NFIB

Riding to Victory on a Horse with the Right Name
05/ 14/ 2002

by Harvey King

It's just April, but I know who I'll be rooting for when Sports Illustrated is choosing its 2002 Sportsperson of the Year next December.

No, it won't be Adam Vinatieri, the New England Patriots' kicker who nailed that 48-yarder to help the underdog Pats win their first-ever Super Bowl. It's not even one of the many instant heroes who emerged during those incredible Winter Olympics filled with the thrill of American victories and the agony of French judges.

No, as a small business owner, my sportsman of the year nominee will be British steeplechase jockey Tony McCoy and Family Business, the horse he was riding January 23, in the Feast of St. Raymond Novices' Chase at Southwell in Nottinghamshire, England.

What? You missed coverage of the race?

McCoy had, just a few days earlier, broken his own record to become the fastest jockey to win 200 races in one season. And with his 1,522 career wins, the British steeplechase press already was asking, "Is McCoy the best ever?" But that race on January 23, McCoy admitted later, "is not only the most extraordinary race I've ever won, it's probably one of the most extraordinary races ever run."

Seven horses set off in the 1:40 p.m. race over an extended three miles, with Family Business the hot favorite (or as they say in Nottinghamshire, favourite) at 8-11 odds. Leading at the tenth fence, Family Business threw the champion jockey and galloped away while the pursuing horses roared by. In England, the betting window stays open during the race and instantly, the odds against Family Business winning went to 1000-1, but there were no takers.

McCoy was transported by a course ambulance back to the starting line to watch the other six horses and riders complete the race. At the same time, Family Business was caught by one of his trainer's assistants and returned also to the starting line.

As he watched, McCoy could not believe what was unfolding. One by one, the other horses began to unseat their jockeys. McCoy remounted Family Business and took off. He eventually finished with a time five minutes longer than usual. But he and Family Business crossed the finish line alone, and first.

Tony McCoy's and Family Business' victory may not get them onto the cover of Sports Illustrated, but it has to be one of the greatest lessons all small business owners should learn in 2002. That is, in times like these, if you want your family business to succeed against all odds, sometimes you have to get up off the ground, crawl back up in the saddle and hold on.

Harvey King is the pen name of a real small business owner. Write him at hking@mybusinessmag.com.

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This article originally appeared in the April/May 2002 issue of MyBUSINESS magazine.

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