Riding the Legend: Charlie Davis Shares the Experience of Effortless Speed and the Ease of the Big Horse with a Side of Pork Chops and Applesauce
When you think of Secretariat, the legendary racehorse known for his unparalleled speed and grace, images of thunderous races and history-making victories come to mind. But for those fortunate enough to have ridden him, it’s a story of effortless power and fluid motion—like floating on air with a side of comfort, reminiscent of a hearty meal of pork chops and applesauce.
Charlie Davis, a seasoned jockey and longtime admirer of the legendary steed, vividly recalls his first ride on Secretariat. “It wasn’t like riding a horse—more like gliding,” he explains. “There was this incredible sense of weightlessness, as if the horse and I were in perfect harmony, moving as one entity.” Davis describes Secretariat’s gait as smooth and seamless, as if the horse’s strides were choreographed by nature herself.
The experience of riding Secretariat, according to Davis, is akin to effortless speed—an almost surreal sensation that defies the usual exertion associated with racing. “You don’t feel the wind rushing past you because there’s no struggle,” he says. “It’s as if the horse is carrying you on a cushion of air. You just sit back, relax, and let him do the work.” This sense of ease is one of the reasons Secretariat remains revered—not just for his record-breaking performances but for the grace with which he moved.
Davis fondly recalls the rider-horse connection that made every race feel like a dance. “There’s a rhythm to it, a flow that’s almost meditative,” he notes. “Riding Secretariat was like being a part of something larger than yourself, a testament to the beauty of nature and training coming together.” For Davis, it wasn’t about brute strength but about trust and harmony—traits that Secretariat embodied fully.
He also mentions the contrast between the physical exertion of racing and the calmness that enveloped him while aboard the Big Horse. “It’s like sitting down to a perfect meal—pork chops with applesauce—rich, satisfying, and surprisingly effortless to enjoy,” Davis remarks with a smile. “The horse’s power is there, but it’s so controlled and smooth that it feels almost effortless—like a symphony in motion.”
In many ways, riding Secretariat was an experience of pure joy and wonder. Davis emphasizes that it’s not just about winning races but about feeling the harmony of effort and ease, strength and grace. “It’s a reminder that sometimes the greatest achievements are the ones that seem effortless, when everything aligns perfectly,” he reflects.
Today, Charlie Davis looks back on those rides with admiration and gratitude. Riding Secretariat wasn’t just a moment in his career; it was an encounter with legend—an experience of effortless speed, grace, and the kind of harmony that makes you feel like you’re floating on air with pork chops and applesauce on the side. It’s a memory etched in time, a testament to the majesty of one of the greatest horses to ever grace the track.
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