LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington trainer Eric Reed has been to the Kentucky Derby only two times.
The first time was when he was 16-years-old.
The second was last year — after a spot opened up the day before the race for Rich Strike, a colt with just one win under his saddle.
“I’ve never tried to get a Derby horse,” Reed said from his training facility in Lexington last week. “It was so far out of my realm that it wasn’t even like a bucket list thing. You know, yes, everybody wants to win it and be in it and all that, but just never dreamed that could happen.”
Derby first-timer Jockey Sonny Leon and Rich Strike crossed the wire first in an 80 to 1 upset — the second-biggest in the history of the race.
“The way he ran, you know ... it was like he had a gift from God steering him through the stuff to get there. Running against one of the best horses in the country in Epicenter and the whole experience ... it was phenomenal,” Reed recalled.
It was a moment 40 years into Reed’s career, and while life changed in an instant, he said he hasn’t.
“It took a long time for that to sink in to me that he’s not just another horse, he’s the Derby winner, and to me, he’s still Richie and I’m still Eric and I haven’t changed a bit,” said Reed.
Rich Strike, now four-years-old, continues to race.
Reed said he is planning for him to run in the Alysheba on Kentucky Oaks Day on Friday and potentially in the Stephen Foster later this summer.
They still receive fan mail and hundreds of visitors have come from all over to see him at Mercury Equine Center in Lexington, said Reed.
The Derby win has been a morale boost for the crew at the training facility where six years ago, Reed lost nearly two dozen horses in a barn fire.
“I’ve been to the top of Mount Everest, but I’ve been under Mount Everest,” said Reed. “I’ve seen the worst that you’ll ever see in this business and I’ve seen the greatest that you’ll ever see and in life, you know, there’s ups and downs and I’ve learned a lot that love and friendship will get you through anything.”
That’s why he wants to continue sharing “Richie” with all the fans who’ve connected with his underdog story and adopted him as their own.
“I’m honored and humbled by all the attention that we’ve gotten and I just want to thank everybody along the way that’s given us this joyful year.”