As promised in my “Run For The ROSES” blog in honor of the Kentucky Derby, I’m presenting my follow-up blog “Good HORSES” in celebration of upcoming The Belmont Stakes. Also referred to as The Test of Champions and The Run for the Carnation, as opposed to the Roses of the Derby, it is the third leg of the triple crown, following the Kentucky Derby by 5 weeks, and the Preakness by 3 weeks. It is run over the worldwide classic distance of 1 ½ miles, ¼ mile longer than the Derby and 1/16 mile longer than the Preakness. Also referred to as the Test of Champions and The Run for the Carnations, as opposed to The Run for the Roses of the Derby. Held in Elmont, NY, on Long Island just outside Queens, the race plays to fast horses out of the gate, less often witnessing long come-from-behind victories.
Derby winner Sovereignty will square off against Preakness winner Journalism, who will try to avenge his second place finish to Sovereignty in the Derby. Though I’m pulling for the 30-1 longshot Heart of Honor, though odds are against me (and him). Somehow the triumvirate of Sovereignty, Journalism, and Heart of Honor seems only fitting.
Some famous racehorses include Triple Crown winners in the past 50 or so years Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), Affirmed (1978), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018). However, some of my favorite horses are more from page and film. Some include Roy Rogers Horse Trigger, The Lone Ranger’s Silver and Tonto’s Scout, Zorro’s Tornado, Mr. Ed (if you know, you know), Woody’s Bullseye, Don Quijote’s Rocinante, Gandalf’s Shadowfax, Frodo’s Bill the Pony, and perhaps Pegasus, the white winged stallion of Greek mythology.
So the thoroughbreds of the Belmont Stakes lend the theme for today’s blog, songs with Horse or Horses in their title. While many are country, rock and pop have their share of horse songs. Some greats include Lainey Wilson’s “Good Horses,” Big & Rich’s “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy,” Rolling Stone’s “Wild Horses,” U2’s “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses,” Echo & The Bunnymen “Bring on The Dancing Horses” (one of my favorite songs from Pretty In Pink Soundtrack), America’s “A Horse With No Name,” and Michael Martin Murphy’s “Wildfire,” (though not in the title, it is a memorable though sad one hit wonder horse song of the ‘70s).
I also included some peripherally related songs, including songs with Pony or Ponies in the title, as well as songs by Linda Ronstadt’s first group the Stone Poneys with “Different Drum,” Neil Young & Crazy Horse, with “Cowgirl In The Sand” including one of my favorites “After The Goldrush,” and the 1000 Horses big hit “Smoke,” which I was them perform at the Grand Ole Opry in 2015.
So here is my girl Lainey Wilson with yet another of her many hits, the blog title song, “Good Horses.” I actually saw Lainey as the opening act, if you can believe that, for Rodney Atkins at the Beaufort Water Festival in 2021, when she was just at the cusp of greatness. What a performance!
And for a great cover of Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses” with no less than Slash, and Myles Kennedy on guitars, and Haley Reinhart providing vocals:
And to give Garth Brooks his due, given he is not present on Spotify, as he is not a big fan of streaming platforms, believing more in album-oriented music access, and thus has an exclusive contract with Amazon Music, which helps him control presentation and access to his music. He has also made his physical media in the form of CDs very affordable over the years, which has perhaps helped him become the best-selling artist of all-time, yes, even ahead of Elvis and Michael. Unfortunately I need to resort to covers to include Garth on my playlists. Here his classic “Wild Horses” from No Fences.
And I’m loving this ‘70s flashback of America with “Horse With No Name.”
And here a wonderful duet of Michael Martin Murphy with Amy Grant on “Wildfire.” Michael must have an affinity for horses, as in addition to “Wildfire” he appears 5 times on the playlist, and has an entire album, The Horse Legends (1997) dedicated to horses.
And for the Swifties in the audience, “White Horse.”
I, like most, can’t get enough of Lainey Wilson. The western countryside in her “Wildflowers And Wild Horses” video is breathtaking, taking me back to my visit to Montana and Wyoming a few years ago.
I just love Chris Stapleton’s voice, here with “White Horse” at the CMA 2023:
And this video by Suzy Bogguss is just a beautiful displays our subject matter at hand, “All The Pretty Little Horses.” Interstingly, this traditional American lullaby harking from the early 20th century, originally recorded by Pete Seeger in 1951, has evolved over the years to oft changing the lyrics to “All The Pretty Little Ponies” as recorded most famously by Kenny Loggins, available on his “Return to Pooh Corner” album – very worth a play by anyone with children or grandchildren. I guess perhaps ponies seem a bit more lullaby-ish. ☺️
It’s no surprise that country dominates songs about horses. And that is serves as a segue to a future playlist of horses’ best friends, the cowboy, again songs of which are dominated by country artists. Ashley McBride asserts “There Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs.” I beg to differ. There are plenty, though there is always room for more! We’ll see what y’all think at the upcoming release of that blog.
But for now lets celebrate the cowboy’s trusty sidekick, the horse, old reliable, companion and friend… Good Horses. Enjoy the music!
I hope that this music and my blog truly serve as a “revival: a new presentation of something old,” a springboard to return to the music of your youth, or perhaps to find artists you want to discover anew. Rediscover the passion of music in your life.
Live in the moment.
Enjoy the moment.
Love the moment.
Listen to the MUSIC!