“What is the noblest thing you ever saw a dog do here?”
The fellow asked his buddy as they watched the embers dim
Sitting before the fireplace at Chinquapin
The others had all gone to bed
They had together rode and watched the entries every January
for a quarter century
Seen dogs reach to the limits on each course
From 247 North up the pipeline at dawn to at dusk up the final wire-grass gut
They closed their eyes and replayed in their minds
Braces long ago and one this very afternoon
Run by all-age pointing dogs-those creatures made by God
To challenge man and horse
They sat together silent quite a while
Then the one asked replied
“There’s been so many I find it hard to decide
But I guess Silverwood’s finishing cast in 2002”
He’d run a race near perfect from the start
At the base of Buck’s Hill
He’d reached forward through the swales to stand first at 12
On the hill top where the course first turns at a fence
One in the book he kept the front deep to the next corner
Where he stood again at 18 watched a big covey boil out
Turning to the left he reached east across the long flat that slopes up on the left
And just past the pipeline at 22 he had a single on the left and brace mate
Millennium Man a covey on the right
Released together they reached ahead and past the gate on highway 247
Dileo’s hat went up and he rode for his dog he thought
But it was Big had wiped his entry’s eye—had birds again as Man coursed on
On they reached then swung wide west
Where the course rises gently from paved road toward the power line
On all his finds he’d stood majestically
And watched his birds fly off
Moving not a hair
The gallery rode in silence now waiting for his finish
With minutes left Big sent the dog called Big
Down the pipeline
On and on the old warrior reached never slowing
Til Luke yelled “Pick him up” and Hunter spurred his mount to catch him
Robin rode to Luke and grinning asked
“Have you ever seen a better hour?”
And Luke said “Maybe Buzzsaw’s Stormy Bud winning top qualifier at Dixie for Bubba. But that’s because I like Bubba better than you.”
All who rode that day remembers every step
Big took along the second course
And counts that hour thrilling start to finish
Says “I’m sure glad I saw it”
“Who’s the happiest dog you ever saw here?”
One asked the other, who answered, “That’s easy.
Chinquapin Andy,” and they rose and trudged
Down the steps to bed.