... and he is one of many

[my miss storm cat]

Abandoned champion racehorse needs home

BY DONNA GEHRKE-WHITE
For The Miami Herald


The big horse was wandering in an isolated area west of Hialeah when Miami-Dade Police found him close to starvation.

The gentle giant turned out to be a crown prince rescued from death.

A lip tattoo identified him as Magic Express, the grandson of a Triple Crown winner -- Secretariat -- who was once called the greatest athlete of all times.

Magic Express himself won races in both the United States and Great Britain. He was racing until he was 5 years old -- at an age when other race horses, including his grandfather, are retired.

``Then he falls into a black hole for 16 years until he turns up in 2010 -- abandoned and starving in the `slaughter' area of Miami,'' said Jeanette Jordan, president of the South Florida Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which took him in.

Now she is hoping Magic Express' life will have a happy ending -- just as Secretariat, a feel-good Walt Disney movie about his famous granddad, is scheduled to be released Oct. 8.

Jordan is looking for a loving family to adopt the thoroughbred and cherish him as ``living history.''

Magic Express is already beloved at the South Florida SPCA ranch, where about four dozen other horses live awaiting adoption.

``He's a loving gentleman of a horse,'' said Ellyn Robinson, vice president of the South Florida SPCA.

``He is going to be gorgeous,'' once he regains his weight, added volunteer Julie Gonzalez.

Laurie Waggoner, the manager of the SPCA ranch, watches over him and is determined that he will weigh more. ``He could gain another 100 pounds. Easy,'' she said. ``He's a big animal.''

Just like his granddad, who stood 16 hands two inches and weighed close to 1,200 pounds.

In the month he has been at the ranch, Magic Express already has added about 100 pounds.

But his ribs still show and his haunches remain shrunken.

Nevertheless, Magic Express remains resplendent. He is a burnished chestnut, with glints of red and gold in his velvety mane and coat.

His grandfather, after all, was nicknamed ``Big Red.'' And like Secretariat, Magic Express has the signature white socks -- on all four of his legs. Secretariat had three of the signature markings.

His grandson is patient. Magic Express recently waited for his new handlers to rope him and then lead him to an open area. Like the thoroughbred he is, he seemed to preen for a camera and willingly walked around to show off his best angle.

``He is obedient, quiet,'' ranch manager Waggoner said. ``He has a great personality -- he is easy to deal with.''

Indeed, Magic Express lavishes affection on his handlers. He gently nuzzled volunteer Gonzalez as she held his reins. Then he reached out with his large tongue to lick her hand, just as a dog would.

``He is such a sweetheart,'' Gonzalez exclaimed as she rewarded Magic Express with pats and rubs on his velvety soft neck.

He doesn't deserve how past owners have treated him, she and other SPCA volunteers said.

``His life has been very, very hard,'' Jordan said.

He still has marks from a saddle that was not fitted correctly. And he has wounds on his legs. Former owners raced him 62 times. In comparison, Secretariat only had to run 21 times, just a third of Magic Express' work load.

He started out as royalty 23 years ago, born March 23, 1987, to a Kentucky thoroughbred farm. His mother was Secretariat Flag, the daughter of the great champ whose racing records remain unmatched.

Magic Express ended up racing in England and the United States. He won nine times and took 11 second and third prizes. Magic Express earned more than $40,000. Still, that does not compare to Secretariat winning more than $1.3 million.

After Magic Express' racing career ended, he disappeared from official records.

No one knows how he got to Florida.

Miami-Dade Police found him in August wandering in the isolated C-9 Basin area in the northwestern part of the county that is notorious for containing hidden -- and illegal -- slaughterhouses.

The South Florida SPCA has other horses living at its ranch in Miami Lakes that were found in the area.

Indeed, the nonprofit now is trying to find homes for about four dozen rescued horses, almost triple its usual capacity.

Just last year, Freedom's Flight -- descended from Secretariat and another Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew -- was found hairless and tied at a Miami-Dade slaughterhouse, apparently about to be killed.

Rescuers saved him from becoming illegal horse meat. Today he is enjoying freedom at a private home


.The South Florida SPCA is trying to find a home for Magic Express and dozens of other rescued horses. For information, go to www.spca-sofla.org or call 305-825-8826. The nonprofit also needs donations to help care for horses and other farm animals. ...


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