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On the cusp of the May 2, 2026 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby, a prose poem written in appreciation for horse racing, and especially for the jockeys who ride.
Robert Alan Felt reads his poem following its conclusion.
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The poet introduces “Cajun Glory”
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As a thoroughbred horseracing fan I’ve always been amazed by how many great jockeys were born and raised in the relatively small Cajun towns of Louisiana, and how many of them went on to win the Kentucky Derby and other Triple Crown races, as well as many other preeminent races throughout the world.
Some years back, having befriended a leading Cajun jockey on the Louisiana circuit, I wrote Cajun Glory as a gift to him in commemoration of his first million dollar stakes victory, The Delta Downs Jackpot.
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photo by Tsutumu Takasu/via Flicker/CC BY 2.0
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Cajun Glory
Proud sporting beast held in paddock, I come to race ride this Stakes,
you sure wild-eyed now, all around see busy, see fancy, feel trainer
on edge. Louisiana-bred, I know you know the flesh is on the move…
Riders up!
That’s it face to face, boy, we on our own together now,
damn good you feeling light, wound tight all up from the toes, don’t you
mind those other horse stares, them cameras, never mind that rich man
owns you, maybe mind your trainer, we see soon…
Caller says our names and now you strutting pretty the post parade?
Listen up to who been around: offtrack we be enjoying jazz and singing
blues at times, but shortly we’ll be our dead in motion, we’ll be our land
running. When the time comes for us to dig down inside remember our
blood has fine residue of bush dirt and sand from the sun-warmed arpents
at Abbeville, the straightaway match lanes at Carencro, and the risky,
rock-hard turns of The Quarter Pole at Rayne. We be our land running,
you got dat? Well, say goodbye crowd, goodbye odds, they for them
and we for we, hello snorting beasts and fellow riders…
And they’re off and running in The Million Dollar Cajun Stakes!
Who dat slam goddamn? Easy, boy, easy,
Let them young jocks rush the quarter, steal the half,
we’ll lay back, settle down, listen to warm Gulf wind and hooves pound,
we’ll slice through ghosts of champions past, then just before the far turn
move strongly and pick off horses from dead last…
Ok, boy, sightseeing is over. Bwuhbwuh. Our race begins…
Keep cruising, we more than halfway home, we good outside, keep
cruising…We coming up to the stretch turn so pay close attention now,
watch the second horse on the rail, the favored big gray,
his sneaky Cajun jock’s got pocket aces, still hasn’t asked!
If he swings out — I think he will – we’ll need the lead horse to tire,
then shoot the rail and see what you got…
Hup, there goes the gray outside, and there’s the leader drift. Oh, mon
Dieu, you made the move exactly on cue! You made an inside straight!
You sure half a champ. Now skim dat rail, let’s go, let’s go,
Dig da dirt, suck da air, dig dirt suck air
get dat horse, get dat sly ass jockey, hit dat wire!
Yeahboy yeahboy we are Louisiana fire!
We got dat Cajun glory! Thataboy thataboy,
We got dat longtime story…
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Listen to Robert Alan Felt read his poem
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Robert Alan Felt is a retired law enforcement officer, woodworker, and avid saltwater fisherman living on the south shore of Long Island, New York.
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Listen to the 1983 recording of Count Basie performing his composition “Racehorse,” with Basie (piano); Ray Brown (bass); and Louis Bellson (drums). [Universal Music Group]
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Three other poems by Robert Alan Felt:
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“The Music of Lana’i Lookout” – a poem written in honor of then President-elect Obama’s scattering of his grandmother’s ashes at Lana’i Lookout off the southeast coast of Oahu – the same location he had scattered his mother’s ashes thirteen years earlier.
“Taking the Littlenecks” – a prose poem expressing the joy and sorrow of life at age 71 with grace, wisdom, and appreciation.
“The Artists of Dutch Alley” – a Sunday Poem published in August, 2025 that celebrates the wonders of New Orleans, and the artists working within it.
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Click for:
Information about Kinds of Cool: An Interactive Collection of Jazz Poetry, Vol. II (featuring women poets)
More poetry on Jerry Jazz Musician
“Where the Music Wasn’t Allowed,” Jane McCarthy’s winning story in the 71st Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
More short fiction on Jerry Jazz Musician
Information about how to submit your poetry or short fiction
Subscribe to the (free) Jerry Jazz Musician quarterly newsletter
Helping to support the ongoing publication of Jerry Jazz Musician, and to keep it commercial-free (thank you!)
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