Being a horse lover from the time I was six years old, I have ridden a lot of horses in my time. I started out riding the ponies at Kentwood Park in Western Pennsylvania. Then I moved to New Mexico and rented horses from the Sheriff of Quay County to ride in the high prairie country and to climb to the top of Tucumcari Mountain where two outlaws, Billy the Kid and Black Jack Ketchum, used to hide in a cave to outwit pursuing posses.
Horses have brought a lot of pleasure to me. In Phoenix, AZ. I would go to the Skyline Ranch next to South Mountain where my friend Doyle Williams owned a riding stable and a bull riding academy. Doyle boarded horses for ranchers and horse trainers at Turf Paradise Race Track. He knew enough about horses to have taken over the role Robert Redford played in 'The Horse Whisperer.' His son Eddie became a champion bull rider, thanks to Doyle's teachings.
One day Doyle called me up at the newspaper where I was working and invited me to go riding with him.
'I have a horse here that a trainer wants to sell for $600,' he said. 'Rincon is a thoroughbred. A week ago you would have had to pay $2,500 for him. The owner was training him to race at Turf Paradise, but the horse had an accident. Rincon ran into a wall and blinded itself in one eye and the owner wants to get rid of him. He's a beautiful animal with an incredible gait and he's well worth the money.'
I was interested.
On Saturday, I drove over to the Skyline Ranch. It was another perfect day in the Valley of the Sun. The clear turquoise sky made it possible for you to see things 50 miles away. I pulled up to the corral. Doyle was saddling a beautiful red roan horse with a perfectly shaped head and a lighter colored mane. He stepped back and smiled.
'There's your horse,' he said. 'Let's go riding.'
Rincon had a gait so smooth it felt like i was sitting in a rocking chair. Doyle rode his gray horse Diablo and we took the trail that led into South Mountain past prehistoric rocks and giant saguaro cactus plants.
'Doyle,' I said, 'I think you got a real winner here. Can I open him up?'
'Be my guest,' he said.
I kicked Rincon into a trot. It was like igniting a rocket beneath me.
I have never been afraid of speed on a horse, but as Rincon increased his speed, the desert terrain just disappeared behind me. We were racing up a hill and the animal moved so gracefully and with such commanding speed that I was afraid to urge him to go faster.
We came to a dip in the trail. Rincon glided effortlessly down and sailed over the depression, landing smoothly on the other side. The horse didn't only run. He literally flew.
When we got back to the ranch, i was determined to buy Rincon. i was earning a reporter's wages and only had around $350 cash.
I told Doyle, 'I want to buy your horse. Don't sell him to anyone but me.'
Doyle shook his head and smiled. 'If he was my horse, I'd hold him for you. But the owner needs cash and has Rincon here on consignment. If somebody walks in with $600 and wants to buy him, I'll have to make the sale.'
I told him about my cash problems and came up with an idea. I had studied Ed Thorpe's book on how to win at blackjack and had wanted to test it. The book, 'Beat The Dealer,' told about counting cards and outlined a winning strategy for a winning strategy for blackjack.
'I'm driving to Las Vegas today,' I said. 'I'm going to win that $600 and I'll be back to by this horse.'
Doyle just shook his head and stuck out his hand. 'Good luck, son,' he said. 'I'm rooting for you.'
Well, i made the drive to Las Vegas in record time, traveling 80 miles per hour through the scenic Joshua National Forest, passing through Wickenburg, Kingman and Wikieup, hoping the State Police officer who patrolled that highway didn't see me. He didn't and I pulled into Glitter Gulch just before sundown.
After checking into Binion's Horseshoe -- Jack Binion gave me a terrific rate of $19 for a room -- I began playing blackjack.
Thorpe's system worked.
By midnight, i was over $700 ahead. l went to sleep in my room overlooking Fremont Street, smiling and dreaming of Rincon.
Early the next morning I awoke, dressed and had a good breakfast in the casino's downstairs restaurant. Then I climbed into my car and headed south for Phoenix.
I arrived at the Skyline Ranch around noon. Doyle and his son Eddie were in the corral working with some horses when I drove up.
Flashing the money, I said, 'Doyle, I'm here. Where's my horse?'
Doyle didn't answer me. Eddie said, 'Dad, is he talking about the roan? The one we just sold?'
'I'm afraid he is, Eddie,' Doyle said. He turned to me. 'The buyer just trucked him off. I'm sorry, son. I had to make the sale.'
I have never ridden another horse like Rincon and probably won't. But the ride that red roan gave me will never be forgotten.
Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.
(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).
