TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/910009
you have to get those checks back that you make out to Keeneland and Boyd Browning. I think of it more as pride that they are so in demand and people want to buy them. I am hoping they have great success with the offspring. People think you can make mon- ey in purse income, but there is no way. You can make money on one horse, sure. I made a lot of money on Songbird, but I have all these other horses with training, bills, vet bills, etc. The only way you are going to get it back is selling a $10 million mare or $30 million stallion." At the time of this interview, Porter said, "I am sad to see her go, but I am hoping Mandy Pope buys her!" Two months after making that statement, Porter's wish was granted as Pope, who also purchased Havre de Grace, stretched to a sales topping $9.5 million to take her home. A BRIGHT LIGHT IN A TIME OF DARKNESS Songbird's importance to Porter extends beyond the thrills, big purses and prestige. The popular dark bay was a shimmering light during a dark time in the Delaware na- tive's life as he battled a type of lymphoma called Waldenstroms. "My family was the main thing that kept me going, but thinking about her next race kept me distracted and gave me something to look forward to," said the father of three. "I was diagnosed in 2001 and the cancer was indolent, which means very slow grow-