Steve Carp: Victory beats tragedy this time around

Monday, Oct. 28, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

ETOBICOKE, Ontario -- Their circumstances were different. Yet they were linked, for better or worse, as they overcame tragedy to reap personal triumph.

Corey Nakatani and Walter Swinburn literally are at opposite ends of the earth. Nakatani is a Southern California product, Swinburn an Englishman. Their only common ground is their love for horses and the fact they make their living riding them.

But at the conclusion of the 13th Breeders' Cup here at Woodbine, they shared something else -- a chance to emerge from their personal shadows of despair and bask in the warm glow of the winners' circle.

Nakatani is still wondering why an ex-boyfriend had to strangle his sister Dawn to death earlier this month. He has been trying to keep his mind on his business while the police try to bring her killer to justice.

And how appropriate that Nakatani would score his first Breeders' Cup win on a horse named Lit de Justice in the Sprint? Yes, there was indeed justice Saturday at venerable Woodbine, though it can't bring Dawn Nakatani back to life.

Her older brother came back with his own personal Daily Double, expertly guiding home Jewel Princess up the rail to beat Serena's Song and Different in the Distaff. As he crossed the finish line, his right arm thrust skyward, Nakatani signaled to his sister that these wins were for her.

Swinburn also had reason to look toward the heavens. It was February and the English riding champion was guiding his mount around the course in Hong Kong when the horse got spooked, hit the rail and sent Swinburn head-first into the post.

The result was a fractured skull. And the concern was whether he would live, not whether he would ride again. The doctors were pessimistic about his chances, to say the least.

But Swinburn beat the odds, returned to the races in August, and capped his comeback with a stirring stretch drive aboard Pilsudski, a 4-year-old Irish bred, to win the 1 1/2-mile Turf.

Nakatani and Swinburn agreed that someone was looking out for them.

"It's really hard to put into words," said Nakatani of his emotion-filled afternoon. "I think I had a little angel on my shoulder today. I knew Dawn was looking down on me."

Swinburn said: "I can't tell you what this means to me. I've had some dark days.

"It never crossed my mind that I would never ride again. But for this to finally happen, and in a year like this, I think there's someone from above looking after us."

Some of you may not believe in fate. Or divine intervention. Then again, perhaps it takes a personal tragedy to make a believer of someone. If Nakatani and Swinburn needed some help from upstairs, who are we to deny them?

True, it can't change the past. But it makes the present and the future a lot easier to deal with. At least for one day.