My Black Beauty, my Thoroughbred, my big big boy. He was Black with a stripe and one small
white on one leg. He was absolutely a dream to ride. I loved this big horse. Bear (my Hubble) worked at the horse track and became friends with a trainer named “Fast Eddie”. Banks was a handful and Eddie was very proud of Banks and did right by him. Banks bumped his hip leaving the gate and it hurt. Eddie had him x-rayed, and vetted several times. He gave Banks time to recover but he just lost the desire to run. Eddie didn’t want him to go to a sale and struck a bargain with my husband. He sold us Banks for $1.00 (I have the bill of sale on a racing form!) with the promise he would stay with us and never race again. We kept that promise for just about 18 years until he passed away at 27. Banks loved his peppermints more than apples and carrots. He was the alpha of our herd and when he passed, the horses grieved for a long time. Cody assumed the Alpha role. I am just thankful the good Lord saw fit to allow us to be his caretakers. He was a once in a lifetime horse. I got the last race Picture of Banks running in Indiana at Hoosier Downs. I treasure that picture, he was such a majestic horse.