I am delighted to announce that we have a show horse named for us. Little Row Eleven. My assistant Nina calls him “Baby Row”.

I love horses. The first time I was ever in a vineyard was on the back of a horse. I was six. The horse was a tall Tennessee Walker owned by Paul Heck who was one of the owners of Korbel Champagne Cellars. Paul would reach down and grab me with one large hand, and lift me onto the saddle in front of him. I have never felt safer or more alive than when I was on that big black horse. The back hills and vineyards of Korbel in those days were a beautiful place to ride.

My favorite horse was my last, a saved mustang. She had been badly abused by her original owners. But, she was as sweet as they come. Ironically, her name was Sandra Dee. But, all the children at the stable where I kept her called her Sundance. She was like a big dog. Every weekend I looked forward to being with Sundance. I didn’t ever saddle her. I just rode her bare back up into the hills surrounding Marin. I like smaller, older horses. My previous horse “Party Street” was a discarded track thoroughbred. He was way too much of an athlete to ride only weekends. He was also stupid. Anything would get him to crow hopping and bucking. He feared butterflies. The last time he tried it on a narrow trail at the top of a pretty fair hill. His feet came out from under him. We slid down that entire hill together, my left leg pinned beneath him. My hip and my shoulder have never been the same.

I was in Washington DC when I got the call that Sundance had broken her leg. I couldn’t be with her when they put her down. She was my last horse. No regrets, just great memories. Occasionally, when I am moving things around in the garage I come across her saddle. It still smells like her.

Baby Row, we are honored that you have been named for us. Remember this line from “Sea Biscuit”

When I run the sky opens
The earth pounds like thunder
And mere mortals get out of my way
I am a Champion