All photos courtesy of Julie June Stewart

At every racetrack across the nation, there is usually a celebrity. There are horses with fan clubs whose followers have been known to travel great distances to see them race. There are trainers who are sought out by journalists for their thoughts and opinions. Jockeys are frequently asked for their autographs. Selfies are also extremely popular at the track, as fans maneuver their cell phones to capture photographs with their favorite horses and jockeys. When I arrived in New York at the famous Belmont Park for the running of the 147^th Belmont Stakes, I asked my friends if there was someone I should meet on the backside. The response was unanimous! “FUDGIE!  FUDGIE MAKER!  You must meet Fudgie!” I figured that Fudgie must be a new pony on the backside that everyone had a crush on. 

When I pulled up to Mike Maker’s barn, I asked if I could see Fudgie. Everyone smiled and came out to watch as the most handsome goat wandered slowly up to me. His leather and brass collar is proudly etched with his name. He is majestic. I am not an expert in goat breeds or colors, but in horse terms I would call him a chestnut. His countenance is calm and he expects you to pet him. He has a dark dorsal stripe down his back and his caramel face is highlighted with a soft brown mask. There are several dark accents on his legs along with a small white spot between his two horns. Surprisingly, he does not sport a beard.

Goats have long been useful in barns to calm nervous horses. Many famous racehorses have had goats as companion animals. At Churchill Downs, those on the backside are familiar with trainer Helen Pitts’ goat, Lily. Trainer Carl O’Callahan’s goat, Reuben, has traveled with him from racetracks all over California, Arizona and to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minn. 

Dustin Dugas is Mike Maker’s assistant trainer. He proudly rubs the top of Fudgie’s head and explains that they were at a kill auction when they purchased several young goats for the barns. He showed me a photograph from a year ago. There is Dugas with two friends holding three very lucky goats who just escaped being someone’s dinner. Fudgie is tucked into Dugas arms. His tiny little horns are barely sprouting from the crown of his head. His livestock tag was still intact from the auction. On his arrival, Fudgie was proudly named by a local youngster.    

Fudgie is now about 1 ½ years old. It is obvious that he is loved. He has his own Facebook page, which is filled with photographs of mischief. He loves getting into vehicles, and I was warned to keep my rental car doors closed. I have seen pictures of him in the front seat of a car and even straddling the bucket seats of a golf cart. He has been known to sneak a few Doritos out of an open bag or beg some peppermints from a visitor. He likes to run and play. When he runs the shedrow, he will bounce up and down on the hay bales while the horses watch him. There are photos posted on his Facebook page of him wearing a race saddle. In another, he appears to be smiling as he wears sunglasses. He seems to take life in stride. He even “helps” in the office and comes in to stare at the computer. When he tires, he can be seen either napping in the sunlight outside the barn or hunkering down underneath the office desk.   

He eats everything, especially paper. He stood by my legs and stared longingly at my little notebook. Thoroughly charming with a huge personality, he is indeed the rock star of the back side. I must admit that I was smitten by my “interview” with Fudgie. I learned that goats were among the earliest animals domesticated by humans. I can certainly see why once I met Fudgie. He is as affectionate as a dog and his tail wags constantly. You can’t help but laugh at his antics.  

Mike Maker’s barn is the home to many world-class Thoroughbreds. It seems natural that he also has an exceptional goat to keep them company. At the end of the day, when the horses are tucked back into the barn, Fudgie will patrol the shedrow checking in with each of his equine companions. There will be thousands of visitors at Belmont Park during their three-day racing festival but few will be allowed to visit the backside. For those that do, they know that their visit isn’t complete without meeting Fudgie Maker!