Is there no balm in Gilead?

I’m not a very religious person.

On occasion, our family went to some services—not very many, though—and my mom and dad were my “influences” in my life…and so were my grandparents (mostly on my mom’s side) and my aunts and uncles (mostly on my dad’s side.)

On one occasion about 70 years ago, or so, my uncle brought up a subject about the unjust in our world saying, “I guess there’s ‘no balm in Gilead’”—Gilead situated in the mountainous region in the Middle East.

I took an interest in that and found that to be very intriguing.

My uncle taught me about the medicinal uses of Balm of Gilead buds, grown in the that area and related a story about when there were no more Balm of Gilead buds for medicinal use available, which, then, sent people crying that there was “no balm in Gilead…or, as my uncle said, “no justice!”

Over recent years, witnessing the deterioration of mankind in our world in so many ways, I am noticing that so many things are more prevalent in today’s world than in the innocent years when I, somehow, grew up.

From climate change and war, the “State of the Union” and to the almighty dollar destroying relationships and familles…from the necessity of medical breakthroughs to combat the many new diseases and infections that have placed everyone at risk—the world has changed.

It’s a much faster pace these days (especially one our racetracks) and many of our aging brethren have witnessed the disappearance of both patience and the all-important sense-of-humor.

In my youth, there was no more important thing than family and relationships—not even money!

Today, it seems thee tide has turned a bit as the mighty dollar has caused the erosion of family, friends, relationships and patience.

When the dollar is concerned, especially in the racing industry—whether it be thoroughbred racing, quarter horse racing, appaloosa racing and, yes, harness racing—the dollar is KING!

The lack of patience has caused some trainers to use questionable methods to achieve what’s necessary to compete in today’s world of speed with owners seemingly having less patience and giving trainers less time to hone their professional trade to turn red ink to blue.

The “hay, oats and water” trainer has little opportunity to pierce the top rung in racing these days.

The days of “artichokes” for Jamin are long gone…as are the “beer drinking” days of Tweedle Dum of, maybe, 15-16 years ago.

Training expertise is becoming unimportant and unsuccessful in this era that earlier results…quicker results…and monetary results are the barometer in this era of waning patience.

For many trainer, there is “no Balm of Gilead”—no justice.

There are hundreds—probably thousands—of trainers that believe that there is “no Balm of Gilead” for them…one of which is a great friend of over 40 years, Mike Murphy.

If you know Mike, you know he is a man of his word with integrity beyond reproach and a knowledge of our four-legged family members that is encyclopedia worthy.

No, he doesn’t have a huge stable these days…after all, about six years ago, at age 72, he didn’t know if he was going to make it to age 73!

With end stage kidney disease, the only way to 73 and beyond would be a transplant—but as I, too, know,—it is a million to 1 odds of finding a donor.

Beating those odds, Mike’s “non-blood” grandson, Jacob “J.W.” Fox proved to be that million to one match and a miracle happened giving Mike Murphy a second chance at developing and racing champions.

Mike’s wife, Barbara, (J. W.’s mom) in trying to give an interview about this miracle, said, “there are no words,,,”

How true that is.

As mentioned, we go back over 40 years to the “Top Line Colins” days who “was bred to be a good one!”

Over his career, now approaching a half century, Mike has handled some good ones like Open Gate Dancer, Three Wide, Cracker Jack Chris, Brooklets Skeeter and, more recently, the ill-fated Four Socks and Tater Twister, the latter two providing the Murphy Stable with a potent “one-two” punch at Pompano Park.

I don’t think I will ever forget the agility of Four Socks when he won a “Dash For The Cash Open” at Pompano…5/8th of a mile in 1:08.1 with his last eighth mile in :12.4…

And to give one an idea of the greatness of Mike Murphy and grandson J.W., he plucked Feel Lika Winner off a kill pen truck and proceeded to win $24,452 in just two months and one day in Mike’s care for J.W., promising to give him a retirement home at the Kentucky Horse Park after his racing days.

After Mike’s solid return after his transplant, his small stable consisted of winners like Skyway Caliber, Indian Creek Kyla and Fist Fighter…but the best was yet to come.

In early July, 2021, the two-year-old colt Just For Trix (Trixton) landed in the Murphy Stable with very slight hints of success but nothing very special.

A trio of in-the-money finishes were the best he could do which brought the colt into the 2022 season with little to show earning small checks.

That seemed to all change when, on July 13, the three-year-old earned his maiden win in 1:57, trotting his final quarter in :26.4 over Lexington’s Red Mile.

Mike Murphy then knew he had a “horse of a different color!”

After a credible showing in the $100,000 Kentucky SireStakes event at Oak Grove trotting in 1:54.4.3, Just For Trix brushed from fifth at the quarter into the lead and won handily in 1:53.3.

Two starts later, he won a $30,000 Kentucky Stake at Lexington in 1:53.1 (at 30 to 1 odds) and, 10 days later, repeated in 1:51.3… odds of 50 to 1!

Just For Trix wound up his sophomore year with seven wins and $128,365 to go along with his new mark of 1:51.3.

As a four-year-old, he had a tough time the first three months with the “turn-around” about to take place in early July.

At Oak Grove, he won in 1:54.1 and the went over to the Red Mile where he wired his competition in 1:52.2—:27.2.

Still, the best was yet to come…

On August 6, Just For Trix entered the rare air for a trotter—a 1:50 mile.

Two weeks later, Just For Trix became the fastest trotter of the year when he sizzled panels of :26.3, :54.2 and 1:21.4 with a :28 finale piercing the wire in 1:49.4.

Yes, there were some miscues along the way—horses are athletes, you know, not machines—but he had a couple of more wins by seasons end and wound up with eight wins in his 19 starts, good for $105,300.

This year, at age five, Just For Trix won his first pari-mutuel start at Oak Grove over a sloppy track in 1:54.1 but seemed to have developed some soreness…as many athletes do.

After his last last, in which he made a miscue leaving, Just For Trix was taken from the caring hands of Mike Murphy.

Horse racing is the only sport that I know, that removes a horse from a trainer when unforeseen injuries occur…and that’s what happens in this day and age when patience is lost and the almighty dollar overruns loyalty and friendship…and, in many cases, family.

Yes, I’ve known Mike Murphy for over 40 years this proves ‘THERE’S NO BALM IN GILEAD!”

May The Horse Be With You!

by John Berry, for Harnesslink