HORSE RACING

Former pitcher Carpenter writes children’s book about a special filly

BY WILL SPRINGSTEAD The Daily Gazette
 
 SARATOGA SPRINGS — Former Major League Baseball pitcher Christopher John Carpenter — not the one that first comes to mind — knows how much work it takes to just make it to the show.
 
 So when he became involved in horse racing with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners ownership group and his 2-year-old filly Benbang made it to the gate at Saratoga Race Course, he was moved to write her a poem.
 
 That poem has now become, with the help of Saratoga Springs artist Dave Papa, a children’s book. “The Long Shot” is a story of perseverance and hope, inspired by Benbang.
 
 Carpenter appeared on the porch of 56 Union Ave. on Wednesday in a pre-sale event in conjunction with the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing sanctuary and rehabilitation for retired racehorses. Each copy sold contributes to TRF.
 
 Carpenter, who shares the same name as Cris Carpenter, the former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher who won the Cy Young Award in 2005, played mostly in the minor leagues, but made his Major League debut on June 14, 2011 for the Chicago Cubs. In two years, for the Cubs and Boston Red Sox, he pitched in 18 games as a reliever. He played the 2014 season in Japan.
 
 In 2021, he and his wife went to dinner with friends who were involved with Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and happened to be minority owners of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom.
 
 “So I was talking to them and learning about the industry,” Carpenter said. “We were there for hours. It was something where they said, just get a little bit more knowledgeable about the industry. And they introduced me to the Eclipse Thoroughbred partners group. So I talked with Eclipse and ended up getting our first horse, which was Benbang, who this book was written about. It all came together, which was really cool.”
 
 Carpenter described Ben-bang as a modestly bred filly, not thought to be a future stakes runner just on pedigree.
 
 “There was something where the expectations weren’t that high,” Carpenter said. “That just made me a little closer to the horse. When the morning line came out for her first race and she was the long shot, it made me just think, ‘Wow, I’m really thankful this horse got us here.’ We’re just getting to the starting gate.
 
 “It’s just so cool to see the full circle of purchasing a horse and training a horse and then finally just getting it to the racetrack,” he added. “And that’s why I just wanted to write something down in the form of a poem that just thanked the horse. So that’s what it turned out to be. It mentioned nothing of winning or anything. Just that no matter what happened, we were happy. Lo and behold, the horse went out and won the race. It was really cool and fitting. Then I finished the poem after we won and turned it into the children’s book.”
 
 Benbang went on to win twice more, including the 2022 Blue Sparkler Stakes at Monmouth Park.
 
 Carpenter said the concept of the book is that it applies to anybody in life.
 
 “We all have to overcome struggles or long shot odds in anything in life, so that appeals to anybody and everybody that has odds against them. But I think with the art — I was lucky enough to work with Dave Papa, who paints in Saratoga, it was great to be able to partner with him — I think the illustrations bring in the more ‘kid’ part of the book. While anybody can read it and appreciate it, I think kids like the art and the tempo of ‘The Night Before Christmas’ that it’s written in.”
 
 Like a lot of current and former athletes who have come to enjoy horse racing, Carpenter said the sport does fill a gap of the rush that pro athletes have competing at the highest level.
 
 “I tell people this all the time, and it’s hard for some to believe this, I pitched in front of stadiums that were packed with thousands of people. And the only thing that’s ever compared to that is watching your horse turn and come down the stretch and have a chance to win a race.”
 
 Carpenter said he was happy to partner with TRF and the vital work it does for retired racehorses. “The Long Shot” will be available for purchase on Amazon starting July 25.
 
 WILL SPRINGSTEAD/THE DAILY GAZETTE
 
Former MLB pitcher Chris Carpenter, back right, talks with Saratoga Springs’ Jim Pabis, as his son, Chandler Pabis smiles. Chandler raised over $2,500 for Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation as part of his service for National Junior Honor Society.