by Violet Inkpen, age 12

Everyone always said she’d be a big waste of time and money; they thought she’d never be good to anyone. For one thing her ears were too big, her muscles weren’t the best, and she was blind. But being born in Heart & Heaven stable, the small black filly always had a home. She was bred as a pure Thoroughbred to race and make a name for herself. But it didn’t seem likely. She was born blind and never saw anything in her life; it didn’t bother her because she didn’t know any different.

Her family wouldn’t have gotten rid of her unless she was going to a good home. But their children fell in love with the small foal and her mischievous ways, and so they begged their father to keep her. How could he refuse the pleading eyes of his children and the wagging tail of a foal?

When the vet first told them the foal was blind they decided to name her Blind Chance; knowing she would never race. If she couldn’t see what was going on she wouldn’t enter a gate, she couldn’t run a track, she wouldn’t be able to push for the win if she didn’t know she was loosing. She’d never be a success.

In the pasture, Blind chance would race the other foals from the farm. She would only win a few times because the older colts would knock her down. But the little filly was a fighter. She’d get right up and chase after them. Her owner watched and thought it was cute, but he also felt sad. Blind Chance was fast, she was powerful, and she was determined. She’d make a great race horse if only… but blindness couldn’t be fixed.

As the years passed, Blind Chance was trained just like her stable mates. She was fitted with a saddle and bridle, shoed, and learned to carry a rider, but she wasn’t trained for the track. She was so gentle that they decided to use her for their daughters.

One day, the oldest daughter (who was about 17) saddled up Chance and took her to the practice track. No one else was home; they had all gone to a race with a promising young colt. The girl, who was named Lilly, rubbed Chance’s neck. “I know you want to race girl, I can feel it! I want to race too, but dad thinks I am too young. I can do it if only I had a chance.” Lilly didn’t realize she HAD a chance. Blind Chance.

Lilly took her on the track and galloped her. Chance kicked up her heels, shook her mane, and charged down the track as if her feet were made from wind. Lilly couldn’t believe it, but Chance sped up even more. Chance’s hooves hardly touched the ground, her sightless eyes seemed fixed on an opponent. The filly lowered her head and gave another burst of speed.

It just so happened that Lilly’s parents had forgotten something and came back to get it. They were pulling into the driveway just as Chance was releasing her inner fire. The car stopped and a shocked mother and father watched their baby girl and their blind horse reach amazing speeds.

The decision was made to try to train Chance for the track. It only took a few minutes to coax her into a gate. It only took a few months for her to understand she was given a chance to prove herself.

In her first race, Blind Chance was nervous. She was behind the others for a long time. Everyone thought she’d loose for sure. But somehow, some way, Blind Chance charged past the finish line a nose in front of everyone else.

When people found out the name BLIND Chance was because she was blind, they went crazy. They roared and cheered knowing this was one special filly. Maybe she was blind for a reason. Maybe her sightless eyes were to teach everyone that anyone can shine; that even those who are different can be great.

Blind Chance went as far as winning the Kentucky Derby. She raced until the age of nine and then she retired to a life of trail rides and hugs from the little girls of the farm. She had two foals after her last race; Blind Love and Chance Of A Lifetime. Both of them could see, unlike their mother, but neither was as famous as Blind Chance. Chance Of A Lifetime made a huge name for himself; racing and winning. Blind Love was sold at age three to a different family, and even so she was a huge star.

But people still remember the little black mare who never had a chance in life, yet she had a heart big enough to love everyone and love to run. Whether it was her determination, her love for her owners, or her iron will that drove her to fame, Blind Chance was a legend and a hope for everyone who was different, everyone who was thought to ‘have no chance’. Lilly became Blind Chance’s jockey after the second year of her racing and she became just as famous.

Years later Lilly owned her own stable of Thoroughbreds and most of them were offsping of Blind Chance, the mare that loved to run.