One of my favorite traditions each spring is following the Triple Crown races of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont as the year’s crop of 3-year-old Thoroughbreds vie to make their mark in racing history. As a child, I vividly remember dropping whatever I was doing to “canter” home to catch the races on TV (well before VCRs were the norm!) so I could cheer for my favorite horse. Some of them still stand out in my mind, especially the fillies who’ve topped the boys, like Genuine Risk and Winning Colors, as well as the underdogs, like this year’s Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.

And while I eagerly anticipate the actual two minutes of racing, I really enjoy the pre-race coverage even more, where the TV producers capture the stories behind the scenes that record the true essence of what makes the sport special. Yes, it’s great fun to watch the owners and trainers in the grandstands while their emotions pitch wildly as they urge their horses to the finish. But to understand how far a jockey or trainer or owner has come to experience this moment, the many obstacles they’ve overcome to live the dream of a lifetime, reminds me again of that tenuous balance that is horses. With just one misstep or one wrong turn, it could all be over in an instant, with disappointing or even tragic results.

The story of Afleet Alex, who won the Preakness last weekend, is remarkable. He started life at a huge disadvantage when his dam couldn’t lactate, but he gained the nourishment he needed from a 9-year-old girl who fed him through a Coors Lite bottle. Early on, it was evident that Afleet Alex was a fighter, a trait he has in common with his connections. Breeder John Silvertand is battling cancer, and one of Afleet Alex’s young fans, Alex Scott, sadly succumbed to cancer at age 8 before she could see “her horse” contest the Triple Crown. Now Afleet Alex runs to aid in the fight against cancer, as his owners donate a portion of his earnings to Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Afleet Alex’s extraordinary story is certainly gripping, but when you combine it with his awe-inspiring victory, it’s one of the most moving moments in sports that I’ve ever seen. When Afleet Alex clipped heels with Scrappy T in the turn for home, there was a moment in time–just one stride–where it all could have changed from life-altering euphoria to life-changing disaster.

The horsemen who watched Afleet Alex stumble and then recover were amazed; they understood how close he’d come to falling. They watched those legs grind into the track to hold his balance, those muscles strain to keep him from going down, and saw in his eye the tremendous will to continue. Then they cheered as he stormed to victory with a beaming Jeremy Rose aboard.

It was only a moment, but it reminded me why working with horses is so meaningful. To some people they’re just animals, but to me each and every one has a unique personality and traits that inspire me, make me laugh, or challenge me to figure them out.

This week’s In The Country photo (p. 41) features the first foal born in the United States who’s cloned from a champion show jumper. As I studied the photo, I wondered whether an exact copy of a champion’s genes is really enough to recreate a champion. Then I thought about Afleet Alex and his story, and I became certain that while genes may control the size of a horse’s heart, they couldn’t dictate how he uses it.