take that!”
When the post-race interviewer, Neil Kearney, got too close to the celebration, Shiels gave him an enthusiastic bear hug, which ultimately ended with Kearney on his backside in a nearby chair. All the while, Shiels was screaming “Who wants it?!? Who wants it?!?”
After getting back up, Kearney told Shiels that his horse finished second. Maybe Kearney thought that Shiels was under the impression that Heartbreak City had won the race.
“I don’t care! I don’t care!” Shiels proclaimed. “We finished second! We would’ve been happy with last!"
(With files from The New Daily)