Larry Bird's racehorse namesake Hickfromfrenchlick is a superstar
He answers to Hickie. He'll flick his tail or cock an ear if you call him Hick. Sometimes, people refer to him as The Hickster.
The real name of this 2-year-old racehorse from New York with a rich, chocolate coat (a shame it's not pale blonde hair) is actually Hickfromfrenchlick.
And he is a superstar, almost as good on the track as the guy he's named after was on the basketball court. You know, the original Hick From French Lick, Larry Bird.
Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird compliments a teammate for a nice pass at Boston Garden in March of 1992. (Photo: Scott Maguire, AP)
There has always been controversy among Bird lovers about that nickname. Critics call it disrespectful to an all-time basketball great. But Bird grew up in French Lick, Ind., and he's never put on airs.
When contacted Tuesday about this horse, Bird said via email, "I hope he runs faster than I ever did."
Hickfromfrenchlick is doing Bird proud. He's won some big races on the New York circuit of late, including the $100,000 Lawrence B. Sheppard Pace in July at Yonkers Raceway. In August, he won the $52,000 Jim Crawford Pace. And, earlier this month, he took first place at the New York Sire Stakes.
The horse, who some in racing circuits are calling "the son of Larry Bird," hasn't finished worse than second all year in any race.
In the world of harness racing, Hickfromfrenchlick is becoming a household name. He was born at Cameo Hills Farm, a 350-acre, full-service standardbred breeding and boarding farm in Montgomery, New York.
"I gave him the name because I played basketball and was a huge Larry Bird fan," said Steve Jones, owner of Cameo Hills.
Hickfromfrenchlick gets a little rest -- and a pat -- from Nola English. Nola's name along with her sister Maura make up the stable name Nolamaura Racing LLC, where "Hick" resides. (Photo: Provided by Nolamaura Racing)
Jones, 58, who grew up in Ohio, said he watched Bird when he was a Sycamore at Indiana State University and then followed him as he played for the Boston Celtics.
"He is certainly an all-time great," Jones said.
And, unbeknownst to many people, Bird likes to run himself. In an April 2015 Runner's World article, Bird said the sport was a "lifelong passion" and he runs four times a week.
He ran when he played in the NBA, too. "Before games. After games. Didn't matter. I just felt a need to stay in top condition," Bird told the magazine. "I used to run at least one or two miles, up on the second level of the Boston Garden. I enjoyed it."
One of Bird's best times was in the 5-mile Shamrock Classic in Boston in 1985. He finished in 32:30, a 6.5-minute-per-mile pace.
Just for comparison, Hickfromfrenchlick recently ran a mile in 1:51.
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