“What was the best race
You ever saw?”
“Silverwood’s at Chinquapin 2002”
On Course Two, quaildom’s best
Starting at the foot of Buck’s burial hill
Rolling west through ridges and swales
At the first corner atop a rise
Big stood tall and he stood still
The birds had moved
But Big stabbed them on relocation
Robin sent him down the fence
Into the flat rises on the left
He took it to the corner in one cast
Stood there again on a covey nailed
Then with brace-mate Million Dollar Man
They hunted east across prairie-like land
Crossing pipeline where it rises to the front
Man stabbed a covey on the right
A second later Silverwood stood on the left
Had a single fair and square
Sent on together they kept the front
Crossed the power line with Man on the right
Dileo rode forward and raised his cap
But when he reached the pointed dog
Was Big had the birds
Man had gone on
Silverwood had wiped Man’s eye
All knew they were seeing an epic brace
And advantage to Big from that place
How they finished would be the test
Big had won the Georgia the week before
Coming back from surgery against all odds
Ten years old and sure to tire most thought
But he would not
Bigger and bigger his race became
He filled the country at the front
On the hill top where course turns hard left
Robin hit him with the whistle sent him down the pipeline
All riding thought he was sure to slow
But he did not
Faster and faster deeper and deeper
He hunted in cover for the far corner where he’d found his second
None had seen a finish deeper
Down that course
Or on it or elsewhere a more perfect race
Was Hunter’s first year as father Robin’s scout
He rode hard and fast to gather Big at the end
Robin rode grinning to judge Luke Weaver
“Ever seen better?” he asked with pride
“Maybe Bubba winning top qualifier with Barshoe Stormy Bud at the Continental
But that’s cause I like Bubba better than I like you,” Luke teased
Judge Vernon Vance said he’d never seen better south of Canadian prairies
Was Colvin Davis’s birthday and they made him a cake
Colvin said “Boys, we are running for second place”
All knew Silverwood would not be beat
Then at the season’s end in March
Big won again at Chickasaw
The Southeastern Quail Championship
A fitting capstone to a great career
Ted Baker, Pete Hicks and Luke Weaver at the 2002 Florida Championship.