The Day I won
"I'm a Tax Dodger"
By Patti-Lowry Parrish
In the fall of 1983, I heard a promotion on a local radio station in Reno,
Nevada. A local breeder and the station were going to award a year-old registered
appaloosa gelding, sired by Incorporated, a grand champion.
To win, you needed to send in a post card naming a person you felt deserved to win this
horse and why.
My son, Mitchell was engaged to a beautiful girl named Cindy. She loved horses and
after classes and on weekends, she would go out to a local stable and muck, groom and feed
the horses, just to ride for a few minutes. She attended the University of Nevada
and would ride the university horses and was training to ride and compete in jumping
competitions. Her dream was to own her own horse, but for a student, that dream was
far in the future.
I set my mind to win that horse for Cindy! I bought 100 post cards and began writing
my brief essay. The entrees had to be in by Thanksgiving and the week before then my
husband, Mitch, Cindy and I went to Lake Shasta and rented a houseboat. Cindy and I
would float around in a 2 man boat & fantasize about winning "Dodger."
The drawing would be held the day before Easter. About one week before, I was
notified I was a finalist!
On the day of the drawing, Cindy was riding with the University of Nevada Team at
Horseman's park, we picked her up and went to the event center where the winner would be
announced. All our family and friends were listening on the radio because I had told
them, "I was winning that horse!"
 |
Our local Reno, NV, TV
station did a really nice story, interviewing us and the breeder and showing Cindy walking
and brushing her horse. |
Cindy was dressed in her
English riding attire, and as we sat at the top of the grand stands - the sire to
"I'm a Tax Dodger" was brought into the arena. He was magnificent!
Then the big moment arrived - they made the announcement. We had won!
Our first look at Dodger was when they led him into the arena, Cindy sat wringing her
hands, and tears were filling her eyes as she repeated these words, "I want that
horse, I want that horse!" He was a beautiful chestnut color. He
pranced and danced at the end of the lead rope. I could swear he looked right at us.
As the owner and radio people entered the arena and prepared to announce the winner, the
audience became quite. I was about to burst with anticipation and Cindy was shaking
like a leaf when the announcer read the name of the winning card - "Patti
Parrish!"
Cindy and I both screamed, scaring Dodger who nearly got loose from the handler. We
both flew down the bleachers - I swear our feet never touched them. As Cindy
entered the arena to accept her prize (and what a prize) I stayed on the fence and
cried. What a thrill that was for me.
 |
©Patti Lowry-Parrish T.D. |
T.D. soon became a member of the
family. I did many paintings and drawings of him, as well as the cartoon series
T.D. He was such a personality and brat that he gave me endless inspiration for the
cartoon series.
|
